"You who bring good tidings... lift your voice with a shout... do not be afraid... 'Here is your God!'" (Isa. 40:9)

When You Are Tempted to Speed Up the Trip to Heaven

Posted on November 25th, 2011 in Devotional, Life Issues, Health News by Jonnie Wright

This topic niggles at the back of my mind. Here’s an article that is a thorough discussion of suicide for Christians. The author, Lisa Copen, has rheumitoid arthristis and must speak her mind into the computer rather than type. Her mind travels faster than the computer can record; and may it always be so.

When You Are Tempted to Speed Up the Trip to Heaven

  By Lisa Copen

Heaven. The pain will subside. The joy will abound. We will know the presence of God’s glory unlike we can even imagine. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? Even the apostle Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”(Philippians 1:21). He too was eager to see an end to his suffering here on earth and spend eternity with God. The topic that I am confronting here, however, is not the blessed event of entering His gates at His moment of appointment, but the word that Christian leaders are hesitant to confront–suicide.

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More frequently than I would like I hear from a people who are seriously questioning why God would want them to remain here on earth one more day. And for each person that contacts me, I wonder how many others are suffering silently. What good could possibly come of constant pain? How can God expect us to continue to endure a future that seems to hold nothing but disappointments, sorrow, and physical pain?

A Real New Year’s Celebration

Posted on January 23rd, 2011 in Devotional by Jonnie Wright

Wednesday before New Years Eve, one of the ladies in my Chronic Pain Bible Study suggested that we do a jigsaw puzzle on New Year’s Eve–actually, New Year’s Eve Day–I mean, who would ever want to stay up until midnight? Four of us agreed; and we set time and place and who would bring what to eat. Then the 2-day wait began. And as it did, each of us became more and more excited. Emails and telephone calls flew as the hour approached. We were just so happy to be able to do something that felt like a party, where we could eat and drink junk food, and be well enough to do something we all enjoyed!So we met at my house, giggling in our pajamas & slippers. We ate something healthy before bringing out the junk food, and we picked out a puzzle we thought we might be able to do. All evening we worked diligently on the rather difficult 1000-piece puzzle, telling stories, eating like 5 year olds, and laughing at the idiosyncrasies God gave each of us that made us unique. What a night! And we finished at midnight! What a surprise! We went outside and joined the “Happy New Years” with my neighbors. (I’d lived in my home for 9 years and have never spent New Years Eve at midnight in the middle of the street!)When we came back in to put away the puzzle, I noticed that 2 pieces were missing. We searched high and low, shaking out blankets, checking our clothes, on our knees on the floor (quite a difficult position, both down and back up), moving furniture, clearing items from the table… the pieces were just not there! OK. I’d make a note on the box and if ever that puzzle was done again, it really was a hard puzzle, then I’d know that 2 Ferris wheel puzzle pieces were missing. Hugs and good-byes were said and the glorious, stay-up-to-midnight night was over, leaving satisfied smiles and sweet memories.Getting out of bed on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1st, 2011, was not the easiest of tasks. But I was still smiling as I finished the cleaning-up chores. The last thing I did was to pick up my camera for one more picture of the puzzle we had put together in the last 7 hours of 2010. And there, sitting on the table in plain view, were the 2 missing puzzle pieces. Welcome 2011! Let me remember all year long that you, God, are indeed interested in the small things of our lives, even something as small as two puzzle pieces.

What if Things Only Get Worse?

Posted on August 31st, 2010 in Devotional by Jonnie Wright

These words from Max Lucado are surely the encouragement for these times. As a “senior citizen” (horrible name), I have watched the crumbling of America as I have known it. But I’m not going there with my thoughts. I’m going to cling to the cross and be comforted by Christ’s words. I hope you enjoy what Max has to say.

What if things get worse?
by Max Lucado

Christ tells us that they will. He predicts spiritual bailouts, ecological turmoil, and worldwide persecution. Yet in the midst of it all, he contends bravery is still an option. (Matt. 24:4-14)

Things are going to get bad, really bad, before they get better. And when conditions worsen, “See to it that you are not alarmed” (Matt. 24:6 NIV). Jesus chose a stout term for alarmed that he used on no other occasion. It means “to wail, to cry aloud,” as if Jesus counseled the disciples, “Don’t freak out when bad stuff happens.”

