Month: November 2018

Know God

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Devotions, Hope, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, Memoir, PrayersLeave a comment

Part of learning to live with a chronic illness is slowing down and knowing God. As we live with the daily challenges of an ongoing disease it is essential we get adequate rest.

This respite is both physical and spiritual. Today’s Scripture tells us to slow down, that is to be still and know I am God.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Psalm 46:10 (KJV), “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

What the Verse Means:

Part of learning to deal with a chronic illness is learning to slow down.

Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:

  • Heavenly Father, help me to be still and know you more intimately, and to feel your presence.
  • Lord Jesus, please help me to slow down and even stop when necessary to get to know God.
  • I pray that I would find rest in the adequacy of God.

Photo Source: Pixabay

Thy Will Be Done

Today’s blog post is from the book “Thy Will Be Done: 60 Prayers for the Chronically Ill” by Jimmie Aaron Kepler. It is available in print and on Kindle for Amazon at Amazon Print or Amazon Kindle.

If you are an Amazon Kindle Unlimited member, the book is available to read for free in Kindle format. Over the next two months, I will publish each chapter as a blog post

God is Good

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Devotions, Hope, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, PrayersLeave a comment

Part of learning to live with a chronic illness understands that sometimes we need a safe place. A Christian has such a safe place in God.

The same God who was powerful enough to create the heavens and the Earth and who could destroy the world with the flood in Noah’s day is compassionate, kind, and charitable in his nature. He is an unquestionable harbor of protection to those who worship and serve him. He is good. Because of his goodness, the Believer is never ignored or deserted by him. God accepts, keeps, and preserves them Believers of Jesus Christ.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Nahum 1:7 (KJV), “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”

What the Verse Means:

But though God is steadfast in his power, yet he is merciful, gracious, and beneficent in his nature. God is a sure refuge and protection to those who know him as their Savior, worship him, serve him, and put their trust in him. He knows and pays a regard to all such so that they are never overlooked or neglected by him. As such, God approves, owns, and preserves us.

Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:

  • Heavenly Father, I praise you for your goodness.
  • Thank you for being my stronghold in the day of trouble.
  • Thank you for never neglecting me.
  • Thank you for your provision.

Photo Source: Pixabay

Thy Will Be Done

Today’s blog post is from the book “Thy Will Be Done: 60 Prayers for the Chronically Ill” by Jimmie Aaron Kepler. It is available in print and on Kindle for Amazon at Amazon Print or Amazon Kindle.

If you are an Amazon Kindle Unlimited member, the book is available to read for free in Kindle format. Over the next two months, I will publish each chapter as a blog post

Peace    

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Devotions, Hope, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, Memoir, PrayersLeave a comment

                                                         

Real Peace Comes From God

Part of learning to live with a chronic illness understands that real peace comes from God. Living with a chronic disease can leave us overwhelmed. The endless stream of questions from well-meaning family, friends, acquaintances, and coworkers drains us. We find ourselves emotionally and physically exhausted. At times we need more than rest. We need peace.

As we learn to live with a chronic illness, we realize that real peace comes from God.

Today’s Bible Verse:

John 14:27 (KJV), “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

What the Verse Means:

The verse uses the Jewish form of greeting and blessing. Indeed, the hearers understand this wish for peace. Jesus wishes them the same serenity of soul as he experiences. He leaves this availability of this peace with them. Jesus lets them know his words are not idle or meaningless. He means what he says. His words are true. Because his words are factual, we should not fear the future. No matter how difficult the challenges are that you face, stand firm. Remember Jesus paid the price for your comfort, salvation, and redemption.

Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:

  • Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of peace.
  • Lord, I pray my heart would not be troubled.
  • I pray I would not fear as I continue the battle against the chronic illness.

Photo Source: Pixabay

Thy Will Be Done

Today’s blog post is from the book “Thy Will Be Done: 60 Prayers for the Chronically Ill” by Jimmie Aaron Kepler. It is available in print and on Kindle for Amazon at Amazon Print or Amazon Kindle.

