CompuServe Messages

John, I also have never had a proper diagnosis. They can tell me what I DONT have but not what I do have. But as you said in your post about a positive attitude being important, I am happier sick than many people I know who are well. I am more at peace sick than I was well. To all people in my position (or any hard circumstance) I would recommend Philippians 4:6&7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which, transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." I was not automatically healed (the apostle Paul wrote of his "thorn in the flesh" which he had to live with) but the PEACE of God was with me. With continual prayer and petition (not forgetting thanksgiving) I have been getting better and without aid from any doctor, despite there best efforts. I found that when I came to LOVE God, instead of just serving him, it became easier to live my life as I knew I should. And that the peace of God was always there. Even when I turned away from it, it was always there for me to return to. The other thing I would recommend is 1 John 5:3 "This is to love God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome." When I came to realize that what I needed to do was to live a life that was pleasing to someone I loved and who loved me, following his commands became much easier. Not, that it was not hard to change my old lifestyle, but just as I would sacrifice out of love for my 5 year old nephew, and not begrudge him it: in fact I would enjoy it because it was done out love, so I could follow God. I found a workbook-ish sort of book and another normal book that goes with it both by, Henry T. Blackaby and Claude V. King, both titled "Experiencing God". The books have been of great aid to me. I greatly recommend them. I am not yet fully well, but as the apostle Paul said, "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…", I am a better person for what I have suffered. I would not trade what I have gained for the health that I have lost. As much as I miss that lost time and health, it is truly nothing compared to the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus. I know that reading this may have been like a trip to the dentist for some of you. But knowing these things, and wishing that someone had shared them with me when I was ill. Or better yet, that when I had heard them when I was well I had paid attention! I cannot be quiet, knowing that others may suffer needlessly. I hope anyone who did not like this very off topic message will understand why I did this and have patience with me for having done it. If anyone would like to, feel free to e-mail me, what help or support I can give is yours. Please, if you are suffering, consider coming to Jesus Christ. If you have come to know him and are having problems with that relationship, pray unceasingly. Present with thanksgiving, by petition and prayer, your concerns to God. You don't need to be anything special or perfect. You only need a heart that truly loves God. If you think I can be of any help (you never know!) e-mail me. Truly lovingly, James Curry 71052,3340 Philippians 3:12-14 "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."