Does our suffering draw us closer to Christ?

By Erika Rizkallah

This morning in my quiet time readings, I was led once again to passages in the Bible about suffering.  

Do you ever ask, "Why me?" 

I do and the plain answer is I don't know and maybe I never will. Strangely, I'm ok with that. If we spend too much time reflecting about the internal and external reasons for it, we can find ourselves in the midst of an epic pity party.

This can turn all our thoughts inward as opposed to better questions like What can I do with this Lord? How do I glorify you with it?

In the Greek language the word for suffering is pascho, which also means endure. It's a verb and is used 42 times in the New Testament. The short answer in both the Old and New Testaments is that suffering improves character.

I love how Oswald Chambers approaches the subject in the devotional My Utmost For His Highest.

He says, "How can we say, 'It could never be God's will for me to be sick'? If it was God's will to bruise His own Son (Isaiah 53:10), why shouldn't he bruise you? What shines forth and reveals God in your life is not your relative consistency to an idea of what a saint should be, but your genuine, living relationship with Jesus Christ, and your unrestrained devotion to Him whether you are well or sick."

How do you feel about that? Can you identify ways in which your suffering has improved your character or drawn you closer to Christ?

Strength: Are you feeling weak lately?

Have you ever found yourself in a position of overwhelming weakness? Or you're just plain old exhausted?

I find myself in that place frequently.

Here's a scripture I've been memorizing for the last few weeks . . .

I've been sapped of strength emotionally, spiritually and physically. Then one day it hit me as I read this scripture.

The Lord is my strength. IS

So I started praying this over and over whenever I felt depleted and you know what?

I got strength. It's astounding to me and so simple - all we have to do is ask and pray and God's IS gets transferred to us spiritually.

Now, I'm focusing on the shield part of this verse. We don't use them nowadays but once they were a warrior's key piece of armor. She held the shield in front of her to protect her body from the weapons of the enemy.

Hmmm. I just may have to try this too!

Your turn: Have you leaned on God for your strength lately? Have you asked him to supply what you're lacking?

Midnight Ministry: Hearing God in the storms of life

The last few weeks were filled with ups and downs, highs and lows. 

First I had a terrible flare. It was painful to move my entire body and for some reason my right elbow was killing me. (Down)

My doctor put me on steroids to calm the flare and settle things out in my joints. Now I don't know about you, but me on steroids is not a good combination - they make me angry. So I warned my family.

There were benefits though: they gave me so much energy I (almost) reorganized the entire lower level of my house! (Up)

Then my daughter got the flu and I got it while nursing her. (Low) I was sick with fever and chills and spent the better part of the week in bed. At one point I lost an entire day - July 12th to be exact. Everything was "off" and on the third day I realized I'd forgotten to pray for myself! I'd been so focused on trying not to vomit, I didn't remember to ask God for help. So I prayed and went back to sleep.

Later that night, I heard a scream. I pulled the earplugs from my ears and turned on the light to find my husband flailing around in our bed. I tried to figure out what the heck was happening when he said, "Water! I spilled water all over us!" It turns out he'd had a dream that we were on the couch talking and he grabbed a cup of water and . . . fell asleep with it.

"Are you sure we weren't talking just now?" he asked.

"Definitely sure." I said.

"Really?!"

We both had a good laugh as I stumbled around trying to find new sheets and blankets. By then I was wide awake and couldn't fall asleep. Terrible storms with deafening thunder and lightning were shaking the house. I decided - at two o' clock in the morning - to catch up on some overdue filing, so I went into my closet (because that's where I keep my files).

While there, I had the distinct impression I was supposed to read the devotional for July 12th in Streams in the Desert. I tried to ignore it and keep filing, but the impression grew stronger so I read.

This was the scripture: He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. (Job 23:10)

This was the first sentence: Faith grows during storms.

Everything I needed in that moment - in the storm of the flare and flu - was found in that little devotion of the day I'd lost. (High) It was about faith in God during the toughest times of life.

The last few sentences really spoke to me:

Yes, "in all these" - even during storms, when the winds are the most intense - "we are more than conquerors." You may be tempted to run from the ordeal of a fierce storm of testing, but head straight for it! God is there to meet you in the center of each trial. And He will whisper to you His secrets, which will bring you out with a radiant face and such an invincible faith that all the demons of hell will never be able to shake it. E. A. Kilbourne

Suffering friend, I believe God poured that water on my husband and me. I believe that He is indeed making us stronger through our trials, testing us so that when all is said and done we'll come forth as gold.