If you are an Amazon Kindle Unlimited member, the book is available to read for free in Kindle format. Over the next two months, I will publish each chapter as a blog post

 

Wait

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Devotions, Hope, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, Memoir, PrayersLeave a comment

Part of learning to live with a chronic illness is waiting on the Lord God. We live in an era when the rule is to do something or to get something now. We see this in the emails we receive and on the blogs, we read where they have a “call to action.” Some even have a call to action button for us to click. On television commercials and online video advertisements we hear the sales pitch ending with the words, “Call now.”

Home pregnancy tests allow for instant results.

When we have a medical scan, biopsy, or blood work and must wait for days to find out the test’s verdict we can become frustrated and impatient.

Today’s Bible verse reminds us there are times when we need to wait.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Psalm 27:14 (KJV), “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”

What the Verse Means:

We live in a world of instant gratification. When we read of waiting and patience, it is hard to picture them as virtues. In the twenty-first century, we find waiting unacceptable.

The Lord commands you through this verse to wait upon him. There is value in waiting. Waiting has you obedient to God’s teaching. It allows you to have a better strength of soul, and a larger capacity to thoroughly appreciate the Lord.

We need to remember that waiting and surrendering to God helps you have peace of mind and soul as well as strengthens your heart. The command is more than to wait. It is to abandon all your desires to the Lord.

It is also important to remember we are not waiting just for things or test results. We are waiting for God. This waiting shows our trust in God.

The Bible is full of verses that remind us to wait on the Lord. Examples from the Book of Psalm’s are:

Psalm 27:14 (KJV), “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

Psalm 25:3 (KJV), “Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.”

Psalm 25:5 (KJV), “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.”

Psalm 62:5 (KJV), “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

Psalm 69:3 (KJV), “I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.”

Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:

  • Heavenly Father, help me to wait on the Lord.
  • Lord, help me to be of good courage.
  • Thank you for the promise that the Lord will strengthen my heart.
  • Heavenly Father, help me to realize I am more than waiting for a cure, for test results, or a medical billing issue to be resolved. Help me know I am waiting on God.

Photo Source: Pixabay

Thy Will Be Done

Today’s blog post is from the book “Thy Will Be Done: 60 Prayers for the Chronically Ill” by Jimmie Aaron Kepler. It is available in print and on Kindle for Amazon at Amazon Print or Amazon Kindle.

If you are an Amazon Kindle Unlimited member, the book is available to read for free in Kindle format. Over the next two months, I will publish each chapter as a blog post

Thy Word

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Devotions, Hope, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, Memoir, PrayersLeave a comment

Part of learning to live with a chronic illness understands the power of God’s Word. Today’s verse is a reminder of the power and guidance of God’s word, the Holy Bible. Psalm 119:105 (KJV) helps explain part of the purpose of God’s word. It reads, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

Today’s Bible Verse:

Jeremiah 15:16 (KJV), “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.”

What the Verse Means:

The verse reflects Jeremiah’s call to the office of prophet. He had not sought or expected to be a prophet. Likewise, God calls us to follow him as Believers of Jesus Christ.

As Jeremiah mentions eating the words of God he is expressing the close relationship between him and God that comes from reading, hearing, and consuming the word of God.

Jeremiah concludes in the passage telling us that he is called by God’s name. It is a reminder that God set him apart and ordained him to be a prophet. Likewise, as a Believer in Jesus Christ, God has selected you and you as Jeremiah did have responded to God’s selection of you.

Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:

  • Heavenly Father, thank you for the Bible, your word.
  • Lord God, help me listen to, meditate, and memorize your Word, and let it sustains me.
  • Your Word brings joy to my heart.
  • Lord Jesus, that you for selecting me.

Photo Source: Pixabay

Thy Will Be Done

Today’s blog post is from the book “Thy Will Be Done: 60 Prayers for the Chronically Ill” by Jimmie Aaron Kepler. It is available in print and on Kindle for Amazon at Amazon Print or Amazon Kindle.

