Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Shingles... again... the second time in two months, sixth or seventh time in six years. I must admit that I would not choose this. In fact, for years before my first bout, I was fearful of the shingles. I mean... the pain that people described sounded unbearable. Yet, God can prevail even in shingles. :)

I was reminded to continue to be zealous with the ability and strength God has given during this time. Listen to Romans 12: 9-13.

"9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,[g] serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."

For my friends in chronic illnesses, please be encouraged. God can use you. :)Even while weak with our chronic illnesses, these things are all possible in God's grace. :) What a blessing!

Today, I joined a new church to which God had led me. It was hard to request membership but have to tell them that I was not able to be active except in prayer at this time. Prayer is important, but I know there are physical needs as well. :) I was humbled to realize that even in my current weakness, God can use me in His Church. :) I was brought to tears by the love of this new church as several people even offered to help and do whatever is needed. WOW! 

It is incredible what God teaches us in progressive sanctification through the weakness. It is humbling and amazing to see that God does use weak vessels. :)

My shingles (and chronic illnesses) have taught me much. May my focus remain on Him! :) May I be patient in tribulation! :) Here is my post from when I first had shingles. It was good to go back and review the lessons learned. I hope they are an encouragement to you as well! :) 

Shingles - Building my Faith

June 14, 2009 in Bible Lessons, Encouragement | No comments

The past few weeks, God has given me the privilege of having the dreaded shingles. It has not been an easy road. Admittedly, I have faltered, but God has been teaching me much and has been there to purge, comfort, strengthen. Perhaps you are facing insurmountable mountains today…maybe even shingles. Here are some of the things God taught me – in no particular order.

Numbers 15:38-41 “38Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: 39And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them ; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: 40That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. 41I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.” I wanted to seek after my own heart, my own eyes. I wanted good health and a freedom from pain. Yet, I was reminded to do God’s commandments - no whining and complaining. Then, I was reminded that God is my God. He is mighty to save, strong to deliver. Without the trials, how would I know His strength?

Ephesians 2:1-4 ” 1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,” Before I trusted Jesus Christ as my Saviour, I followed the wrong things - fulfilling the desires of the flesh and mind. Now, however, God in His rich mercy has saved and changed me. How can I continue in my sin?

Proverbs 16:3 “3Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” To be honest, I really struggled with my thoughts. I was discouraged, singing the blues, having a royal pity party and wallowing in self-pity. God was right there whispering in my ear…Philippians 2:5 andPhilippians 4:8. But, I didn’t feel like rejoicing or having the mind of Christ or thinking on the right things. Then, the Holy Spirit reminded me of Proverbs 16:3. Rejoice in Him anyway. Act like you know you should. Commit your ways to God. He will then establish your thoughts. And, He did. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

1 Kings 8:61 “61Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.” My heart attitude needed an adjustment!

Deuteronomy 4:29 “29But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” The reason I wasn’t having spiritual victory was that I wasn’t seeking God through this!

Matthew 16:8-12 ” 8Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? 9Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 10Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 11How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? 12Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” This Scripture leaped off the page at me. Right now, I’m struggling with daily needs - even basic ones. There is no strength to make meals, clean, sometimes even to eat. Yet, God has promised to supply all my needs. This Scripture shows the disciples getting confused by what Christ is saying about leaven - forgetting that God had just fed the five thousand and then the four thousand. The disciples are worried about physical needs. Christ is concerned and warning them about spiritual needs. Oh, that I would leave the physical needs to Him and simply focus on spiritual things!

Jeremiah 12:5 “5If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?” Recently, I had been praying that God would help me grow, that I would see His power in my life, and that I would learn to trust Him more. Then, here comes this little trial and I fell flat. God brought this verse to mind. If I can’t be victorious with the footmen, how can I contend with the horses?

Judges 8:4 “4And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.” Yes, I am weak right now physically and am fighting a spiritual battle. Yet, by God’s grace and strength, I am faint, yet pursuing.

God used His Word to challenge, convict, and comfort my heart. His lessons through this have challenged me to continue struggling and studying in His Word. It will not return void, but will come back to help at just the right time! Thank you, God, for your precious Word!

Currently, I’m still in the middle of the shingles. I know that God has more lessons for me. God is bringing me to the place of being thankful for this trial, of trusting Him completely through it. I cannot do this on my own, but God will give strength! He is still faithful to deliver and mighty to save!