“I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me.”

Psalm 57:2 

You ought to see how many half-finished drawings and paintings I have in my art studio. They are piled everywhere. I get an idea, render a few quick sketches, and then my attention gets diverted—perhaps a different art project was overdue or I was up against some other deadline. Occasionally, I get back to those sketches but, more than likely, they get thrown onto a pile in the corner. 

Half-finished pastels. Almost-completed paintings. Not-quite-done watercolors. I have an idea I’ll never place any of them back up on my art easel. 

I am so relieved my Creator doesn’t approach things as I do. God always finishes what he begins. He completes every purpose. He fulfills every intention. God has a long way to go in my life, and I’m grateful that he hasn’t finished with me yet. 

That’s why I cry out, asking God to fulfill his purpose for me. Yes, he is still working on me to become a better decision-maker. He’s chiseling away at my thought life, hammering at my tendency to daydream. He’s honing and shaping me, giving grace in tough times to praise him rather than to pout. That’s why I pray, “I don’t want to be a half-finished, not-quite-completed disciple, Lord; I want you to fulfill your best intentions for me.” 

Don’t ever think God gets distracted from you in order to attend to some other child of his who might be more obedient or worthy of his attention. His attention never diverts from you for a single moment. His touch in your life is constant, unchanging, sure. 

I cry out to you, God Most High, to fulfill your purpose for me. I believe that every intention you have for me is for my highest good. Thank you for finishing everything that you start! 

A Life Transformed

J.D. Kim’s life changed forever when he broke his neck in a snowboarding accident and became paralyzed. At first J.D. wanted to die. Then Jesus reached into his life, gave him hope, and sent him on a purposeful journey. Tune in to hear J.D.’s story of finding hope through hardship.

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“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.”

John 16:13-14 

Have you ever crammed for a “now or never” exam? On the Bible? Unless you’re a seminary student, probably not. But suppose you were thrust into such a situation? You’d probably panic. 

That’s no doubt how the disciples felt the evening they enjoyed the Last Supper with the Lord Jesus. Up until the end, the evening had been warm and personal—there was even that touching moment when Jesus washed their feet. But the mood shifted when Jesus spoke those strange words to Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” Judas left and from that point on, the tone of the evening changed. It was as if the Lord realized he had pressing things to say and only a short time in which to say them. 

He spoke about vines and branches, peace and persecution. So much packed into those few hours! How would the disciples remember it all? Jesus knew their dismay. But the Lord also knew that everything would become clear. That’s why he promised them the Holy Spirit. The Spirit would be teacher and guide. 

Are you any different from the disciples? Not really. Sometimes you feel that God is pouring million-gallon truths into your one-ounce brain! But the Spirit will help you to understand. He will bring God’s Word to your mind and memory, making all things clear. 

Almighty God, today help me to remember that, in time, you will make known to me everything I need to understand. I welcome you, Spirit, as my teacher and guide. 

God’s Power in Weakness

Looking back on 55 years in a wheelchair, Joni reflects on the Lord’s faithfulness amid her adversity. She shares how trusting God through hardship has given her strength to not only persevere but live with hope and joy!

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“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Ecclesiastes 4:12 

Praram was just a year old when his mom, Phornnapa, first asked herself: Does my son have autism? At the time Praram’s doctors didn’t share his mother’s concerns. But her instincts were correct—and at age three, Praram received an autism diagnosis, which shook Phornnapa and her husband. 

To care for Praram, Phornnapa quit her job, resolving to accept his autism and fully embrace him for who he is. Like many families living with disability, Praram’s family struggled to find places of true belonging. But when they learned about Joni’s House programs in Thailand, God began to weave their lives into a fabric of deep Christ-centered community. 

“I am not alone…” – Phornnapa (Praram’s mom) 

From the beginning, Praram and his family felt loved and supported by the Joni’s House team, receiving staples like milk. The care they received surprised and delighted the family. As Phornnapa says: 

“I am very happy to know such a project like Joni’s House programs. I never knew there was an organization that cares about my child. It makes me feel like I have friends, and I am not alone.” 

When they attended a Joni and Friends International Family Retreat, Praram’s family encountered love and unconditional acceptance like never before. Afterward, when Phornnapa expressed a fresh desire to know God and attend church, the Joni’s House team connected the family to an inclusive church that welcomed them with open arms.  

Eager to share her new-found joy of being embraced within a church, Phornnapa invited two fellow special needs moms, Jirawan and Suwapreeya, and their sons, Win and Sibthit, both of whom have autism, to join her and Praram for worship. Through shared experiences, these three moms and their boys became a close-knit “cord of three strands.” 

