Daily Devotions for Caregivers

One of the difficulties I've had as a caregiver is trying to plan the "future." It's just so uncertain - everyday is uncertain. You just never know what is going to unfold, what's going to work, break or who is or isn't going to show up. It's tough enough getting through each day one step at a time without giving consideration to the future too. In my devotions this morning I sort of stumbled across a scripture that helped me see just a little bit past today. In 2 Corinthians 4 Paul explains that we have the treasure of Christ in this "earthen vessel," or our bodies. What's interesting to me is that after sharing this wonderful bit of information with us he goes on to discuss how much trouble we can face in this clay pot. Caregivers can relate to these situations I think - we are: hard pressed - but not crushed perplexed - but not in despair persecuted - but not forsaken struck down but not destroyed Even though we can go throu...

Psalm 27 has been a long time favorite of mine and as I was reading it recently there were a few things that really stuck out to me. Verse 5 really rings true for me today: In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion.  I really like that for two reasons - the first one is that the psalmist says "in the time of trouble." This indicates that he experienced times of difficulty in his own life. It doesn't say "since God got me out of trouble" or "helped me avoid trouble," it says IN the time of trouble. There's not always a quick escape! The second thing that sticks out to me is that during troublesome times- He hides me at His house.  I really like that. He does not cast me aside or treat me like I am unworthy or meaningless - but He puts me up in His own house when I am experiencing trouble. David indicates that he works hard to stay in God's house. His desire was to be in the Lord's presence and dwelling constantly with Him s...

I've run a few races where certain actions can disqualify you. For instance, if you are not lined up at the start line when the gun goes off - you are disqualified. One race course in OKC goes through an affluent neighborhood and if you step on the grass you get disqualified. Sometimes it can feel like we got disqualified from living our lives when we became a caregiver. For me and many others lives not only changed drastically - they changed completely.  It can take years to feel like you are "living" again. Thankfully when it comes to God and His presence caregivers are not counted out! This morning I was reading in Psalm 24 and verse three is taken right out of Psalm 15. It says: Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His Holy Place? The psalmist answers his own question in verse 4: He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol. We do not get cast away because we are caregivers even if our lif...