Now you: Has God ever ministered to you at midnight or in the middle of a life storm? Do tell! We never know how our stories of suffering can encourage someone going through the same struggle.
                                                                                                   Praying for you, Erika

5 Tips for Coping with Chronic Pain

Humans are amazingly creative; there's no end to the methods we use to cope with our struggles.

Some of us eat our way through problems. Some of us whine and complain incessantly. Some of us get angry, lash out and push away anyone who tries to help.

But none of these tactics actually works. Coping requires positive action.

So how do you cope with your chronic pain?

I'm an eternal optimist, so at first I tried to power through. I was certain that food and lack of exercise was the culprit so I changed my diet and got a trainer - one who was in the process of qualifying for the Olympics. Her method was "go big or go home" so I just about exercised myself to death.

My pain issue wasn't solved and while I'm still an optimist, I'm a realist too. The pain is here to stay.

Forever... unless God heals me.

Maybe you find yourself in a similar situation and need some new ideas. If so, I hope these tips will work for you as well as they do for me.

Tip # 1 - Trust in God

Though there's no cure for my condition and hopes for one are a long way off, my biggest comfort is knowing God is for me. And while I certainly don't like to suffer, I know he has a plan for it. God is for you too! The Bible says: For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them but has listened to their cries for help. Psalm 22:24.

Tip # 2 - Change Positions

My disease comes with musculoskeletal pain so sitting or standing in one place for too long is difficult for me. Making a conscious effort to change positions at least once an hour is a must, but I admit sometimes it's hard to do, especially at the movies or in church. So give yourself permission to fidget away!

Tip # 3 - Distract Yourself

Distractibility isn't usually considered a positive trait, but it's an essential skill to learn for pain sufferers. We can use healthy and fun distractions to take our minds off ourselves - heck, we need to take our minds off ourselves. So go to the movies, shoot pool or take a walk in the park. 

Tip # 4  - Take Care

Take time for self care! Caring for yourself is not selfish, it's imperative. Naps, soothing baths, massage, eating right and exercising are critical to good health.

Tip # 5  - Encourage Others

Suffering is all around us. The one benefit (if there is one) is that my eyes are opened to the suffering of others. I can now see the grimace on the face of the cashier standing for long hours. I'm more patient with the slow pace of the elderly woman ahead of me in line. I no longer judge people who can't lift, and bend and reach. I take time to sympathize, listen and pray for them. 

Suffering is not for wimps but through our weakness, God is strong.

Now you: Please share a coping tip that helps you get through the day!

Your words have supported those who were falling; you encouraged those with shaky knees. Job 4:4

Trials and tests: God's crown of victory for the afflicted

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

Are you under a trial right now? Do you realize that God is testing you through it?

Standing the test is not easy - heck, some days it even seems downright impossible. Those of us living with chronic pain know the struggle well. We face days of isolation, loss of friendships and the roiling emotions that come with it. Some days, we struggle just to get out of bed.

But my friends, our struggle is not without gain. Look at the promise God's made to us if we remain firm in our faith.

We get a crown. Not just any old crown, but the crown of life!

Our Lord Jesus, was given a crown of thorns by a mob of brutal Roman soldiers right before he was crucified. In ancient days thorns symbolized a curse, but the crown is a symbol of power and victory. These men, in their attempt to mock and humiliate, unwittingly bestowed a great honor upon him.

And this is the type of crown we will receive when we've stood firm in our time of testing. Oh, we may not see it in this life, but we can be certain we'll receive it.

Why?

Because God has promised it to us and our sovereign king always keeps his promises.

So stand firm lovely ones because our blessing is on the way!

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:12, 13

Ugh weight gain! Is it time to renew your thinking about it?

I used to be one of those women who could eat anything and never gain a pound. I was the constant envy of friends everywhere. And also the butt (no pun intended) of many jokes and jabs about my weight.

It didn't matter to them that I wasn't healthy, all that mattered was that I could scarf down a dessert or two with no apparent consequences. I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy eating junk food at will - I did.

So sad . . . the word did.

But I wasn't healthy. I never worked out (because it hurt too much) but that's also a lack of discipline and is nothing to brag about.