If you are an Amazon Kindle Unlimited member, the book is available to read for free in Kindle format. Over the next two months, I will publish each chapter as a blog post

True Prosperity

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Devotions, Hope, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, Memoir, Prayers1 Comment

Part of learning to live with a chronic illness realizes our true prosperity is in the Lord Jesus Christ. Today’s passage speaks on our mental health and general well-being.

Today’s Bible Verse:

3 John 1:2 (KJV), “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

What the Verse Means:

John, the author, is addressing Gaius. Prosperity here is mental health and general well-being.  John wants Gaius to prosper and have good health equal to his spiritual health.

Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:

  • Heavenly Father, I pray that I may prosper, that is to be healthy fiscally. Why? Not to be rich but to care for my family and pay my medical bills.
  • Lord Jesus, I pray that I would be in physically good health and that health would mirror our spiritual health.
  • I pray for rest and peace of mind.

Photo Source: Pixabay

Thy Will Be Done

Today’s blog post is from the book “Thy Will Be Done: 60 Prayers for the Chronically Ill” by Jimmie Aaron Kepler. It is available in print and on Kindle for Amazon at Amazon Print or Amazon Kindle.

If you are an Amazon Kindle Unlimited member, the book is available to read for free in Kindle format. Over the next two months, I will publish each chapter as a blog post

Live or Die

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Devotions, Hope, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, Memoir, PrayersLeave a comment

Part of learning to live with a chronic illness realizes we are the Lord’s. Today most people live for themselves and live for the moment. This lifestyle is different from how a Christian should live.

The purpose of the Christian life is to do the Lord’s will and promote his glory by our life. This doesn’t mean you cannot have fun. On the contrary, it allows you to have fun without regrets.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Romans 14:8 (KJV), “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”

What the Verse Means:

The purpose of the Christian life is to do the Lord’s will and promote his glory by our life. A Christin should do this because they belong to God. Not only do we belong to God in this life but we belong to him even as we are dying and after we die.

The passage provides a reminder that the soul does not cease to be conscious at death. We are still the Lord’s.

Even when the body is in the grace, we are the Lords.  2 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV) reminds us, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:

  • Heavenly Father, if I live, I live to the Lord. Help me live to the Lord. May you be glorified through my life.
  • Lord Jesus, if I die, I die to the Lord. Help me to die to the Lord. Help me to remember that even in the grave I am yours.
  • I proclaim to the world whether I live or whether I die, I am the Lord’s. Thank you, Lord, for the security I have as a Believer in the Lord.

Photo Source: Pixabay

Today’s blog post is from the book “Thy Will Be Done: 60 Prayers for the Chronically Ill” by Jimmie Aaron Kepler. It is available in print and on Kindle for Amazon at Amazon Print or Amazon Kindle. If you are an Amazon Kindle Unlimited member, the book is available to read for free in Kindle format.

Trust

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Devotions, Hope, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, Memoir, PrayersLeave a comment

Part of learning to live with a chronic illness is trusting God. When dealing with a protracted disease sometimes it is tough to maintain focus or have peace of mind. The person battling the ailment often finds themselves dwelling on what is happening to them physically, fiscally, and thinking if they’ll even have a future. It can be hard.

Today’s verse gives us hope as it tells us peace of mind is available. The way to peace is to focus on God, not your problem. It is to trust God.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Isaiah 26:3 (KJV), “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

What the Verse Means:

The key word is trust. We have a requirement to trust God. Trusting in God, that is when our mind is focused on Him, not our troubles, allows us to be kept in God’s perfect peace.

Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:

  • Heavenly Father, help me to keep my mind steadfast on you.
  • Thank you for the peace of mind that can only come from God.
  • Lord Jesus, help me to take my refuge in you.
  • God, I know you are my only hope in battling my chronic illness.

Photo Source: Pixabay

Thy Will Be Done

Today’s blog post is from the book “Thy Will Be Done: 60 Prayers for the Chronically Ill” by Jimmie Aaron Kepler. It is available in print and on Kindle for Amazon at Amazon Print or Amazon Kindle.

