Pain!

The last few days have been a real challenge! My pain level has been all over the place. One minute it is at a 10 and then a little while later it may be at a 3. This is not the first time I have experienced this, but it is just dis hearting when it happens. I am sure that it has to do with the air condition in different places. I wish that this was not an issue but it is and I am having to pay close attention to what I wear and where I go. I am thankful that I seem to be able to get some relief if I can just warm up, of course not too much because then that will make it worse again! Ugh, sometimes I think a plastic bubble would be nice, set at a constant temp of 75 degrees. My husband always jokes and says he will build me one, maybe I should take him up on it:). I just read this devotional and it made me think of what goes through my head most days. I hope you will enjoy!

Blessings,
Keri
Let your light shine
"For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Dear ones, how many of us feel discouraged about our physical limitations? If I were to take a guess, I would say just about all of us. Pain is a constant distractions, and fatigue is often all encompassing. Another difficulty that has come knocking at my door more and more often lately is clumsiness.

I have had an extended period of pain these past few months. Simply making my way through a day has often been an endurance exercise! It would have been so easy to feel like more of a burden than a blessing. Scriptures, like the verse for this day make all of the difference.

“We ARE God’s workmanship…” And God does not make mistakes.
We are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” A logical continuation of that would be that there must be good works that we are able to do.
These good works, God already prepared for us to do. Everything is set up, we just need to find out His will for us!
In the Amplified Bible this verse reads like this, I think it explains the verse better for us.

“We are God’s own handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God planned beforehand for us to do so that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified Bible)

We may not be able to work full time in the “real” world. But we can touch others in many ways. We can be encouragers! Many of us have been blessed by E mails or cards through the mail that let us know someone is praying for us. We can bless others with notes and e mails and show we care. It is a good way to think of others and forget for a while how we are feeling.

We can send up sentence prayers and pray for those whose lives we touch at the Dr’s office or the pharmacy. Many times I have gotten to know someone while riding one of those handicap scooters in the stores. They seem to be automatic conversation starters as I try to reach for an item, or commiserate with someone else on their scooter. I smile and try to show God’s love and joy.

A chance encounter can be a God moment. Anytime I go out to the store I pray that I can be used.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Good Morning!

Good morning! I am sorry it has been so long since I have posted anything. Summer always comes and life gets crazy. I just dropped my youngest off at basketball camp, and have come home to a quiet house. I almost don't know what to do or where to begin. My parents have been here for a week and my nephew who has lived with us for 4 months left on the same day they did. It is very quiet. I think I will enjoy it while it lasts.

I have been feeling pretty good for the last week. Unfortunately that changed yesterday and am suffering from the burning stabbing pain in my ear, face and arm. So frustrating!!!! They started me on some new steroids for my eye and that seems to really help the redness and burning there, but all the rest it out of control. I will rest the next few days and hopefully it will subside.

Two weeks ago our pastor asked if he could pray for me. I of course said yes. He prayed specifically for areas I had pain. The next morning I awoke with no burning pain in my foot which has been a problem for months. We talked about the fact that we go to the doctor for many visits with hopes that they will heal us. He pointed out that going to the Father in prayer should be the same. I read this devotional this morning and it brought that conversation to my attention. I am so blessed to have so many people who I know are committed to pray for me. If any of you reading this are in need of prayer please let me know, I would be honored to pray for you.

Here is this devotional that I read this morning:

“A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, ‘If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.’ Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.” (Mark 5:24b-29)



I’ve been thinking a lot about the verse above lately. This poor woman, frail and weak from blood loss, pressing through a huge crowd to get to Jesus. We can be fairly certain that this woman suffered from anemia from her chronic blood loss. As someone who has suffered anemia I can tell you that she likely endured terrible physical exhaustion, racing heartbeat, dizziness, sleeplessness, and shortness of breath.

Imagine being in such poor physical health and yet finding the courage and fortitude to press through the crowd to Jesus.

Sometimes we need to press through our difficulties and limitations to find our way to Jesus. We need to push aside busy schedules and many distractions to find our Lord. The crowd we face may be endless situations calling for our attention, or distractions all around us keeping our focus in the wrong place. We may find real physical limitations seem to leave us too weak even for prayer. But we must press through and press on.

You may find yourself weak, sick, overcome by life’s circumstances.

It may seem that a crowd of problems are pressing against you.

Picture that little lady, having suffered from endless bleeding and physical weakness, yet she pressed on to find Jesus. Let her be your inspiration.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to never to let our limitations keep us from You. Amen.

About The Author
Karlton Douglas lives in Ohio with his lovely wife. He has endured years of Chronic Illness, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Crohn’s Disease. He has pressed on through God’s grace and strength.