That's changed now. It seems that every new medicine has me packing on the pounds or maybe my body's heading into menopause land. Either way, now I'm busting out of my weekend jeans and find myself having to carefully choose outfits that will hide my fluffy muffin top.

Have I mentioned that usually I love fluffy things and muffins - especially fluffy decorated muffins also known as cupcakes?

The other day I was standing in my closet staring at the many things I can no longer wear when it occurred to me that maybe my weight gain is a sign of health. Instead of lamenting those skinny days gone by, maybe I should celebrate.

Except not with cake!

Ephesians 4:20-24 says: But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

The truth is, in my old life, I was a glutton. I am a glutton. Now, I have to change the way I eat and move my body so that whether I eat or drink or whatever I do, I do all to the glory of God. (1 Cor 10:31)

Changing the mind about eating habits is not easy, as hundreds of yearly articles in women's magazines shows. But I aim to start this phase of my life as a renewed thinker with a healthy body and spirit.

Now you: Do you have anything you need to renew your thinking about?

7 Scriptures to help with loneliness

Living with chronic illness can be lonely, heartbreakingly lonely.

At times our friends call less, our family struggles with acceptance and people who don't know us very well pass judgement.

I've struggled with loneliness all my life, but when you add "sickness" to the mix it takes on a whole different level of discouragement and sadness.

If anyone can relate to us, it's Jesus. He faced all of our struggles and feels all of our pain. When he was arrested in the olive grove right before his crucifixion, all his friends left him.

But he was never alone. 

And neither are we. Our God is always with us - at all times, in all circumstances - even when we can't feel his presence. Here are some scriptures to encourage and help you if you're struggling with this powerful emotion . . .

I hope you will write out the ones that spoke to you and carry them in your pocket when you need a little pick me up.
                                                                                      Be well, love well.

Love and Limitations: Jesus comforts in affliction

By Erika Rizkallah

I know in my last post I said something about embracing my limitations. Well, maybe embrace was too strong a word because at some point in the week I'm pretty sure I broke down and cried a little.

On the plus side, my condition comes with memory loss so I can't remember it very well.

I think instead of embracing my limitations, I'll just give them a pat on the shoulder for now. You know, like we do with those awkward people we don't really want to hug.

Also, I want to share something that happened this week. In my sorrow, Jesus comforted me. Days after my little meltdown I was lamenting about my inability to serve him like I used to. During my prayer talk, I was filled with a warm love. It didn't come from within me, but was aimed at me!

His acceptance and kindness rushed over me like a waterfall.

I felt in my soul, that he loved me simply because he created me.

                                   It's true for you as well!

He doesn't care that we're not well enough or strong enough to do things for him. He doesn't need us to do anything for him. If anyone knows about our suffering and affliction, it's Jesus. He is our healer and savior and gives of himself freely and generously.

My prayer for all of us this week is that we simply accept his gifts and enjoy his presence.
                              May you be filled with his peace ~ Erika

Life verse: Do you have one?

Isaiah 58:11 is my life verse. 

One day, many years ago I was reading my Bible and this verse pierced my heart. God led me to it and I felt His presence and promise. It's been stuck there ever since.

Note: If a particular scripture pierces your heart, God may be trying to tell you something.

My verse says: The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

I need to apologize for my lack of blog postings; I was getting dry and felt like I couldn't write anything. In my home I have a beautiful tropical plant called an anthurium. They're supposed to look like this...

See those beautiful leaves? How lush and shiny they are nestled among the flowers? This is what mine looks like...

There are no flowers and the brown and yellow leaf tip means they're not getting enough water. I am at fault. I'm the gardner. Every time I pass by this wimpy, neglected plant I'm reminded that God never forgets to water.

He's the perfect gardener all the time and He knew I was lacking and needed some refreshing. A little TLC and spritzing to encourage me and help me endure. 

Life has been tough for the last several months. Lots of pain and fatigue...and activity and Christmas! so my husband and I took a quick getaway to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

On one of our excursions, we went to the Castillo Del Morro which is an old fort overlooking the sea. It was built in the 17th century and is one of those crazy beautiful old places. While we were there peering over the walls of a closed cemetery I noticed these beautiful ferns growing from the massive stone walls.

It was a reminder that God sustains all things. If you know about ferns you know they mostly grow in damp shade with well drained soil. But here they were, growing without any human help along a sun scorched stone wall. It reminded me of my life verse.

