Amelia McNeilly

Pink Patriot - My desire is to share with you the journey God has me on. Whether in joy hardship, I hope that my blog offers a place of respite, and bring joy to your heart!

Articles, Books, Christian Living, Disability, Friendship, Music

Little Mercies

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In my last post, I talked about feeling restless and God’s peace. Through His peace, God has been reminding me daily of things to be thankful for that I like to call “little mercies.”  No matter how mundane or hard our lives may seem at the moment, because of Christ we always have something to be thankful for. This summer I have decided to start journaling more and be intentional about recording these little mercies each day. This exercise helps me keep perspective when things seem otherwise gloomy. I would like to share some of my “little mercies” from today, and challenge you to take a moment to consider and be thankful for the little mercies God is bringing your way.

– My sweet Savior Jesus Christ

– Awesome parents who I consider my best friends

– Dear friends who I can share life with and who love, listen, and pray for me when times get hard.

– Nurses who daily help make my daily life easier during this season

– Jon Guerra’s new album, “Little Songs.”  I think this is my theme music for the summer now. Why did I wait so long to listen to his music?? So good! Favorite songs are “Nothing Better,” and “Wherever You Are.”

– Psalms – I have been reading through them lately and they are a balm to my soul. Psalm 91:4 has greatly encouraged me the last couple of days. It states, “He will cover you with his feathers.
 He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.”

– “I Come Quietly To Meet You” Devotional by Amy Carmichael – Later in her life, Amy some serious health problems that left her homebound for years.

– Diet Sundrop – What can I say? I am addicted to this soda. I am definitely a Carolina girl and this is my summer treat.

– My pool –  which is my favorite dwelling place for the summer especially over the last week or so during what feels to be the hottest time of the year. Also, it has been a great form of exercise for me as I have been recovering.

Okay , now it is your turn. What little mercies has God given you this week? Think and pray on that this weekend.

 

Articles, Disability

Update on Today’s Doctor Visit

 

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Hey friends! Thank you so much for all of your prayers and encouraging words regarding todays doctor visit. I did indeed have a bladder infection again so I was given some super strong antibiotics to treat it. However, the issues are still not fully solved so I will see the urologist again on July 1, and will have to revisit my surgeon and another specialist soon. We do not have a lot of specifics right now but will hopefully know more soon. Please continue to pray for me. God knows all the details.   Thanks again for your sweet prayers for my healing. They mean so much to me. “I thank my God every time I remember you.” ~Philippians 1:3

Christian Living, Disability

Grace Upon Grace

 

Out of His fullness we have received

As most of you know by now, I am recovering from a couple major surgeries from back in January and February. It has been a long journey since then. Because of complications with my ostomy, I have have had recurring bladder infections, and these infections have been making me very sick. Like in the bed all day, I don’t want to move, kind of sick. This has been happening over the last couple of months and on Friday I woke up with the same heaviness that I always feel when a new infection is starting, and I knew it was going to be a rough day. So for the past few days I have not felt the best, but it is in these times that I feel the Lord’s strength and grace the most. When I have no strength left He is there ready for me to take from Him. I have had the song, “When it Hurts (Praise Song)” by Hillsong United on repeat this week. Some of my favorite lines from it are, “Even when my strength is lost I’ll praise you/Even when I have no song I’ll praise you/even when it’s hard to find the words louder then I’ll sing your praise.” This has been my prayer to the Lord for days.

I have also been reminded in the last few days of John 1:16 which states, “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” Grace upon Grace! I just love that. It is never-ending and there is always enough supply for whatever circumstances we are facing.  I know I am not the only one struggling today and I am praying for you my sweet reader. If you haven’t done so today, take a moment and reach out to Jesus. Pray for Him to give you His strength and to lavish you with His grace upon grace. I promise you that He will not disappoint. He will meet you right where you are and give you His peace to get through your current situation.

If you think of it would you please say a prayer for me tomorrow morning? I have an appointment with my urologist in Charlotte. Please pray for them to give me some answers regarding what is going on, and are able to provide me some help and relief. Thank you so much, friends!  I am so thankful for you all.

