God is With Us

Learning to deal with a chronic illness is grasping the fact that you are not alone. God is present among us

Have you ever felt alone and overwhelmed? Maybe you are fearful or full of despair? Rejoice, God is with us.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Zephaniah 3:17 (KJV)- “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”

What the Verse Means:

The verse tells us to not be afraid and to not despair. Why should we be frightened or despair? God is present among us. He will protect us as a strong warrior. God is happy when we turn or return to Him. When we are anxious or worried, he’ll calm us with his love. We will also find delight in his songs.

Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:

  • Lord, thank you for being with me.
  • Thank you for rejoicing over me with gladness.
  • I praise you for quieting me with your love.
  • I rejoice that you rejoice over us with you singing.

 


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.

Does God Have Our Days Numbered?

Does God Have Our Days Numbered?

Learning to deal with a chronic illness is remembering God has our days numbered. He is in control.

The day I wrote today’s thought was a Monday evening, three days before my father’s ninetieth birthday. My wife, grown children, and I all had a vacation day scheduled for a big birthday bash on Thursday of that week for dad. He was looking forward to it as much as we were.

God had different plans. That very Monday night around 7:30 PM, dad, calls me that he has fallen and can’t get up. Dad had suffered a heart attack. In less than thirty-six hours he passed away, one day before his ninetieth birthday. God’s plans superseded our plans. God had dad’s days numbered.

Today’s Bible Verse:

James 4:13-16 (KJV), “Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.”

What the Verse Means:

Our future is in God’s hands and plans.

Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:

  • Heavenly Father, I thank you for every day of life.
  • I acknowledge God as the giver of life and that He has our days numbered.
  • Lord Jesus, I trust you know what is best for me and ask that God’s will be done.

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. Over the next two months, I will publish each chapter as a blog post.

Twenty Bible Verses to Help With Worry and Anxiety

Joshua 10:25 (KJV), “And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.”

Ruth 1:12 (KJV), “Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;”

Psalm 3:2-6 (KJV), “Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.”

Psalm 147:11 (KJV), “The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.”

Proverbs 13:12 (KJV), “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”

Isaiah 40:31 (KJV), “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV), “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Romans 5:2-7 (KJV), “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.”

Romans 5:5 (KJV), “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Romans 8:24-25 (KJV), “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

Romans 8:28-29 (KJV), “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Romans 15:13 (KJV), “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

1 Corinthians 15:54-58 (KJV), “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

Galatians 6:8 (KJV), “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

Philippians 1:6 (KJV), “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV), “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 1:27 (KJV), “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

Colossians 3:1-2 (KJV), “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

1 Peter 5:10 (KJV), “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while*, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

Hebrew 11:11 (KJV), “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age*, because she judged him faithful who had promised.”


Scripture Source: All Bible Verses are from the King James Version (KJV) by Public Domain
Photo Source: Pixabay

Glory is Eternal

Learning to deal with a chronic illness includes understanding our troubles will not last forever. 

We need to remember our troubles are temporary. In Christ, our glory is eternal.

Bible Verse:

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (KJV), “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

What the Verse Means:

Today’s Bible passage tells us why we should never give up. We see that while our bodies are dying our spirit is renewed every day.

We learn that however significant our problems are in Christ they are small. The present troubles of our chronic illness will not last forever. They will actually produce a legacy for us in the glory that outweighs them and will last forever.

We shouldn’t look at our present troubles, but instead, we should turn our eyes upon Jesus. Our Earthly problems will pass, but the things we presently cannot see will last forever.

Pray Using the Scripture:

  • Heavenly Father, I pray that I do not lose heart as I deal with my chronic illness. 
  • Lord Jesus, I know that while my outer body is wasting away, my inner self is being renewed by you day by day.
  • God, I know this affliction is but for a moment in eternity’s clock and that you have greater things in store for me. 
  • Help me to not dwell on my present circumstances but to focus on the future I have in Jesus Christ.
  • I pray I would continue to have the godly attitude that only comes from you as I face life daily.

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. Over the next two months, I will publish each chapter as a blog post.

Merry Christmas 2018


Photo Source: Pixabay

The Ultimate Safe Place

Learning to deal with a chronic illness is realizing as Believers in Jesus Christ that we have an ultimate safe place.

As we face chronic illness, we need to realize the ultimate safe place for us is in Jesus Christ. Let us never forget that Jesus is our rock, fortress, and deliverer.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Psalm 18:2 (KJV), “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”

What the Verse Means:

King David uses these different names of God to show that God has many ways to help. This is seen in contrast to the wicked have many ways of hurting people.

Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:

  • Heavenly Father, I thank you for being my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.
  • Lord Jesus, I trust in you. You are my strength. You are my buckler that is my shield.
  • Thank you for being the horn of my salvation and my high tower.

 


Photo Source:  Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License. The photo was taken by Joel Kramer. Original photo source is here.


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.

Mercies of God

Learning to deal with a chronic illness is understanding it is only because of the mercies of God that things are not worse. 