If you are an Amazon Kindle Unlimited member, the book is available to read for free in Kindle format. Over the next two months, I will publish each chapter as a blog post

Hearing

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Devotions, Hope, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, Memoir, PrayersLeave a comment

Part of learning to live with a chronic illness is listening until we hear God’s voice. When we face a constant disease too often, we rush in and try to accomplish everything in our own power. We manage this. We plan that. We listen to this aunt or to a trusted friend. We may hear conflicting recommendations from our healing team, that is the doctors, ministers, and caregivers.

While wise counsel is right, we need to seek God and listen to his voice. We do this through prayer, Bible reading, and listening to sermons.

Sometimes we are in such a rush to get to a solution or get things under control that we miss hearing from The Great Physician. We need to remember the word s of Psalm 46:10 (KJV), “Be still, and know that I am God:”

Sometimes we just need to sit and be still before we can hear God.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Psalm 143:8 (KJV) “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”

What the Verse Means:

As we face trials and hardships, we can find ourselves overwhelmed. When we become inundated by fear, grief, depression, and self-pity, it becomes hard to hear God.

Today’s verse reminds us to spend time with God, to begin our day with God. As Christians, we can trust God. We can ask him to both guide us and to lift us up. We need to stop, that is too slow down and take time for God. We need to at his Word, that is to read the Bible. We need to listen, that his to hear sermons, hymns, and listen to his still small voice answering our prayers.

Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:

  • Heavenly Father, draw me to you in the morning where I can hear your righteousness.
  • Lord Jesus, I place my trust in you. Help me to always put all my faith in you.
  • I ask your Holy Spirit to speak to my spirit and to guide me in the way I should walk.
  • I pray you would lift my soul unto you.
  • I pray for myself, my spouse, our children, and grandchildren to be drawn to you, to experience you and choose to attend worship services where we can hear your word preached.

Photo Source: Pixabay

Thy Will Be Done

Today’s blog post is from the book “Thy Will Be Done: 60 Prayers for the Chronically Ill” by Jimmie Aaron Kepler. It is available in print and on Kindle for Amazon at Amazon Print or Amazon Kindle.

If you are an Amazon Kindle Unlimited member, the book is available to read for free in Kindle format. Over the next two months, I will publish each chapter as a blog post

Fear

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Devotions, Hope, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, Memoir, PrayersLeave a comment

Part of learning to live with a chronic illness is accepting that fear of the disease and the unknown is a normal feeling. The illness’s unknown and uncertainty are scary. The very nature of a chronic disease often has death or at least its possibility confronting us. If it is rheumatoid arthritis, you pictured pain and decreased mobility or use of joints. You envision nothing but bleak tomorrows.

Today’s Scripture reminds us that God is with us. We do not face today or tomorrow alone. God is here to strengthen and help us.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Isaiah 41:10 (KJV), “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

What the Verse Means:

The verse’s meaning is best seen when examined in context with two preceding verses. Isaiah 41:8-10 (KJV), “But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

The whole passage is one of great tenderness. I am with thee (that is, God is with you). I (God) will strengthen thee (now and in the future). I have strengthened thee (in times past). There is a reminder that God has chosen you. We see a declaration of past favors as well as prophetic words for future favors since God is unchanging.

Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:

  • Heavenly Father, I fear not because you are here with me as I fight my affliction.
  • I am not heartbroken or dismayed because I know you are my God and are with me.
  • I rejoice and claim your promises that you will strengthen me.
  • I rejoice and claim your promises that you will help me.
  • I rejoice and claim your promises that you will uphold me with the right hand of your righteousness.
  • I continue to pray for a hedge of protection for my loved one or even myself, both in the workplace as coworkers don’t always understand and during my treatments.

Photo Source: Pixabay

Thy Will Be Done

Today’s blog post is from the book “Thy Will Be Done: 60 Prayers for the Chronically Ill” by Jimmie Aaron Kepler. It is available in print and on Kindle for Amazon at Amazon Print or Amazon Kindle.

If you are an Amazon Kindle Unlimited member, the book is available to read for free in Kindle format. Over the next two months, I will publish each chapter as a blog post