Take a listen to the song mentioned above here, and be encouraged!

Disability, Personal

Happy June

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Happy June, my friends! I can’t believe it is June already. 2015 is flying by and it has been a crazy year for me thus far. I am continuing to recover and I hope the next few months are better for me. I am looking forward to what God has in store. I will be writing more later this week on what God is revealing to me about my ministry so stay tuned. Thanks for your continued prayers for my healing. They are greatly needed and are being felt. Let me know how I can be praying for you!

Much Love,

Amelia

Disability

Hope a Little More

2014 has been an incredibly hard year. Depressing way to start a post I know, but it is true. Over the past several years my health has been steadily declining, but for a long time I was not sure why. However, in October, I received some answers. Because of my Cerebral Palsy, I have always had something called Neurogenic Bowel Syndrome, but found out recently that my colon and intestines have completely shut down which is why I am staying so sick. My situation is not the norm due to previous surgeries I’ve had which make things a bit more complicated, and it took a while to find a specialist qualified to treat my case. God finally provided a surgeon and after many appointments and tests, I am now awaiting a surgery date which I hope will be sometime at the beginning of January. There are lots of other issues alongside this that I will not go into here, but God knows all of the details.

This year has been rough but in the midst of it I have grown closer to the Lord and I better understand the passage in Philippians 4 that says He will give you peace beyond your understanding. I know that peace now. Before we found this surgeon several of my doctors told us nothing else could be done and left my family thinking that this was it. Also, I’ve had to move in with my parents until I am better, take a leave of absence from my job, and basically become completely dependent;  which if you know me at all you know that has not been easy. Throughout the years I have had many health challenges but I would say this has been the hardest. It’s emptied me of everything I have but God is daily giving me the strength I need to make it and that has been freeing. I am completely out of control and there is nothing I can do to change my circumstances but I know the One who can.  There are so many unknowns as to what is ahead and questions such as, “Will the surgery be successful? Will healing come soon? How is all this going to turn out?” I do not have the answers but God does and that is all that matters. After all, my life is not mine and there is nothing more freeing than turning my life and everything I have over to Jesus.  That is the definition of true freedom. One of my goals for 2015 is to live in this freedom and be joyful no matter what the circumstances.  I am thankful daily for the hope of Christ, and as one of my favorite songs states, I will “dance a little, laugh a little, and hope a little more.”

I would like to give a special thanks to my mom and dad. They have been amazing through this and take such good care of me. I couldn’t do this without them.  Also, to all my friends thanks for being so gracious and encouraging. I know many of you have prayed for me over the past few months, and I greatly appreciate all the prayers you have sent my way.  Please continue to pray as I move forward and that I get a surgery date soon. Thanks so much and please let me know how I can be praying for you. I hope you all have a blessed new year and a wonderful 2015!

Disability, Music

The Chris Hendricks Band

Last weekend I was able to see “The Chris Hendricks Band” in concert. They are incredibly talented and have become one of my favorite bands. I was reminded recently of a blog post that I had written earlier about them and thought I would share again.

I am a music lover and I am always looking for new artists to listen to.   Recently, I was introduced to the Chris Hendricks Band and after listening to their EP, I am a fan for life.   The lead singer, Chris Hendricks, has Cerebral Palsy.  He was told that he may never walk, but now as his Bio states, “He goes wherever the music will take him.”  Hendricks does an excellent job of weaving his story into his music.  One of my favorite songs from the album is called “Affliction.”  Chris says that this song tells his story, and when I heard it I realized it told part of my story as well.  The song is about growing up with a disability and how one is treated because of that. When I heard this song, I was instantly transported back to elementary and middle school where I recalled being treated differently due to my disability, and how I am stronger now due to what I went through.

Chris is an excellent example of not allowing a disability stop him from fulfilling his dreams. Through his lyrics, he allows listeners to step inside his world and experience life from joy to pain.  This album is encouraging and fun to listen to while still making you think.  Check it out for yourself here.  You will not be sorry.

Songs to Listen To: Noise and Affliction.

Watch Chris and his band perform Affliction here.