I was looking at some other things growing outside of the cemetery walls and came upon this strange tree growing these gorgeous flowers and I thought, yes - this is me blooming again!

It's great to be back!

So how about you? Do you have a life verse to share?

Seasons

A couple of weeks ago we took my mother-in-law to Asheville to celebrate her 70th birthday. It's a six hour drive - thats long for me - so I packed accordingly...

It was a good thing I did because I don't know what it is about traveling, but it's exhausting and painful.

How can sitting while doing nothing, be exhausting?

I do a better job of prepping for pain in advance of things like travel, never-ending piano recitals, and long movies, but it's not easy. Overthinking is also exhausting!

One of the choices I had to sacrifice though, was not going zip lining with my kids.

I HATE that I can't do things like this (for now), but it was the right decision.

My awesome hubby took the kids and gave me a little time for shopping fun though, so it all worked out in the end.

The Bible says:  There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
                           a time to be born and a time to die,
                           a time to plant and a time to uproot,
                           a time to kill and a time to heal,
                           a time to tear down and a time to build,
                           a time to weep and a time to laugh,
                           a time to mourn and a time to dance,
                           a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
                           a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
                           a time to search and a time to give up,
                           a time to keep and a time to throw away,
                           a time to tear and a time to mend,
                           a time to be silent and a time to speak,
                           a time to love and a time to hate,
                           a time for war and a time for peace.
                                                                                       Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

So I'm determined to think of this time of suffering and affliction as a season - a time of tearing down my body and rebuilding my spirit.

A time to learn the lessons God offers through the trials.

What about you? What season are you in?

Love Your Body - Love Yourself!

...The second is this; 'love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:31  

As is obvious by pink ribboned everything, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Coincidentally, last week I got a pap test, mammogram, thyroid ultrasound and bone density screening.

What does this have to do with the Bible verse above?

It's all about love.

In Mark 12:28, a teacher of the law heard Jesus debating with some other men about God and asked him which was the most important commandment. Jesus correctly answered, "...The most important one is this: 'Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."

Now focus on the verse at the top of this post - the second most important commandment: love your neighbor

as yourself.

Do you love yourself? Are we even allowed to do such a thing?

Yes! We are God's glorious handiwork and when we love ourselves, we're loving Him. If Jesus didn't mean for us to love ourselves, he would have put a period at the end of neighbor.

Part of loving ourselves means we care for the bodies God gave us.

We don't just make important appointments for our elderly parents and children, we treat ourselves with the same level of care.

So let me ask you this question:

How long has it been since you've had a mammogram?

      How about a pap test?

          What about a bone density screening or (ugh) a colonoscopy?

How about in honor of Breast Cancer awareness month, we commit to making these dreaded appointments and then show some sisterly love by challenging a girlfriend to do the same?

Ready? Go!

Blessings In Disguise

By Erika Rizkallah

I have a love-hate attitude about my chronic pain, a condition called Small Polyfiber Neuropathy. Of course I hate pain. But if I didn't have it, I wouldn't have been given a gift. One of those blessings in disguise things, if you know what I mean. 

Living an Unstuck life is all about freedom and movement. As we walk along the path of life God set out for us, we have freedom and rest for our souls. We also have movement... 

            We're walking with Him.

We're not stuck. 

However, we can be lured into that trapped/stuck lifestyle at any time. We have an adversary (Satan) who spends 100% of his time trying to kill, steal and destroy our life and everything meaningful to us.

Let's face it, we don't spend 100% of our time on anything; this gives him an advantage over us if we're not walking in the spirit.

We can be following God's plan when out of nowhere, we're hit with the rotten parts of life: confusion, crisis, strife in the home or an illness. These things come with decisions: Are we going to continue moving or are we going to let it paralyze us?

That's what happened to me when illness first struck. I didn't know what my body was doing or why - and neither did the doctors. Everything came to a screeching halt (me = screeching). But after a while, I resolved to get back on my feet and serve Him in my weakness. 

I also wanted to press on with my goals and enjoy the full life Jesus meant for me to have. 

I love to sing. I've been singing since I was four and was in choirs until high school. Then I got kicked out (long story) and stopped singing in groups. For the past three years I've been telling God I'd sing in his choir in Heaven, but several weeks ago I thought NO...I'm going to sing now! 

So I prayed for a choir I could sing with, and then...voila! I got the opportunity and joined it. Best of all, I get to sing with my daughter, Katya. 

