We all know what it’s like to want to give up. Those of us in the chronic illness realm especially struggle with balancing our ambitions with our bodies that don’t want to cooperate.

I was at that place of giving up when I went to bed last night.

Giving up on this website. Giving up on striving to have a home business so I can be available for my family. Giving up on trying to create a pay-to-access, Christian-based, chronic illness life coaching website, using my illness for the glory of God.

Giving up on what I know God wants me to do to serve Him with my life.

If I just give up, all the aggravation of trying to get all the components to work correctly all at the same time would just go away. A huge burden would be lifted.

But I would be disobedient and I would disappoint my Heavenly Father.

I read the following scripture passage late last night. Let’s not give in to giving up, but press on toward the prize.

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.
They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.
But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,
so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body,
but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

The end of all things is near.
Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.
If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:1-11 NIV
(Emphasis mine)

Do everything without grumbling or arguing
Philippians 2:14 NIV

Everything, Lord? Everything?? How do you even do that?!

The Lord has been dealing with me for a long time about complaining and how it seeps into our everyday lives. Even the little things.

It can reflect a heart filled with a lack of gratitude, immature character, or demonic activity. Either way, it opens the doorway for curses to be spoken over our lives. At the very least it can block God’s blessings.

I don’t want to block ANY of God’s blessings for my life ~ do you?!

I have found the idea of stopping ALL complaining all at once just too overwhelming and I was becoming discouraged and feeling like a failure. Start small, like not swearing when you can’t find your keys. Or not responding at all when you drop your fork. Pick ONE THING and work on getting victory in that area before moving on to the next thing.

Father, forgive us for our murmuring and complaining, and I break any curse that has come upon me or my family as a result of my complaining or the complaining of any of my family members. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

I found this video to be a real eye-opener:

Sheila Zilinsky and Carla Butaud: The Curse of Murmuring And Complaining:

I’ve been working through my STACKS of magazines and papers for what seems like forever. This website has been brewing in me for over two decades ~ long before we had the Internet.

I have been saving articles to share for all this time, many of which I wanted to impart to my daughters. I didn’t know what form it would take, I just knew I was to save the magazines. Today, I have a scanner, a computer, and a website. I feel so blessed!

Many times I would read an article, then within a week or two I would have a conversation (sometimes more than one!) about that very topic. Many times I have made copies of articles to share with these ladies.

Often I would find health articles that I want to reference in a website article or book chapter. Or as a springboard for research.

So today, as I was going through yet another pile, I came across a February 7, 2010, Pentecostal Evangel issue that included an article about radio programs that are striving to reach the world for the Lord Jesus Christ.

One of those ministries is Think A Minute.

It looks as though every time you visit the homepage “Today’s Thought” changes. If you like one of the thoughts, take a photo of it, bookmark it (under Today’s Thought) or copy it into Word so you don’t lose it. I like how sometimes the beginning of the thought is on the homepage, but you need to click on the link to finish the thought.

You can also access previous thoughts under the Collected Thoughts button at the top.

You can listen to podcasts here.

Check out Think A Minute here.