“See to it…” Bosses and teachers are known to use that phrase. “See to it that you fill out the reports.” Or “Your essay is due tomorrow. See to it that you finish your work.” The words call for additional attention, special focus, extra resolve. Isn’t this what Christ is asking of us? In this dangerous day, on this Faberge’-fragile globe, with financial collapse on the news and terrorists on the loose, we have every reason to retreat into bunkers of dread and woe.

But Christ says to us, “See to it that you are not alarmed.” (NIV)
“Keep your head and don’t panic” (MSG).
“See that you are not troubled” (NKJV).

And remember: “All these [challenging times] are the beginning of birth pains” (Matt. 24:8 NIV), and birth pangs aren’t all bad. (Easy for me to say.) Birth pains signal the onset of the final push. The pediatrician assures the mom-to-be, “It’s going to hurt for a time, but it’s going to get better.” Jesus assures us of the same. Global conflicts indicate our date on the maternity calendar. We are in the final hours, just a few pushes from delivery, a few brief ticks of eternity’s clock from the great crowning of creation. A whole new world is coming!

From Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2009) Max Lucado

Little Foxes nipping at my heels

Posted on May 6th, 2010 in Devotional by Jonnie Wright

by Jonnie Wright 

I was so eager to sit down to a new Bible study this morning! But all these inconsequential have-tos nibbled at my enthusiasm: brush teeth, make hot chocolate, fix chair for cat, get to that pile of to-dos by the computer, don’t lose the list for trip, and… On and on went the distractions until the phrase “little foxes ruin the vineyard” stopped me cold. Here were all these little foxes nibbling at my heels and snipping off the grapes of my joy with each diversion. (I came across this word picture in Heart to Heart with Holley called ”Invisible Squirrels.” It intrigued me.)

Sit down! Sit down! My brain intoned, or you’ll never get started! Yes, but… “Come away with me my love. Listen to my voice, hear my sweet voice and receive my joy.” I sat! I sighed into His arms and let His Words overtake me–His voice sweet, His face lovely. Again I was renewed… and reminded that the cat and the cushions and the lists would sort themselves out. All I needed to do was to turn those little foxes over to God and He’d chase their yipping right out of my mind.

Lord, “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.” (SS 2:15)

The Heart of Paul

Posted on May 2nd, 2010 in Devotional by Jonnie Wright

I heard a good sermon today about running the race and finishing strong. The heart of Paul can be found in Philippians as he describes the lofty truths of Christianity in practical terms.

We hear so many sermons throughout our lives, yet every one of them has nuggets from which we can learn. These are the 5 nuggets I gleaned today:

1. We need to be in partnership to accomplish God’s individually designed ministry for us. We need a Paul–someone who can teach & admonish us. We need a Timothy–someone with whom we can pour our lives into. We need a Barnabas–someone we can encourage and who encourages us.

2. We need to devote our hearts to life’s calling… and I find that hard to do as illness so often distracts me.

3. We must touch someone with the love of God… even if it’s only one person.

4. Rejoice in the Lord always. To Rejoice is our Choice!

5. We can do all things through Christ who strenthens us!

I’d like to brag that I made it to church today; but the fact is that I don’t go to church, I can’t. So you can hear this very inspiring sermon right here on your own computer at: http://www.vimeo.com/11309717


Take Goliath Down

Posted on April 16th, 2010 in Devotional by Jonnie Wright

I so related to this devotional by Max Lucado that I just had to share. How frequently I run from the giant of despondency when I am again faced with another bad day. Or perhaps the giant of dependency when I go back to my meds one more time to try to ease the pain.

What giants are you struggling with? Perhaps finding their names will give you a handle on who to bring before the Lord.

by Max Lucado

Goliaths still roam our world. Debt. Disaster. Dialysis. Danger. Deceit. Disease. Depression. Super-size challenges still swagger and strut, still pilfer sleep and embezzle peace and liposuction joy. But they can’t dominate you. You know how to deal with them. You face giants by facing God first.

