Rachel Lundy's Blog, page 11

Third Sunday of Advent

The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
    on them has light shone.
You have multiplied the nation;
    you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
    as with joy at the harvest,
    as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of his burden,
    and the staff for his sho...

Five Minute Friday: Joy

It is Five Minute Friday! This week the topic is joy! We all write on the same topic, and then we gather at Kate's blog to share our words. 


Life with a chronic illness is hard. But it is not without joy. Joy is there to be found in the hard days, the stuck-in-bed days, the pain-filled days, and the lonely days.
I have been blessed by the joyful example of many different people. These people have helped me, and continue to help me, to live a life of joy.
Sara Frankl blogged while completely...

Purpose in Illness

As Christians, we believe that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, NASB). Romans 8:28 has encouraged me often in my life, and I love to find ways that God is using suffering for the ultimate good of His people. Though we cannot know all of His good purposes on this side of Heaven, we can trust that God is working all things for our good.

Recently, two verses in Galatians encouraged and challenge...

Second Sunday of Advent

 

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 

Isaiah 7:14 

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
    and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
    the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
    the Spirit of counsel and might,
 ...

Five Minute Friday: Crave

It's time for Five Minute Friday! It's a writing flash mob that gathers at Kate's blog each week. We write without worrying about whether or not it is perfect. We write for the joy of writing. This week the writing prompt is: Crave.


When we read the Psalms, especially ones like Psalm 119, we see how much the psalmist craved the Word of God. His desire was to know and obey God’s law. It was his delight. He longed for it, he clung to it, and he hoped in it.
It is convicting to read of such a stro...

Meet Frodo

We have a new, furry friend in our house! Some of you noticed our little puppy, Frodo, in my blog post about Myrtle a couple of months ago. If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you have probably already met Frodo. But if you haven't met him yet, I want to introduce this special pet and tell you how he came to be ours!
In February of this year William and Adelaide began asking for a puppy. And then they began praying for a puppy! And then Adelaide told her kindergarten teacher, Kirsten, t...

First Sunday of Advent

This is the first Sunday of the Advent season. I invite you to join me here each Sunday for a short Scripture reading as we look forward to the celebration of our Savior’s birth.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the d...

Five Minute Friday: Surrender

It is Five Minute Friday! We gather and write for just five minutes on the same writing prompt, and then we link up at Kate's blog. You are invited to join us! This week the word is: Surrender.

Life is a daily surrendering, a daily laying down of my own desires so that I can submit to the will of my Heavenly Father.
Each day when I wake up, my body feels miserable. I feel weak and tired. It is hard to move, hard to wake up, hard to go about my simple, daily life. If it were up to me, I would ch...

Our Sorrowful, Joyous Chronic Pain Life

My friend, Esther, recently gave me a copy of her new book, When Chronic Pain & Illness Take Everything Away . Currently it is available on Amazon as a free kindle book! But hurry - this sale ends later on today! This is a good book for anyone with a chronic illness or chronic pain, whether they are newly diagnosed or have been living with a chronic condition for many years.

In this book, Esther helps those with chronic pain and illness acknowledge what has been taken away, and she encourag...

Helping the Healthy Child of a Disabled Parent

Life as a mother with a disabling, chronic illness is incredibly challenging. My body grows weak and tired quickly. I need help every day doing household tasks and caring for my children. This is especially true in the summer months when my children are home all day long.

I was grateful for dear friends and family who stepped up to help me in big ways this past summer. I was especially touched by an offer of help from Justyne, a sweet eleven-year-old girl.

Justyne goes to our church, and she ha...