For more info on the band visit their site — here.

Christian Living, Disability, Holidays

A Spirit of Thanksgiving

A recent apology to my mom, and a Joni Eareckson Tada Devotional convicted me that I have lost my spirit of gratitude in the midst of a trial.  In her devotional, Joni made a point that we always say we are thankful for God’s strength through a circumstance, but we are never actually thankful for the circumstance or affliction itself.  Recently, I have dealt with continued health problems which I cannot control.  However, I can control my attitude which is something I have fallen short of lately, and for that I am sorry.  I want a consistent, healthy, and happy life but the one thing I am not consistent in lately is reading the Word of God. No wonder I do not have a spirit of gratitude, or no sense of peace.  1 Thessalonians 5:18 says “to be thankful in ALL circumstances” All does not mean just when things are going my way, when I have everything I want, or when I am in good health.  No, it means in everything.  This reminder and conviction could not have come at a better time with the nearing of Thanksgiving. I am going to start being thankful now instead of waiting on life’s circumstances to make me thankful. Each day leading up to thanksgiving I am going to post about things I have to be thankful for, and reasons I have to rejoice. So here goes:

Today I am Thankful For:

– The gift of Salvation and my relationship with Jesus — His faithful love and joy!

– Parents that love me, and who have done everything in their power to make me happy and content in the midst of a trial.  Their faithful love even when I am not so faithful amazes and humbles me.

– A best friend and sister who shares in my love for Jesus, music, chick flicks, and football. “Girl, you know that I love you more than my luggage!” 😉

– That I get to be home during my favorite time of year to enjoy my favorite holiday — the perfect smell of Thanksgiving that cannot be bought.

– Mom’s amazing cooking that never gets hold.

– The sweet and cozy taste of the perfect cup of coffee with just the right Christmas movie playing in the background.

In health or in this case sickness, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year, and I will choose to act like it.  THANK YOU JESUS!!!!!!!

Will you join me on this journey of thankfulness?  What are you thankful for today?

Disability

Disability Limits Marriage Choices

Below is a post that I originally wrote  for a friend over at Accesstechgeek, but I thought I would share it here as well.

Yesterday, I was doing some research and found an article online from India titled “Disability Limits Marriage Choices.”  This caught my attention so I continued to read it. According to this article, people with a physical disability have a harder time finding a mate and getting married.  The reason for this is because a lot of people in society cannot look past the appearance of a disability.  Polls were taken from the US, UK, Canada, Middle East, SE Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.  The results were as follows: 59% women and 48% men refuse to marry anyone with a physical disability, and 34% women and 37% men said it depended on the type of disability and the extent of the situation. Only 7% of women and 15% of men said that they would marry a person with a physical disability.

I wish that I could say that I find these results surprising, but I do not.  As a person who has lived with a physical disability for 26 years, I am well aware of how people think. We have wrote often on the blog about how a disability affects getting a job as well as other areas in life, and unfortunately that does not exclude marriage and relationships.  Do I think it is impossible to find a mate if one has a disability? Absolutely not!  I sincerely hope that I get married someday.  However, I do think that a person with a disability may have to wait longer to find the right person and be married, but it can be done.  I have met several couples who one of the spouses have a disability and they have great marriages.  Although, there are criticisms a person who marries someone with a disability might face.  The main criticisms are “Why would you want to date a disabled person?” or “Wouldn’t you rather marry someone without a disability?” and “Do you know what you are getting into?”  These questions all go back to stereotypes people have of disabilities.  Recently, I saw an excellent example of this in a movie called “Listen to Your Heart.”  The main character in the movie dates a girl who is deaf and at the beginning of their relationship his friends question what he is doing, and tells him that he should find someone else and not date her.  He responds by saying, “I am not going to miss out on something great just because it might be hard.”  This is the viewpoint we should have in all relationships.  So many people miss out on great friendships because they cannot get past a stereotype.  I want to encourage everyone today to look past appearance and look at the hearts of people.  Treat people the way you would want to be treated and not how you think they should be treated.  Also, if you have any experience on this topic we would love for you to share your stories and advice.  Let us hear from you!

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