Our choir is a mixed group of teens and adults and we traveled together to Tennessee to see three regional Broadway plays and perform a concert for a large church.

                                                       Two of our fave actors: Anna & Austin

I can't explain how joyful I felt watching people praise God from our position behind the pulpit. I now know what it means to offer myself as a living sacrifice and it was worth every ounce of pain I feel now.

                                                          Enjoying life with my daughter 
                                                                                               (I take terrible selfies)

What about you? Have you recognized any blessings in disguise from your illness?

What season are you in?

By Erika Rizkallah

On Sundays, this space is reserved for God stories. As one of the redeemed, I'd like to share just some of the many things he's done in my life. I hope you'll be encouraged by them!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story - those he redeemed from the hand of the foe. Psalm 107:1-2

Have you ever felt like you're in a spiritual desert? Like you're not hearing or seeing God? I have . . . more times than I can count.

In these times, the most useful thing we can do, is search for the root cause. Just as when we're feeling physically ill, we naturally try to figure out what caused it:

   Could it be food poisoning?

   Was it that snotty baby we held in children's church? (God loves snotty babies).

    Am I allergic to something (or someone)?

I recently had this experience; I was as dry as the desert - not hearing from God at all, which is unusual.

I began looking for the root cause, asking him in prayer and receiving no answer. Until  I noticed something . . .

Lilies began appearing in my front yard. I didn't plant them and so I was surprised when they began to blooming in early spring. The lily is a spiritually significant flower for me because of this favorite Bible verse:

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I (Jesus) tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!" Luke 12:27, 28

These verses and the ones before them, are about God's care and provision for his children. We're not to worry about meeting our own physical needs. Isn't that liberating?

I do have to consider the lilies and I don't have to worry about myself. Maybe this is my season of seeing God at work.

What season do you find yourself in?

The God Who Sees Us

By Erika Rizkallah

...You are the God who sees me,  for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me." Genesis 16:13

Do you ever feel like God's forgotten about you or afflicted you?

I have to admit that sometimes I do. When I wake up stiff, sore and utterly unrested, I groan and whine, "Why?"

Today was one of those mornings. I'm in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains attending a Christian writer's conference. The six hour drive was exhausting, even though my friend, Andy, drove me.
             
                        Now, as I write, it feels like I'm on fire, even though it's cold here.

Fire. In the Old Testament, God is often represented by fire, but really . . . I don't want to feel like the fire is on me.

In the scripture above, the "she" is Hagar. Hagar is the Egyptian maidservant of Sarai, the wife of Abram.  Sarai desperately wanted a family but she couldn't conceive. In those times, women were the chief family builders. Sarai was old and God hadn't given her any children, so she decided to build her family through Hagar. She gave Hagar to Abram as his new wife and told him to sleep with her. Abram doesn't argue (although he should have) and Hagar gets pregnant, and a little haughty.

Now, Sarai doesn't like this, so she blames Abram, complains to him and then physically abuses Hagar.
                                                     Poor Hagar.

She didn't ask to be in that terrible situation. She didn't ask to be a slave, pushed into a sexual union or be physically abused, so she ran away, into the desert. That's where God's angel finds her and speaks to her.
                                                     He says, "...the Lord has heard of your misery." (v.11)

Hagar responds, "You are the God who sees me. I have now seen the One who sees me."

It does us no good to question God and ask "Why?" He has a plan and the why may never be known to us on this side of Heaven. The one thing we can be sure of is that He's heard of our misery and He'll love us through it.

 I'm praying for us today. God had big plans for Hagar and he's got big plans for us too!

Drug # 3 - Looking for drugs to ease Fibromyalgia pain?

For me, one of the worst Fibro symptoms is the muscle spasms. Mine feels like a monster's rhythmically squeezing bony fingers into my back, ribs and stomach. It's the one thing that makes me feel like I'm going crazy.

Have you ever felt that way? Like you could go crazy from pain?

That's when I bring out the big guns.  Not actual guns - I'm talking about Cyclobenzaprine. Also known as Flexeril. The sunny little pills and my heating pad are the only things that bring relief when that monster starts squeezing.

I need to assure you that I'm not a big pill lover. On the contrary, I generally avoid drugs when possible. But my pain path has covered almost every kind of food restriction and alternative therapy available.

Almost... I haven't tried acupuncture yet, but I will (and I'll take pictures.)

