Contact the author, Cindy Andrews at
cindyandrews1@cox.net if you'd like
ideas, help, feedback, etc.

 

Life can be a series of devastating dominoes, and you can't cope alone, but by meeting others who can offer support and learning that God is there always, you can make it through - "If God brings you to it, HE will lead you through it". This is the first and last message that I would like others to learn and remember. When we are afflicted with a chronic illness, what is the first thing we normally say? "I don't deserve this! WHY Father are you allowing my life to change in so many ways? It's all unfair! Why should I have so much anguish, anger, and yes doubt?"

1. When there is pain and suffering in our lives, we have a choice as to how we will respond. We can choose to get angry and depressed and hurt by the pain, which at times is emotional and spiritual pain. This is the quandary surrounding our lives. This is why I would like to reach out to others and lead them to trust God with our pain and our spiritual walk.
   
   My vision - The manner in which I see Gods' word being brought to others in the midst of a group of those afflicted with a chronic illness.
   
   
2. Reaching out to those who hurt physically, emotionally and spiritually through a small-scale Bible study. These Bible studies would not only be from scriptures including Job, Psalms, and Proverbs, but from resources such as Rest Ministries, and books like Suffering in Slow Motion by Pamela and Richard Kennedy, When God Is Silent by Charles R. Swindoll (and other resources by Mr. Swindoll for those who are hurting), and Phillip Keller's book The inspirational Writings. We would be taking excerpts from all of these books and others, and making it into a time of learning and discovering that there is reason and purpose for God allowing things to happen.
   
   
3. Leave time for discussions and encouragement at each study.
   
   
4. Prayer time for those in the group and others in the church and the community through names given to us anonymously or from the Elders or other leaders in the church.
   
   
5. As it states in James 5:14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. This is a practice that I would like to have applied to those in this outreach. It could be done as a group at one of the meetings to those who which to participate.
   
   
6. I would like to see this as a group where people who suffer can come and feel comfortable and hear that others are going through similar situations. This would be where they can cry, and speak their truths of pain and we can show them that God is here for each and every one of us. If we can help them with their physical and emotional needs, we can then help meet their spiritual needs.
   
   
7. Outreach to our community through some in the group who may be physically or mentally challenged at times but who want to share and witness, (i.e. those who are not having a bad day that day with their disease). This would include going to rehabilitation or care homes to read the word of God and share praise so those within the group, as well as those we are visiting, may have the opportunity to not only hear HIS word but also to respond to others needing Jesus and know that they are not alone in their particular situation.
   
   
8. There would be a need of course to have the help of certain individuals willing to be involved and that feel the need to help others in these types of situations and to delegate certain duties accordingly.
   
   
9. It would also be good to have a small newsletter go out after each meeting to recap, and to invite others who can help.
   
   
10. Have certain meetings to be meetings of praise and worship. Have someone who can play guitar or piano and someone who can sing in tune (which is not me) come and lead the group in praise. One of my favorite books for songs of praise is Then Sings My Soul with over 150 of the world's greatest hymns and the stories about each.
    
    
11. There should be a follow up after each meeting via email or phone. Phone is the best option for those who were not able to attend but who are in need and see how they are doing and pray with them at that time.