“I feel safe…”  –  Jirawan (Win’s mom) 

Seven-year-old Win was diagnosed with autism at age two. For his mother, Jirawan, who works to support the family, caring for her two children while earning income poses daunting challenges. That’s why being introduced to Joni’s House programs, and finding a welcoming church through Phornnapa, has made such a powerful difference to Jirawan and her family. 

Jirawan learned about Joni’s House alongside Phornnapa and Suwapreeya. Like Phornnapa, Jirawan has received dignity kits from Joni’s House, providing necessary items for Win’s care. Jirawan shared how much the dignity kits mean to her, as they are the first tangible assistance her family has received to meet Win’s needs: 

“Receiving help from Joni’s House Programs has given me more strength and energy because I am the only one providing for my child and family… I am very grateful.”

Jirawan  

Jirawan recalls taking her sons to church with Phornnapa and Praram—and how true acceptance in the body of Christ helped create a sense of safety. It’s the same foundation of trust that now emboldens Jirawan to bring Win to other Joni’s House programs. 

“I am very glad that Joni’s House Programs came to help my family, and moreover, I feel safe when I participate in Joni’s House Program activities. I feel comfortable going because they welcome my child,” says Jirawan. 

“I’m very happy…” – Suwapreeya (Sibthit’s mom) 

After moving to Chiang Mai for work, six-year-old Sibthit’s family struggled with isolation. As Christians they wanted to attend church but feared that Sibthit’s behavior would disturb people. But when Sibthit’s mom Suwapreeya got to know Praram’s mom and Win’s mom, their families bonded over shared experiences and a love for God—and now they all go to church together. 

Today, Sibthit, Praram, and Win enjoy playing together at school and church. And during worship services, their parents are free to participate as volunteers from Joni’s House lovingly care for the boys. 

Suwapreeya thanks God for Joni’s House programs, which have not only made her family feel welcome with home visits and loving care at church, but also provided basic necessities like milk and diapers. She says: 

“Having help from Joni’s House has made me less worried than before because my husband is the only one working for our family. I take care of our three children. Our eldest son requires special attention because he has autism. I’m very happy and don’t know how to describe it. I’ve never encountered an organization that visits and talks with us at home.” 

Through Joni’s House programs, Joni and Friends identifies and meets the needs of people living with disabilities through local, Christ-centered support. At international locations across the globe, Joni’s House is raising the standard of care for people with disabilities, offering physical, economic, spiritual, and social support, all in the name of Jesus. 

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The post Discovering the Love of God in Thailand through Joni’s House first appeared on Joni and Friends.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

I wish I could describe what it’s like when I sense the overwhelming presence and power of God’s grace.  It’s like “living above” my wheelchair; a higher strata, like breathing in heaven’s joy, thus having the courage to tackle whatever’s ahead! You see, the more you thrive on God’s grace (that is, God’s favor through Christ’s death and resurrection)… the more you delve into that, the more joy and courage you’ll have. So… When ‘are’ we most aware of God’s grace? Only when we recognize our desperate need of grace, when we admit how spiritually impoverished we really are. So, if you long to live above your afflictions and feel God’s pleasure and courage, run to him when you feel weak.  It’s your passport to a higher realm of gladness in the Lord!

Joni Eareckson Tada Shares Her Heart on the Transformational Power of Grace

What is grace and how can it change your life? In this installment of Joni Eareckson Tada’s “Heart of the Founder” series, Joni shares how grace has flowed through her life in a transformational way.

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The post The Power of Grace first appeared on Joni and Friends.

“Then the King will say, ‘I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you thirsty and give you something to drink?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

Matthew 25:34-40

The year is A.D. 33. It’s late on a stormy Friday afternoon, and I am standing on a rugged hill by a trash heap outside Jerusalem. I huddle with a group of women just a few yards from the cross. Large drops of rain begin to pelt the dust, and I clutch at my head shawl, wiping away tears and rain.

I cannot take my eyes off Jesus. His body is ramrod stiff, covered with caked dirt and blood, back arched, near death, yet hands stretched and fingers splayed. Jesus’ head bobs against the crossbar and He groans, “I thirst.”

I step out of the group and cock my ear. Did Jesus say he was… thirsty? A soldier, half-drunk, cracks off a stalk of hyssop, spears a sponge and, after soaking it in sour wine, laughs and thrusts it into his face.

I am horrified. Wait. Don’t give him wine gone acidic. This is the Lord who is asking for a drink. O, God, if only I had a jug of fresh spring water! But history is written. I am helpless to do anything.

