Memory loss
Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services. Nehemiah 13:14
One person’s experience of illness is this; one of the most aggravating and frustrating parts of some chronic illnesses is the fog or memory loss. I get so easily confused and frustrated when I cannot remember where I put something or where I am going, etc?. In fact it is much worse when I am medicated. There are times when I cannot think clear enough to even talk in a conversation.
It’s easy to assume that perhaps the Lord has forgot us sometimes. After-all we’re not able to do as much for His service as we once could before illness. Maybe He hasn’t remembered us for awhile now, but the scriptures tell us different.
Nehemiah frequently asked God to remember him. Reminding God is a privilege of fellowshipping with God, it does mean we have been forgotten. Humans forget what we have done, our small minds cannot hold ever memory of every event we have been apart of, but God does not forget. He does not forget our service to Him, and He does not forget His children. You can rest assured today dear loved one that the Loving Heavenly Father loves you personally and has never for
a moment forgotten you.
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"I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my
right hand I shall not be moved." (Psalm 16:8 NIV)
In talking to people who experience Chronic Pain, they were all agreed that when pain is escalated, it seems that is all upon which one can focus. We lose interest in other things in our lives because we can't seem to think about anything else other than how much we hurt. It's a struggle to be positive.
What does it mean to "set the Lord always before you?" It means that you choose to relate everything you encounter to trust in God. What you choose to focus on becomes the dominant influence in your life. Those of us in chronic pain and illness know that is often difficult to think in a positive manner. When we choose to focus on Christ, we
invite Him to take the most important position in our lives as Counselor and Defender.
God's incredible grace can give us peace when we are suffering. This doesn't mean life will be easy or pain will disappear but if we set the Lord always before us, we can come to feel God's embrace during those desperate times in our lives.
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trust in You." (Isaiah 26:3) NIV
Helen Steiner Rice writes:
"Just close your eyes and open your heart And feel your worries and cares depart, Just yield yourself to the Father above And let Him hold you secure in His love."
Friends, when you are asked, "How are you doing?" and you say "All is well", just explain that God's grace and love will sustain you in difficult times.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to always set You before
us so that we will turn every suffering over to You. You
will always be faithful and be with us.
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Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, For His compassions never fail.They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:23-24 NIV)
I never knew how trying it could be to take care of a toddler day in and day out. I never knew what kind of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion could occur during the throes of child-rearing. I never knew that my capacity for compassion could become so taxed,
even to the point of madness!
As I looked into the tear-swollen, tantrum-throwing face of my son, I began to realize just how little compassion I have compared to that of my Heavenly Father. For it is God's compassions that never fail,
not my own. It is due to His love and mercy that I am not consumed into the darkness of despair and rage. It is His faithfulness that keeps me going from day to day.
Oh, what a wonderful comfort to know this great truth! How wonderful to know that we are not on our own in this often difficult life. We can't work up the compassion. We can't work up the love. It is only because of God's love and compassion bestowed upon us, His children, that we can accomplish His will in our lives. It is through Him we can stand through the storms and come out stronger than before.
Today, my friend, His love will hold you, His compassions will not fail you and His faithfulness will carry you through whatever trial you may face. It is His grace, not ours, that saves us from
ourselves. It is His love that endures forever. Blessed be the name of the LORD!
"And so we know and rely on the LOVE God has for us....
God is LOVE! Whoever lives in LOVE, lives in God and
God in him." (1 John 4:16 NIV)
I went to the store today to pick-up some grocery items. Looking around the store I was reminded on every corner that "Valentine's Day" was approaching. I saw display after display of Hearts, Candies, Toys, and Cards all designed to remind that that special some-one in your life, that they are LOVED.
The GREATEST "Token of Affection" that you can receive this Valentine's Day, is from the "One" who has an everlasting LOVE for you. God so loved YOU...that He gave YOU His only Son, to die for you, that you may have eternal life though Him.
The Bible is the Greatest LOVE story in the world. It is filled with the LOVE of a Father, who understands and cares for us, unconditionally. It reminds us, that when we fail, He is just to forgive us. It shows us that despite the problems in our life, There is a LOVE that we can depend on.
I realize that the pain today in our lives, cuts deeply. Sometimes we feel alone and abandoned, like no-one understands or cares for us. Depression and frustration can cloud our perception of the beauty of
God's Love for us. We have to hold-on to the promise of "His" Love for us, when things are bad....and remember that there is one who walks with us and will never forsake us.
My prayer today is that you feel the presence of the Lord surround you. That the warmth of God's Love will lift-you...That the pain you feel, will fade, as you reach for God's Love letter to you (BIBLE)..and open your-self to the unconditional Love of a Father
who is waiting to help and guide you.
REMEMBER TODAY: YOU ARE SO LOVED!!!!