Focus on giants—you stumble.

Focus on God—your giants tumble.

You know what David knew, and you do what David did. You pick up five stones, and you make five decisions. Ever wonder why David took five stones into battle? Why not two or twenty? Rereading his story reveals five answers. Use your five fingers to remind you of the five stones you need to face down your Goliath. Let your thumb remind you of …

1. THE STONE OF THE PAST
Goliath jogged David’s memory. Elah was a déjà vu. While everyone else quivered, David remembered. God had given him strength to wrestle a lion and strong-arm a bear. Wouldn’t he do the same with the giant? A good memory makes heroes.

“Remember His marvelous works which He has done” (1 Chron. 16:12). Catalog God’s successes. Keep a list of his world records. Has he not walked you through high waters? Proven to be faithful? Have you not known his provision? How many nights have you gone to bed hungry? Mornings awakened in the cold? He has made roadkill out of your enemies. Write today’s worries in sand. Chisel yesterday’s victories in stone. Pick up the stone of the past. Then select …

2. THE STONE OF PRAYER
Note the valley between your thumb and finger. To pass from one to the next you must go through it. Let it remind you of David’s descent. Before going high, David went low; before ascending to fight, David descended to prepare. Don’t face your giant without first doing the same. Dedicate time to prayer. Paul, the apostle, wrote, “Prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long” (Eph. 6:18 MSG).

Prayer spawned David’s successes. His Brook Besor wisdom grew out of the moment he “strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Sam. 30:6). When Saul’s soldiers tried to capture him, David turned toward God: “You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble” (Ps. 59:16).

Invite God’s help. Pick up the stone of prayer. And don’t neglect …

3. THE STONE OF PRIORITY
Let your tallest finger remind you of your highest priority: God’s reputation. David jealously guarded it. No one was going to defame his Lord. David fought so that “all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Sam. 17:46–47).

David saw Goliath as a chance for God to show off! Did David know he would exit the battle alive? No. But he was willing to give his life for the reputation of God.

What if you saw your giant in the same manner? Rather than begrudge him, welcome him. Your cancer is God’s chance to flex his healing muscles. Your sin is God’s opportunity to showcase grace. Your struggling marriage can billboard God’s power. See your struggle as God’s canvas. On it he will paint his multicolored supremacy. Announce God’s name and then reach for …

4. THE STONE OF PASSION
David ran, not away from, but toward his giant. On one side of the battlefield, Saul and his cowardly army gulped. On the other, Goliath and his skull-splitters scoffed. In the middle, the shepherd boy ran on his spindly legs. Who bet on David? Who put money on the kid from Bethlehem? Not the Philistines. Not the Hebrews. Not David’s siblings or David’s king. But God did.

And since God did, and since David knew God did, the skinny runt became a blur of pumping knees and a swirling sling. He ran toward his giant.

Do the same!

Let your ring finger remind you to take up the stone of passion.

One more stone, and finger, remains:

5. THE STONE OF PERSISTENCE
David didn’t think one rock would do. He knew Goliath had four behemoth relatives. For all David knew, they’d come running over the hill to defend their kin. David was ready to empty the chamber if that’s what it took.

Imitate him. Never give up. One prayer might not be enough. One apology might not do it. One day or month of resolve might not suffice. You may get knocked down a time or two … but don’t quit. Keep loading the rocks. Keep swinging the sling.

Excerpted fromDavid took five stones. He made five decisions. Do likewise. Past. Prayer. Priority. Passion. And persistence.

Next time Goliath wakes you up, reach for a stone. Odds are, he’ll be out of the room before you can load your sling.

From Facing Your Giants
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2005) Max Lucado

May your day be blessed.

The Knots Prayer

Posted on January 16th, 2010 in Devotional by Jonnie Wright

Dear God,


Please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart and my life.
Remove the have nots, the can nots and the do nots that I have in my mind.

Erase the will nots, may nots, and might nots that find a home in my heart.

Release me from the could nots, would nots and should nots that obstruct my life.

And most of all, dear God, I ask that you remove from my mind my heart and my life all of the am nots that I have allowed to hold me back, especially the thought that I am not good enough.

Amen.