It is this year. It is late on a stormy afternoon. You drive by a nursing home, recalling a community notice mentioning the need for more dinnertime volunteers.

Jesus said that when we meet the needs of our neighbors, we have ministered personally to him. Hurting people are our neighbors. History can be rewritten—we can still give the Lord that drink.

Advice for Ministry Leaders on Listening Well to People with Disabilities

Discover the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in church settings and the importance of listening, creating a welcoming environment, and offering healing to those who feel marginalized and unheard.

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The post You Did It for Me first appeared on Joni and Friends.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11

I’m getting tired of winter. But not the winter you are used to. In southern California, the season is one long stretch of balmy, sunny days. Oh, how I miss the cold, wet winters back in my home state of Maryland.

I’ve been nagging Ken to drive me up to Lone Pine, California, a little town on the edge of the high desert near the base of the snowy Sierra Mountains. The road is one long, straight line across the desert and you can see Lone Pine long before you come to it. When you arrive, it’s just a couple of Victorian houses, a few stoplights, and a corner café called BoBo’s Bonanza. But the highlight is the awesome view of the towering Sierras at the edge of town. An icy downdraft from the mountains takes your breath away… and I love it!

I’m longing for a change of seasons. And just like I’m wishing for snow, you are most likely pining for the caress of a warm, sunny day. How good of God to make us such “seasonal” people. We enjoy change, and having been imprinted with the image of the Creator, we love variety. God has set eternity in our hearts and we simply must move forward like the changing of seasons.

So hang in there until Spring. I may get my drive up to Lone Pine before the snow melts off the peaks. You may see warmer, sunnier days on the horizon. There’s a time for everything, and God promises that your days will be beautiful… in his time..

Lord of winter and spring, I praise you for making everything beautiful in its time. Give me patience to wait for change in my life

Perseverance in Suffering

Joni Eareckson Tada who has lived through more than 5 decades of quadriplegia, two rounds of breast cancer, and daily chronic pain, is well-acquainted with hardship. But she also knows about perseverance! Joni shares where she finds the strength to continue on and what she has learned about the power of example.

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The post Winter’s End first appeared on Joni and Friends.

“Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected. ‘Leave her alone,’ Jesus replied. ‘It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.’”

John 12:3-4, 7

For weeks, Jesus had been telling his disciples that he would soon be crucified and taken from them. Judging from their confusion after his death, it’s obvious they did not listen. But one person listened, really listened to the words of Jesus. It was Mary, the sister of Martha.

I’m sure that the Lord was deeply touched by her demonstration of devotion, the pouring of perfume on his feet. What may have touched him more, however, was the knowledge that Mary was doing this as a preparation for his burial. Perhaps she realized that crucified criminals were not permitted to be anointed for burial; perhaps this act of devotion was her way of offering, in advance, what might not be permitted after his death.

How did Mary know all this? She sat at the feet of Jesus and drank in his every word. She pondered the things he said, weighing everything, considering it all. The disciples failed to genuinely listen and missed the chance to minister to the Lord before he went to the cross.

We bring so much delight to the Lord when we sit at his feet and consider all the things he says. Others may miss the point or bypass the lesson. But for those who hang on his words, to them, God reveals his secret plan and purpose.

Lord, today I sit at your feet to listen. Oh, may I genuinely hear what wonderful things you have to say.

Stepping Out in Faith to Serve

When Becky Ellis first served at a Joni and Friends Family Retreat in 1999, she discovered God’s call on her life. Every summer Becky returned to Family Retreat to serve. Now a Regional Operations Director for Joni and Friends, Becky wants to inspire the next generation to love, serve, and advocate for people with disabilities.

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The post Mary Listened first appeared on Joni and Friends.

“You are my friends if you do what I command.”

 John 15:14

How do you like your friends? Do you like them to be faithful and loyal? Encouraging, thoughtful, and kind? Of course you do. But how many of your friends would measure up to such standards?

Friends are people, and people are not always faithful and kind. Just look at some of the people Jesus called his friends. Peter was always interrupting and telling Jesus what he should do. Then there was Mary Magdalene, whose sordid past was well known. Mary, the sister of Martha, failed as a housekeeper. Indecisive Thomas never stood up for his opinions. Then there was Nicodemus, the man who came to Jesus at night, a chicken for not showing his face in the daytime.

These people had their problems. Nevertheless, Jesus valued them as friends. He didn’t expect them to be perfect; he expected them to be themselves, faults and fine points together. And all he asked of them was their love. Love for him and for each other.

