The headlines shouted across the glaring screen, and my heart dropped lower than I thought it could go. It seemed that for a moment I felt the weight and the sadness of the world crashing upon me. But in the next moment I heard a whisper, stronger than the weight, deeper than the sadness: “Then, … Continue reading Sharing: A Place of Quiet Prayer
Category: Chronic Joy Ministry
Praying: Fear Turned To Trust
We hear so many words telling us to just “trust God more.” But is it really that easy? When the foundations of our lives have spun off-kilter, what then? How can trust be considered from a place of such upset? The Cambridge-English Dictionary gives us the definition for the word “trust” as: “to believe that … Continue reading Praying: Fear Turned To Trust
Sharing: Let Christ Turn Bitterness Into Compassion
The memes and the quips scrolled by me faster than I could keep up. It seemed that everyone had something to say about self-isolation, quarantine, lock-down and the restrictions that were suddenly, with very little warning, thrust upon us. And I hit the "like" button more times than I could count ... Finally the rest … Continue reading Sharing: Let Christ Turn Bitterness Into Compassion
Praying: Our Savior Teaches Us How to Pray
Praying When we truly face the shape of our hearts, we can be overwhelmed by the lack that we feel. Sinful, weak, and weary are thoughts that easily come to mind as we carry such weights from our days. But we have a Father who loved us so deeply that He sent His Son to … Continue reading Praying: Our Savior Teaches Us How to Pray
He is Always on Time
my crown-of-thorns plant "Thorns" I see the thorn-bush set in my path And I ponder the way ahead Can I make my way cleanly around Or must I offer my arms to be torn in the passing? I look for tools to cut away the brambles And I find them waiting for my use Can … Continue reading He is Always on Time
Sharing: Lifting Shame in Our Praying
Anxiety and Shame in Chronic Illness The day was sunny and beautiful as we drove into the parking lot, but I did not feel much beauty in my heart. In fact, sudden tears rose unbidden to the surface as the medical center came into view. I had been to this same parking lot many times … Continue reading Sharing: Lifting Shame in Our Praying
Sharing: Prayers for Lent
Lenten Season The Season of Lent is a time of pausing and reflecting about what our Lord Jesus has won for us: New Life in God, the salvation of our souls! Every year we come around to this time again, pondering the weight of what Jesus bore for us. He gave His life so that … Continue reading Sharing: Prayers for Lent
Prayer Prompt: Refuge and Strength in God
Refuge Support, sustain, uphold, carry: what do these words all have in common? Aren’t they words that speak about something that is weak, something that is small, something that needs to be held? There are so many times in the journey with chronic illness when we are left feeling the depth of our smallness. Sometimes … Continue reading Prayer Prompt: Refuge and Strength in God
Worry and Concern — An Allegory
When I joined the Feedback Team for Finding Purpose, Book 2 in Chronic Joy’s THRIVE Study Series, I was so intrigued by the activities included with the study questions. One of the options was an invitation to write an allegory based on the differences between worry and concern. Writing this story became a way to … Continue reading Worry and Concern — An Allegory
