Month: July 2017

God Empathizes With You

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When dealing with a chronic illness, there are times when we feel no one understands or cares. There is hope. We are not alone. Jesus cares. In fact, he shares sympathy with you. Jesus knows you. He shares the feelings you have. He is in tune with you. God empathizes with you.

Today’s Bible Verse:

John 11:35 (KJV), “Jesus wept.”

What the Verse Means:

God empathizes with you.

Praying Using the Verse:

  1. Heavenly Father, thank you for paying attention to our hurts and cares.
  2. Lord Jesus, as today’s verse says, “Jesus wept.” Thank you for caring enough to cry with us and to comfort us.
  3. God, help us to cast our cares on you. Your word teaches us to do just that in 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV), “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

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God Has Not Forgotten Me

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Even when we have a chronic illness, God still loves us and does not forget us.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Romans 8:35 (KJV), “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

What the Verse Means:

Nothing can separate a Believer in Jesus Christ from His love.

Praying Using the Verse:

Thank you, God, for loving us. John 3:16 (KJV), “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Thank you, Heavenly Father, that there is nothing, not even a chronic illness, that can ever separate us from Your love.

Help us, Lord, to accept the love You have for us as Believers.

Photo Source: Pixaby

Suffering is Not a Result of Punishment

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When suffering from chronic pain or illness it is not uncommon to ask “why me?” Never forget that our chronic illness and suffering is not a punishment from God.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Psalm 103:10 (KJV), “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.”

What the Verse Means:

Having a chronic illness and the resulting physical and mental suffering that may result is not punishment for sin.

Praying Using the Verse:

  1. Adonai, thank you for not having us suffer as we deserved to suffer or receive the punishment for our sins that we deserve.
  2. Father in heaven, thank you for the provision you give us as Believers through 1 John 1:9 (KJV) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
  3. We bless you, Lord. Even when our body and being aches we realize you have allowed us happiness and even joy, so we bless your holy name.

Photo Source: Pixaby

The Copyright Page

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The copyright page helps protect your intellectual property.

Copyright Page Contains:

  • The Declaration of copyright
    • It tells who owns the copyright
    • The gives the year of publication
    • You are informed of any reservation of rights
  • Other Credits
    • Artists or Illustrators
    • Editor or Editorial Staff
    • Cover or Graphic Designer
    • Publisher Notes
  • Copyright Acknowledgements
    • For reprinted materials that require permission (Bible Verses i.e. Scripture)
    • ISBN Number
    • LCCN or CIP Number
    • List Where Printed for Print Books
    • Edition Number
    • Usually, includes a “Published By”
      • Published by is listed at either the top or bottom of copyright page
  • Disclaimer
    • Memoirs
      • Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.
    •  Novels
      • This is a work of fiction. Names, places, and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
    • Self-Help Books.
      • This book is for informational purposes only. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of the book, neither the author nor the publisher shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the instructions contained in this book.
    • Health Books.
      • The information provided in this book is not intended as a substitute for the medical advice of physicians.

Dedication Page:

  • To my wonderful wife, Mary, without whose continued loving support and encouragement this book would not exist.

Table of Contents:

  • Included in nonfiction titles
  • Not usually in fiction books
    • Should not be longer than two pages.

Foreword:

  • Setup for the book, typically written by someone other than the author. A famous person or celebrity writing the foreward can help promote and sell the book.

Preface / Acknowledgements:

  • Here is where the author’s say thank you to those who contributed time and resources towards the effort of writing the book.

Introduction

  • Setup for the book’s contents, generally by the author.

Photo Source:

  • Title: Intellectual Property
  • File size: 105 KB
  • Free License permits: Sharing, copying and redistributing in any medium or format including adapting, remixing, transforming, and building upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. Attribution required.
  • License: Creative Commons 3 – CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Creator attribution: Nick Youngson – link to – http://nyphotographic.com/
  • Date first licensed: June 2016

Original Image: http://www.creative-commons-images.com/handwriting/i/intellectual-property.html

Suffering in Unavoidable and Universal

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Learning to deal with a chronic illness is learning the truth that suffering in unavoidable and universal.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Acts 14:22 (KJV), “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.,”

What the verse means:

Confirming is better translated “Strengthening.” Acts 18:23 renders the word this was. The verse is given to strengthen us as Believers by encouraging us to keep the faith and reminding us that as followers of Christ will suffer many afflictions be we enter into the actual kingdom of God where Jesus Christ is King.

