Comfort in the Storms

You Are Priceless

2008-12-03T04:09:00.002-05:00

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill.

In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?"

Hands started going up.

He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this."

He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?"

Still the hands were up in the air.

"Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.

He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?"

Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value in God's eyes. To Him, dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to Him."

Faith

2008-12-02T06:31:00.000-05:00

"Childlike faith in God is not only what pleases him but is also the secret of our strength and power." ~Jim Cymbala.

God's Unchanging Love

2008-12-01T06:23:00.000-05:00

For some, the holidays are a painful reminder of rejection caused by a dysfunctional family. Perhaps it was alcoholism or a parent who was overly-critical. Maybe you were just excluded from activities altogether.

The Psalmist David knew about dysfunctional families! Despite trying to live with integrity, he did mess up. Consider his illegitimate child, Solomon or his devious son, Absolom.

Yet David found in comfort in God's love. How could this be? Perhaps he knew something most people don't ever take the time to consider.

"When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up." - Psalms 27: 10

David knew God was his family. David knew that whatever happened with his earthly family, he could be secure in God's unchanging love. Read David's bold statement again.

The apostle Paul wrote some of the most beautiful words describing God's love.

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39

Let God be enough. Let God's love wash over you, comforting every ache and healing every wound. Let God be the family that you always wanted.

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." - Romans 8:15

God loves you unconditionally no matter who has rejected you before. Don't let other people's rejection shape your beliefs about God's love because God loves you.

"Though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not." - C.S. Lewis

Wordle

2008-11-30T10:45:00.000-05:00

Recently, I did a wordle of Comfort in the Storms. The picture below is what they came up with...I'm delighted that words like God, worship and storms were frequent. (The bigger a word the bigger a keyword it is one your site).

Exciting Changes

2008-11-16T20:33:00.003-05:00

You may have noticed that Comfort in the Storms looks different since your last visit, that's because we've installed a spiffy new template and are currently re-focusing our ministry. We hope to have the new site up and ready to re-start by Thanksgiving! : )

Quote: Trust God

2008-11-06T10:49:00.001-05:00

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." - Corrie ten Boom

Real Word: Waiting

2008-11-04T08:21:00.000-05:00

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. "- Isaiah 40:31

Worship

2008-10-28T06:38:00.003-04:00

When we go through the storms in our lives and times of pain, the easiest thing to do is totally disconnect from God. Remember when you were a kid and you'd get hurt? That gut reaction was to curl up in the fetal position and keep everyone at bay.

Yet it's during the storms we need God the most.

One of the best ways I've found to re-connect with God is to worship Him. I remember going through a storm not too long ago and singing praise songs at the top of my lungs while crying. I knew I was safe in God's arms but that didn't mean that the pain wasn't real.

Worshipping God isn't about hiding the hurt or pretending you're OK, it's about being honest with God right where we are. <3

Some great albums to praise God to include:

Michael W. Smith's Worship

Aaron Shust's Anything Worth Saying

Mercy Me's Spoken For

Any CDs you think should be added to the list? Let us know!

The Dash

2008-10-27T04:23:00.001-04:00

The Dash ~by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all was
the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth...
and now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;
the cars....the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard...
are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real,
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
and more often wear a smile...
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read
with your life's actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they
say about how you spend your dash?

Failures

2008-10-26T06:25:00.000-04:00

"One has to remember that every failure can be a stepping stone to something better."~ Col. Harland Sanders

Reach Out

2008-10-25T06:59:00.003-04:00

Here's an article on school children that longed to do more after hearing of the tragedy of Katrina. It's easy to forget in today's fast-paced world, that a simple note can mean so much.

Take the time today to reach out to someone else that might be hurting. It could be a single mom going through a divorce at your church, maybe it's the teacher who's recovering from surgery, whoever it is, they need you more than you know.

It only takes a few minutes to drop by with a ready-made dish from the store, send a simple note, even just pick up the phone. You never know who's heart you might just touch. ♥

About Us

2008-10-24T17:47:00.000-04:00

Comfort in the Storms is a small Christian ministry dedicated to being the hands and feet of Jesus as we seek to reach out to those who are wounded, battered, discouraged, lonely, and fearful.

We know what you're going through is not easy and often times, it's easy to feel God is far away. Yet we believe that even in the midst of the toughest storms, God is our refuge.

