To the Suffering and Oppressed Ones

To those who struggle mightily with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity/Environmental Illness, other chronic illness, other disability, being a caregiver for someone with chronic illness, MCS/EI homelessness, or other suffering due to no fault of your own, I have found much comfort in the following passage:

“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.

“But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

“So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.  And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’

“But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.”’

Luke 16:19-25     http://www.biblestudytools.com/nkjv/luke/16.html

And this:

“‘Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.

“‘I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  And where I go you know, and the way you know.’

“Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?’

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

“‘…I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me.

“‘Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.'”

John 14:1-6, 18-21     http://www.biblestudytools.com/nkjv/john/14.html

Christa Upton    Black Hills Picture Books  57735