On my trip to Israel, I took a pit stop at The Dead Sea, which is the lowest point on earth. It has a high salt content and is famous for its mud, because people claim it has healing properties for arthritis and other ailments. I don't know about that, but I will say it's tons of fun to sit in a slippery mud hole with 20 non-English speaking people.

The sea is so salty that nothing lives in it and the water can blind you if it gets in your eyes. Also, once you get in chest high water or pick your feet up, you start to float. It's an amazing sensation!

So now, I've bathed in healing waters and touched Jesus' burial stone. Those are two very alternative treatments don't you think?

If you're looking for alternatives, here's a great post by Healthline.

While I wait for healing, I'll keep writing, trying new things and taking my drugs. Life's too awesome to be miserable!
                               
                                        Now that I've shared, tell me what works for you?

Are there levels of faith and does yours measure up?

On Sundays, this space is reserved for God stories. As one of the redeemed, I'd like to share just some of the many things he's done in my life. I hope you'll be encouraged by them!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story - those he redeemed from the hand of the foe. Psalm 107:1-2

Last week I was in Jerusalem for the Easter and Passover holidays.

I've always considered myself to be a faithful person, but then I visited Church of the Sepulchre, which is believed to be the burial place of Jesus.

People come to pray and worship, and it was packed with Easter pilgrims.

I watched the women as they prayed. I watched their bodies as they bent and reached and kissed the Stone of Unction, which is the stone Jesus' body was placed upon after he was taken down from the cross.

This is where the "American me" kicked in. As they were kissing and rubbing it, I thought about germs.

I'm not kidding.

But, I still wanted to touch it, so I squeezed in that open space next to the lady in blue.

I thought it was crazy to come all that way and not touch it, so I laid my hands on it and prayed that Jesus would heal my body and my husband's.

And the lady in blue,  really got in my personal bubble space. She was moving back and forth, gently bumping me. She was "washing" the stone... with holy water or something. She had a bag full of folded notes and clothing and she would rub and pray. I couldn't figure out what was going on, so I looked.

Gosh - I think I look irritated in the picture, but I wasn't - I was just curious. Ok, I kind of was irritated that she was hogging the holiness out of the stone and not taking turns. I looked in her bag and realized...she had clothing in there.

                                                  She was rubbing underwear on it.

Many things run through my head about this, but the bottom line is that this woman was faithful.

She came to the stone with work to do, and nothing was going to stop her from praying over her notes and clothing.

I came and left empty handed and wondering about my level of faith. The Lord told me not to compare, because to him there's no such thing as levels. What matters to him is the heart and the belief that lies within it.

I'm curious. How do you come before God in prayer?

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Heb 11:1

Trying to find the right Fibromyalgia Drugs?

Sorry for the delay in posting. My family and I went to Israel and the Palestinian Territories to celebrate Easter. Depending on where we were, internet was spotty.

                                                                                              Damascus Gate, Israel

In my last post, I wrote about my favorite medications. Today, I’ll share the next one on my list in hope that it helps someone else struggling with Fibromyalgia and chronic pain.

My # 2 favorite drug is Cymbalta and it was the drug given with Amytriptiline.  It cut my pain in half in just ten days. I was dopey for a bit, but I knew it was a side effect, so I allowed myself time for my body to get used to it. 

I felt like a new woman for a few months, but it was short lived; the pain re-emerged and I was discouraged.

So why is it my # 2 favorite drug? Because it still worked, and it may be just the thing for other people, especially those who don't want to use heavier drugs. I still take Cymbalta once a day in addition to other meds.

Four months ago I feared I'd never be able to travel again because of pain, but medication allows me to have a better quality of life.

This is one of my favorite moments from the trip. I was about to go through the Damascus Gate when an Arabic woman stopped me and held out her camera. I thought she wanted me to take a picture of her, so I reached out to take it and she handed me her baby. I was her tourist attraction!

Six months ago I wouldn't have been able to hold that baby, so what a gift it was for me.

My purpose in writing about the benefits of medication, is to encourage you to keep pushing through the long hard days of waiting to see what works on your body.

                                                  God is with us in our struggle.

But as for me, afflicted and in pain - may your salvation, God, protect me.                              Psalm 69:29
                                                                                   He is faithful and wonderful!

Do you do drugs? I do!

A frequent comment I hear from Christian women who suffer from chronic pain is, "I refuse to take medicine."