Anonymous

Posted on January 7th, 2010 in Devotional by Jonnie Wright

My World

by Jonnie Wright

My world is very small. I have written three books, two of them Bible studies for those who live with chronic pain. But, I cannot seem to promote them to the small audience who might be interested because I myself suffer with Fibromyalgia and its cluster of syndromes. These health issues shrink my world to a few “can dos.”

A depressed, non-Christian friend calls. I can witness to her about how I hang on to the core of my life, Jesus Christ, when I am depressed. A frightened friend arrives at my door after spending the night in jail. I can fall to my knees and claim the spiritual armor of the Holy Spirit that she may stand and see the deliverance the Lord will give her. I open an email from a Christian celebrity who begs for help because she is in a health crisis. I can email back a prayer of power using God’s own promises from Scripture. These things I can do.

Perhaps my world is not so very small. I serve a mighty God whose ways are not my own. If He is enough, then so am I.

Jesus is The Silver Bullet Book One in the Series: God’s Rx for Chronic Pain

Changes: Managing Chronic Pain Book Two in the Series: God’s Rx for Chronic Pain

Lord, What do I do with Sammy? Workbook for Christian Teachers

Posted on January 1st, 2010 in Devotional by Jonnie Wright

Dealing with Difficult Relatives

by Max Lucado

Does Jesus have anything to say about dealing with difficult relatives? Is there an example of Jesus bringing peace to a painful family? Yes, there is.

His own.

It may surprise you to know that Jesus had a difficult family. If your family doesn’t appreciate you, take heart, neither did Jesus’.

“His family … went to get him because they thought he was out of his mind” (Mark 3:21).

Jesus’ siblings thought their brother was a lunatic. They weren’t proud—they were embarrassed!

It’s worth noting that he didn’t try to control his family’s behavior, nor did he let their behavior control his. He didn’t demand that they agree with him. He didn’t sulk when they insulted him. He didn’t make it his mission to try to please them.

Each of us has a fantasy that our family will be like the Waltons, an expectation that our dearest friends will be our next of kin. Jesus didn’t have that expectation. Look how he defined his family: “My true brother and sister and mother are those who do what God wants” (Mark 3:35).

When Jesus’ brothers didn’t share his convictions, he didn’t try to force them. He recognized that his spiritual family could provide what his physical family didn’t. If Jesus himself couldn’t force his family to share his convictions, what makes you think you can force yours?

Having your family’s approval is desirable but not necessary for happiness and not always possible. Jesus did not let the difficult dynamic of his family overshadow his call from God. And because he didn’t, this chapter has a happy ending.

What happened to Jesus’ family?

Mine with me a golden nugget hidden in a vein of the Book of Acts. “Then [the disciples] went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.… They all continued praying together with some women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus’ brothers” (Acts 1:12, 14, emphasis added).

What a change! The ones who mocked him now worship him. The ones who pitied him now pray for him. What if Jesus had disowned them? Or worse still, what if he’d suffocated his family with his demand for change?

He Still Moves StonesHe didn’t. He instead gave them space, time, and grace. And because he did, they changed. How much did they change? One brother became an apostle (Gal. 1:19) and others became missionaries (1 Cor. 9:5).

So don’t lose heart. God still changes families.

From He Still Moves Stones
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 1999) Max Lucado

Lovely Advent Calendar online

Posted on December 3rd, 2009 in Devotional by Jonnie Wright

I have discovered this wonderful Advent calendar with a devotional for each day in Dec. Dec. 1st is started for you below. I love the joy of this site and encourage you to visit it every day throughout this meaningful time of the year.

The Tale of Three Trees
A traditional folk tale, retold by Angela Elwell Hunt


Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up.

The first little tree looked up at the stars twinkling like diamonds above him. “I want to hold treasure,” he said. “I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I will be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!”

The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. “I want to be a strong sailing ship,” he said. “I want to travel mighty waters and carry powerful kings. I will be the strongest ship in the world!”

The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and busy women worked in a busy town. “I don’t want to leave this mountain top at all,” she said. “I want to grow so tall that when people stop to took at me they will raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world!”

There’s more and it’s wonderful…

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