As we live with a chronic illness, we sometimes only see the bad. We fail to realize it is owing to the mercies of God that they are not worse.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Lamentation 3: 22-23 (KJV), “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

What the Verse Means:

We should observe what the Lord makes for us, as well as what is against us. God’s compassions do not fail. We have fresh instances every morning. Portions on earth are perishing things, but God is a portion forever. It is our duty and will be our comfort and satisfaction, to hope and quietly to wait for the salvation of the Lord.

Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:

  • God our Father, thank you that your steadfast love never ceases. Your passion awaits me daily.
  • Lord Jesus, I praise you that your mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning.
  • I testify great is your faithfulness.

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. Over the next two months, I will publish each chapter as a blog post.

Twenty Bible Verses That Advise Us To Wait Upon the Lord

Wait Upon The Lord

The Bible is full of verses that remind us to wait on the Lord. As a caregiver, there are times we need to wait.

Have you ever read in the Bible the phrase “wait upon the Lord” and wondered what it means? Those four words have two basic meanings in the Bible. 

Old Testament Meaning

When “wait upon the Lord” is used in the Old Testament, the Nation of Israel, the people of God, and individual people were told to wait on God’s providential care. 

New Testament Meaning

Often when the phrase “wait upon the Lord” is used in the New Testament it refers to Jesus’ second coming. 

A common meaning in most all biblical instances for waiting on the Lord is having the expectant trust and hope in God’s movement and activity.

Twenty Bible Verses That Advise Us To Wait Upon the Lord


“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”

Psalm 27:14 King James Version (KJV)


“Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.”

Psalm 25:3 (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 25:5 (KJV)


“For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.”

Psalm 37:9 (KJV)


“My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

Psalm 62:5 (KJV)


“I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.”

Psalm 69:3 (KJV)


“Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us.”

Psalm 123:2 (KJV)


“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)


“And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.”

Isaiah 8:17 (KJV)


“Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O Lord our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.”

Jeremiah 14:22 (KJV)


“Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counseller, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.”

Mark 15:43 (KJV)


“And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.”

Luke 2:25 (KJV)


“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.read more.”

Luke 12:35-40 (KJV)


“And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

Romans 8:23-25 (KJV)


“So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:”

1 Corinthians 1:7 (KJV)


“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”Galatians 5:5 (KJV), “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”

1 Corinthians 4:5 (KJV)


“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

Titus 2:13 (KJV)


“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

Hebrews 9:28 (KJV)


“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”

James 5:7-8 (KJV)


“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”

Revelation 6:9-11 (KJV)


Scripture Source: All Bible Verses are from the King James Version (KJV) by Public Domain
Photo Source: Pixabay

The Ultimate Source of Help

Learning to deal with a chronic illness includes realizing that the ultimate source of help comes from the Lord God. It doesn’t matter where we look for assistance. We can seek medicines, physicians, counselors, pastors, and friends for support. Each plays a significant role as part of the healing team. The Lord is the ultimate source of help.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Psalm 121:1-2 (KJV), “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”

What the Verse Means:

The verse teaches we are to stay ourselves upon God as a God of power and a God all-sufficient for us. King David, the writer of the Psalm, found the benefit of God’s help. 

For us, it is an order to trust in our God. This is to be a complete trust in all things always. It bids us “stay” ourselves upon our God.

Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:

  • I pray that I would rely on the power of God as I continue this long fight against my chronic disease. 
  • I pray that I would look above the hills for my help in this battle. 
  • I pray that I would look to the Lord God of heaven. 
  • I pray that I would see all my help laid up in God, in his power and goodness, his providence and grace. While the healing team includes the oncologist, cardiologist, neurologist, dermatologist, the gastroenterologist, pharmacists and doctors, nurses, lab techs, as well as prescription medications, it is ultimately from the Lord we must expect our help to come. 
  • I pray for comfort my family – children, spouse, siblings as they watch me battle the disease. Calm their fears. Give them boldness and courage to walk with me and comfort me through the valley and the entire journey.

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.

Joy

Learning to deal with a chronic illness may include some crying as well as joyful times.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Psalm 30:5 (KJV), “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

What the Verse Means:

When our soul is afflicted by sin or by suffering, we often feel as if we are dead. When we seek our comfort in God either through repentance or the intimacy of bearing our soul and hurts to the Father, it is like life returning to the dead. We find our bliss and favor from God. Only He is so reviving. It is our unending treasure.

Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:

  • Heavenly Father, thank you for turning night into day, sighing into singing, grief into gladness, mourning into music, bitter into sweet, and wilderness into a paradise.
  • Lord Jesus, I understand that the ups and downs of life are the ebb and flow I need to keep my soul in a healthy constitution. I ask that you walk with me on this journey.
  • I praise you Lord for the joy that comes in the morning. Help me to keep my eyes on you. Help me to realize every day is a day of new beginnings. Even when I fail you and myself, I can start anew daily if I will just do as 1 John 1:9 (KJV) teaches, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

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. Over the next two months, I will publish each chapter as a blog post.