 

                                                  And I wonder...What the heck?
But I ask, "Why?"

The top 5 responses include:

"It's not the Lord's way."

"I just refuse."

"Jesus calls us to suffer."

"I'm afraid of the side effects."

"My husband wouldn't understand."

Except for the last one about the husband, I used those same reasons myself. At first.
But after a year and a half of suffering, I changed my mind. Now...

I love drugs.

I love Jesus and I love medicine. I believe God created the scientists who created the medicine and I love them all!

                  And I'd like to share my drugs with you, but I can't - because that's illegal.

In the next few posts, I'll virtually share the ones that have helped me on the path of pain.

                                 Also, I'll give my answers to the 5 responses listed above.

# My 1 favorite drug is Amitrtriptyline aka Elavil.
One of the worst things about chronic pain is the inability to sleep. This drug gives me a good night's rest and I rarely wake up due to pain. As with most drugs, it has side effects, but I haven't experienced any in the six months I've been on it. It's an antidepressant too, so you get those benefits, if you suffer from depression.

"It's not the Lord's way." 
Poppycock. Healing was one of the many things Jesus did. Disease, illness and blindness were common problems in the ancient world and Jesus was a willing healer.
At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Luke 4:40
                             
I told you how I feel? What's your perspective on taking medicine?

Sunday Stories: Is it flare worthy?

On Sundays, this space is reserved for God stories. As one of the redeemed, I'd like to share just some of the many things he's done in my life. I hope you'll be encouraged by them!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story - those he redeemed from the hand of the foe. Psalm 107:1-2

One of the things Fibromyalgia sufferers know well is the phrase:

                                                   Good days and bad days

Those "good days" are days to savor. I'm fully alive and like a glutton, I want to gulp as much goodness as I possibly can.

I believe we sufferers are more aware of what personally makes a day good or bad. We have to intentionally pace ourselves and think: Is this really worth it to me?

                    Is it flare worthy?

Good for you if you don't know what a flare is! Long story short, flare = agony. Most times we can accurately assess them, but there are days when plans go awry.

                                             And there are some days God dreams up for us.

I had one of those days last year, and if I knew at that time that I had a disease, I would never have done this...

                             On the outside I'm smiling, but inside I'm really praying they don't bite my face.

My husband, who planned this whole adventure, was in more pain than I was that day and I had to take his place in the water with our kids. I didn't want to.

                                   You see, I am terrified of large fish. Absolutely terrified.

Even seeing them in aquariums gives me the willies. In three of the snorkeling trips my hubby has thoughtfully planned for my daughters, I've had to take his place TWICE. On this trip, I wasn't even planning to go, but I changed my mind at the last minute.

It's never been my dream to swim with dolphins. I certainly never thought I'd stand on them.

It was incredible.

In these pics, I'm screaming, "Oh my God!" at the top of my lungs. I completely embarrassed my kids.

No doubt about it. This was flare worthy.

Do you have any flare worthy God stories to share? If so, I'd love to hear them.

                                                                                He is wonderful and faithful!

Resurrect the good gifts of life.

A couple weeks ago I wrote about some ways God comforted me and I challenged you to think about and see the ways God comforts you.

And then - as often happens when I open my big mouth about something - I couldn't think of anything else comforting me.

Except Jesus of course.

When in doubt, the answer is always Jesus. Or Baby Jesus.

                                                                              This is not the real Jesus.

But seriously...for like 10 days I couldn't think of anything, and I started to feel like a fraud.

Then I got to feeling a little nutty thinking about comfort all the time. Because honestly, shouldn't my thought life be a little higher?

After all, how often do we hear: "God doesn't care about your comfort, he cares about your character?"

Then I felt like my character was somehow lacking. Geesh!

And I also felt like God was challenging me to really think about it. So I did, and do you know what I discovered?
                                          Creativity gives me comfort. (I'd forgotten that.)

I'm not an artist, but I'd always been crafty creative and I let that passion of mine die for loftier pursuits. So I tried resurrecting it. I got out my old craft and scrapbooking supplies and started slapping some pages together.

Holy Moses. Am I having fun!

The Bible says: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Our God offers us so many gifts - so many good and positive things - to counteract the negativity that comes with chronic pain. I encourage you to discover, or rediscover an old passion and resurrect it.

See what happens and let me know how it encourages you.
                                                                                             
                                                                                  He is faithful and wonderful!