Perhaps you’re the type who forgets appointments or birthdays. Maybe in a group, you talk too much or don’t talk at all. Housecleaning doesn’t top your priority list. You get intimidated easily and fail to stick up for your friends. Aren’t you glad that none of these things disqualify you from your Lord’s circle of friends?

Jesus says that you are his friend if you do two things: Love God and love others.

I must remember, Lord, that when I fail as your friend, you still remain a faithful friend to me, always caring and loving, always forgiving and encouraging. May I reflect your love back to you and share that same love with others.

Friendship

Discover the importance of fostering authentic friendships for people with disabilities, particularly in church settings, by emphasizing commonalities, challenging assumptions about disability, and creating inclusive environments where meaningful connections can form.

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The post You Are God’s Friend If… first appeared on Joni and Friends.

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10

You probably can see that the scoliosis in my spine is getting worse (I keep slumping to the side). And the worse it gets… The more the enemy attacks my joy in the Lord. And when I feel the crunch of pain, I can even lose the joy of my salvation. Now… Never would I discard my salvation, but I ‘can’ just put just my head down and plow through.  But… I don’t believe that’s the way God wants us to live with scoliosis or ‘any’ pain. Look, the Bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength. So, I’m believing it. For the joy set before ‘him’ Jesus went through hell and back! And in so doing, he secured for you and me ‘his’ joy. Friend, if you’re in pain, fix your eyes on Jesus and ‘everything’ he gained for you through his suffering. Then step into ‘his’ joy.

Rejoicing in Hardships

Joni Eareckson Tada highlights the powerful example of Andy Bush, a young man with cerebral palsy who evangelizes through his unwavering joy and refusal to complain, demonstrating how people with disabilities can shine as influential witnesses for Christ in a broken world.

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The post Restoring the Joy first appeared on Joni and Friends.

She didn’t see disability coming…  

Meet Vianey, an energetic mom of three from Monterrey, Mexico. She lived a busy, happy life, never imagining that disability would be part of her story. Then a horrific car accident turned her life upside down. Left her with chronic pain and a new disability, Vianey faced a daunting road ahead—one that Joni Eareckson Tada understands well. 

“When a family experiences a new disability, they enter into a new and foreboding world.”

Joni 

In addition to her physical struggles, Vianey felt rejected by her church where some members wrongly blamed her disability on a lack of faith. Wrestling with feelings of insignificance and exclusion, and often unable to sleep because of her pain, Vianey tuned in to Joni Eareckson Tada’s radio programs. And through Joni’s Christ-filled inspirational messages, Vianey found the hope and encouragement she needed. 

A New Thing 

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Isaiah 43:19 

Starting with the radio, Vianey learned Joni’s story of coming face-to-face with a new disability after her catastrophic diving accident at seventeen. The story felt familiar—how new disabilities bring with them a whole new set of medical appointments, caregiving routines, therapies, and heartbreak.  

But, as Joni’s story attests, Jesus can bring new life and new ministries out of new disabilities. Vianey prayed that God would work through her story too.  

Vianey didn’t waste any time… 

Moved by the Holy Spirit, Vianey responded to Joni’s on-air invitation to contact Joni and Friends. She let us know that—like Joni—she wanted to make a difference for Christ by helping other people with disabilities.  

Our team prayed with Vianey, provided her with resources, and invited her to our Wheels for the World™ outreach in her area where she then received a much-needed wheelchair. From there, Vianey’s connection with Joni and Friends continued to deepen. 

Soon Vianey received a Joni and Friends scholarship to complete our Beyond Suffering course, which offers a biblical perspective on disability and suffering. Here, Vianey learned the truth: that all people, regardless of disability, have equal dignity and value—and that every person with a disability deserves to be welcomed into God’s family. 

After completing her own Beyond Suffering program, Vianey became an instructor for the course. And in 2022 she became our Joni and Friends International Country Coordinator for Mexico! 

“Jesus had a plan for his glory!” – Vianey 

Vianey has now led hundreds of students through our Beyond Suffering curriculum and is responsible for overseeing our online Beyond Suffering trainings in Central America. She has become a trainer of trainers—mentoring other instructors and guiding each course to completion. More than that, Vianey personally ministers to the people God brings into her care. And as others listen to her testimony, they come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. 

“Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame… that my house will be full.”

Luke 14:21, 23, NIV 

Learn more about Beyond Suffering

A groundbreaking course of study created to transform the way Christians view God’s plan for disability and suffering.

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The post A New Disability Brought a New Call  first appeared on Joni and Friends.