"The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. " ~ Psalms 9:9-10

Moving On

2008-10-24T05:52:00.001-04:00

“Moving on, is a simple thing, what it leaves behind is hard.” - Dave Mustaine

Contact Us

2008-10-24T05:47:00.004-04:00

If you would like to request prayer, share a praise or contact Comfort in the Storms, click here. We appreciate your feedback and will get back to you soon.

Thank you for your interest in our ministry.

Writing Guidelines

2008-10-24T05:47:00.003-04:00

Update: 11/19/08

Thank you for your interest in writing for Comfort in the Storms!

Who We Are

Our aim is to be the hands and feet of Jesus' as we seek to reach out to those who are wounded, battered, discouraged, lonely, and fearful. Our audience is diverse from the twelve year old whose parents are in the process of divorce to the drug addict to the mother who just lost her son.

Submissions

We want devotionals about your experience dealing with a particular storm (divorce, loss of a loved one, etc), words of comfort, short prayers, or poems or inspiring quotes. All writing must be well-written and compassionate. Maximum word count is 800 words; we have no minimum word count. We do not accept fiction.

Submit all work via email here; please use "submission" as your subject line. Also, include your name if you wish to be acknowledged for your contribution to Comfort in the Storms. Please do not submit writing that is not your own.

Current Needs

Currently, we're looking for devotionals for our daily devotional section. Good topics include (but are not limited to) grief, losing a loved one, chronic illness, cancer, and divorce. We want devotionals that draw us closer to God or somehow uplift the downtrodden. These are messy topics and the world needs to know that God cares deeply about us, especially when we face life's storms.

We are also interested in short, heartfelt prayers that our readers can tuck away in their hearts as they go about their day.

Response Times

Comfort in the Storms will respond to every submission in 2-4 weeks. If you have submitted this material to other publications, please let us know in your email.

Payment

Those in Comfort in the Storms ministry donate their time and resources to it. We do this out of a genuine love for Christ and ask no compensation. Like Christ, we are here to minister not to be ministered too. As such, we are not in a position to pay our contributors.

There are many publications that will pay you for your contribution. We simply cannot be one at this time. Thank you for your understanding.

Rights

We want one time non-exclusive rights to your work; after which, your rights revert back to the original writer. We would also like the right to archive your work but you may request we remove your original post from the site at any time.

Thank you again for your interest in writing for Comfort in the Storms. We pray that this ministry is a blessing to all.

A Prayer for When You're Overwhelmed

2008-10-23T06:48:00.001-04:00

Living Christ, I'm in over my head. This situation is getting beyond me. Take over; take over all the way. Fill this room, this place, [this world,] and all of us who are in it with your empowered presence. I give all of this to you. I thank you that you are here and that your light and love are enfolding us at this very moment. In your name, in your word, in your power. Amen. -- From Prayer, Fear, and Our Powers by Flora Slosson Wuellner

Write a Letter

2008-10-22T04:38:00.001-04:00

Suzie Eller once said, "You will never tell God something He hasn't heard before." At the time, I didn't think too much about her advice.

Later as life's storms began to rage and I felt small, I heeded her advice. I wrote a letter to God. Then another. And another. I'm still writing to Him today. I write about everything and anything, safety for an upcoming trip, fears or needs, anything that strikes me as important.

What started out as just being honest with God, led me into a life-changing relationship with the Creator of the Universe.

Might I suggest you do the same? Write a letter to God. It doesn't have to be long or short. Make it just the right length. Don't obsess too much over the words you choose. Just focus on being honest with God.

He will respond. ♥

Compassionate Friends

2008-10-21T07:12:00.001-04:00

Compassionate Friends is an organization dedicated to supporting families after the loss of a child - regardless of the child's age.

"The mission of The Compassionate Friends is to assist families toward the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child of any age and to provide information to help others be supportive.

"The Compassionate Friends was founded 40 years ago when a chaplain at the Warwickshire Hospital in England brought together two sets of grieving parents and realized that the support they gave each other was better than anything he, as a chaplain, could ever say or provide. Meeting around a kitchen table, the Lawleys and the Hendersons were joined by a bereaved mother and the chaplain, Simon Stephens, and The Society of the Compassionate Friends was born. The Compassionate Friends jumped across the ocean and was established in the United States and incorporated in 1978 in Illinois.