Praying using the verses:

  1. Heavenly Father, we pray for Your strength and for You to strengthen us as we face our chronic illness.
  2. Lord Jesus, help us to be strong and continue in our faith in You.
  3. Thank you for letting us know that we will face many trials and tribulations like health issues as Believers. We cling to You to walk through this time with us.

Photo Source: Pixaby

Don’t Lose Hope

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When dealing with a chronic illness it is normal to feel hopeless and helpless.

Today’s Bible Verse:

John 11:40 (KJV), “Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?”

What the verse means:

It is not okay to lose hope.

Praying using the verses:

  1. Lord Jesus, help us to listen for Your voice and hear what You say.
  2. Heavenly Father, help us to internalize what You have to say. Help us do this through memorizing Scripture and meditating on Your Word.
  3. God, help us see Your glory.
  4. We acknowledge that our hope is built on Jesus blood and righteousness.

Photo Source: Pixaby

The Toynbee Convector by Ray Bradbury

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Toynbee Convector

Spoiler alert! Spoilers are in this review!

I first read this collection of short stories in 1992.  It includes a reprint of the 1983 story, “The Toynbee Convector” that appeared in the January 1984 issue of “Playboy.”  

Here is the story plot/summary.  The story’s protagonist claims to have returned from the future.  He has tapes and films of a miraculous technological wonderland.  Humankind has solved all its major problems – no cancer, no world hunger, etc.  This energizes the world with confidence.  People believe that their dreams will come true.  They proceed to build that future.  

They have no idea that future is all a lie.  The lie pictures a wondrous future.  It describes this future in breath-taking detail.  There is almost an action plan with hints as to how to get there.  The world’s brain trust of scientists, economists, and politicians take the clues and make this future a reality.  

Then comes the day when we are at the time and place where the protagonist is to appear from the past in the created future.  A major deflection occurs.  You have to read the story for the conclusion.  It is worth reading.  

The book has twenty-two other stories.  While the other stories in the collection are good and “worth the read,” none match the opening story.  The majority are reprints from magazine articles.  

I nominate the short story of “The Toynbee Convector” for the best fantasy/science fiction short story ever written.  It is that good.  

 

Signature RB

 

Photo Sources: The cover of the hardbound first edition along with Ray Bradbury’s signature inside the first edition.

It’s Okay Not to Understand Why

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When learning to deal with a chronic illness it is okay not to understand why this illness is happening to you.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Isaiah 55:8-9 (KJV), “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

What the verse means:

It is okay not to understand why this is happening to you because God knows. We can trust God to know what is best for us.

Praying using the verses:

  1. Heavenly Father, we ask that You show us Your ways.
  2. Lord, we pray that our thoughts would be You thoughts.
  3. Help us, God, to submit to Your thoughts and ways.

Photo Source: Pixaby

It’s Okay to Ask “Why?”

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When facing a chronic illness it is okay to ask God, “Why is this happening to me?”

Today’s Bible Verse:

Psalm 42:9a (KJV), “I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me?

What the verse means:

Asking God why is a sign of faith.

Praying using the verses:

  1. Heavenly Father, we come before You as we face our chronic illness because You are our rock.
  2. Lord Jesus, as You said on the cross we also ask God the Father, “Why hast though forsaken me? Why are You not answering me?”
  3. Jehovah God, even when we don’t understand why and don’t hear an audible answer or even Your still small voice to answer our questioning we still trust in thee.

Photo Credit: Pixaby

The Copyright Page

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Fiction and nonfiction contain a copyright page. The copyright page’s purpose is to help protect and identify your intellectual property. The copyright page contains specific information.

The Copyright Page Contains

  • Your Declaration of Copyright
  • Other Credits
  • Copyright Acknowledgements
  • Disclaimer
  • ISBN Number
  • LCCN or CIP Number
  • Where Printed
  • Edition Number
  • Published By

In the next few sessions, we will look at each part in detail.

Photo Credit: Pixaby