"Each chapter, along with the supporting National Office, is committed to helping every bereaved parent, sibling, or grandparent who may walk through our doors or contact us.

"Today more than 600 chapters serving all 50 states plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico offer friendship, understanding, and hope to bereaved parents, siblings, grandparents, and other family members during the natural grieving process after a child has died. Around the world more than 30 countries have a Compassionate Friends presence, encircling the globe with support so desperately needed when the worst has happened. " - Compassionate Friends

Writing a Condolence Letter

2008-10-20T06:22:00.000-04:00

by: Angela Morrow, RN

"A sympathy or condolence note can be a great source of comfort to someone who is grieving the loss of a loved one. It’s a simple way of letting that person know that they are in your thoughts as they go through the difficult process of grief and mourning.

"Did I just say simple? Finding the right words to say isn’t always a simple a task, but it’s one that’s worth your time and energy. Anyone can pick up a mass-produced condolence card from their local card shop or drug store. That's a nice gesture but writing words of sympathy from your heart that are specific to the grieving person will be more treasured. These personal and heartfelt words of condolence serve as a tribute to the deceased.....read more"

Memories Are Forever

2008-10-19T06:51:00.006-04:00

Memories are Forever is a site dedicated to keeping the memories of lost loved ones alive.

"Even better than sharing your own memories is to collaborate with others others so that everyone who knew this person can share their favorite stories and photographs, then have them all printed and bound into a memorial tribute book that makes a unique sympathy gift for the family.

"An new online system, called the iMemoryBook system, is now available to allow you to do this all over the Internet, creating heirloom quality books without your having to know anything about printing and publication. "

This site also gives advice on how to create a memory book. Although the purchase links no longer appear to be active, MAF does offer some excellent guidance if you want to create a book of memories for a loved one and print it up at your local Kinkos.

How To Be A Friend

2008-10-18T06:45:00.001-04:00

I've often found myself questioning how to be a friend to someone who's grieving. Being a friend during the sunny times is easy. During the storms it's complicated. Millions of questions swirl and it's easier to focus on why this happened or what God's purpose is for this event rather than focusing on our grieving friend. Yet this seldom helps our friend.

"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.

"The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares."

~ Henri Nouwen, Out of Solitude

Would You Like a Hug?

2008-10-17T06:34:00.000-04:00

As I was researching today's topic, grief. I came across an article titled Words to Help Someone Grieve. One of the things the author recommended was simply asking a grieving person, "Would you like a hug?"

It seems like such a simple thing-giving a hug. But when someone is facing difficult circumstances, a hug can make a world of difference. Don't be afraid to offer a hug. You never know how badly someone might need one. ♥

Don't Quit

2008-10-16T07:03:00.000-04:00

"When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;

Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow,
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit."~ Author Unknown

Giving Up

2008-10-15T06:39:00.000-04:00

"When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place."~ Author Unknown

Rainbows

2008-10-14T06:31:00.001-04:00

I have a friend who was reading in Genesis 9 while going through a difficult storm. In this chapter, Noah and his sons have just left the ark and they're making a new covenant with God. It is in this chapter that a reference is made to the rainbow that God sends after this massive storm.

As my friend read this chapter, she cried out to God, "Where is my rainbow?"

The next day as she was being wheeled out of the operating room, still groggy from surgery, her father pulled back the curtains of her hospital room to reveal the biggest rainbow her city had seen in years.

It was in that moment that my friend knew - without a doubt - that rainbow had come from God. I share this story to remind you that God is listening, that He hears you in the midst of your pain. He is near.

"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." - Psalms 147:3

Closed Doors

2008-10-13T07:23:00.000-04:00

"When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us." ~ Alexander Graham Bell

On Dreams

2008-10-12T17:03:00.000-04:00

"If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again. "~ Flavia Weedn

Moment by Moment

2008-10-11T21:53:00.000-04:00

Never a trial that He is not there;
Never a burden that He doth not bear;
Never a sorrow that He doth not share,
Moment by moment I'm under His care.

Never a heartache, and never a groan,
Never a tear-drop, and never a moan,
Never a danger but there, on the throne,
Moment by moment, He thinks of His own.

Never a weakness that He doth not feel;
Never a sickness that He cannot heal,
Moment by moment, in woe or in weal,
Jesus, my Saviour, abides with me still.

—Daniel W. Whittle