Hand in Hand

One of my favorite run-to scriptures is Psalm 61. In the '70s, we sang the first four verses of this psalm. It's a great way to memorize scriptures, by the way! In the first two verses, David is crying out to God. He is overwhelmed, something the caregiver knows well. Every day can be overwhelming just normally. This is even harder during a pandemic. We already had enough on our plate, right?

But after David makes his plea, he begins to make a declaration. This is a pattern he follows in many psalms. In this psalm, it seems he reminds himself of how God has been a shelter for him over the years. He says, for You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. Maybe David is reminding himself that he's run to God many times for protection from the enemy.

Maybe it's a good idea to remind ourselves how God has been our refuge and shelter many times before. I know I have run to Him many times in my lifetime. And He's always faithful - He's always there to pick me up and tell me it's going to be okay. After thinking about how many times God has already been there for us - it's easy to purpose to trust Him again, isn't it?

In verse 4, David makes a personal declaration - He says I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. His heart is purposed that He will trust God again - and forever! It seems like abide and trust go hand in hand. I'm not sure we can truly abide if we don't fully trust. 

When we trust Him, we run to Him. Then we must stay there. I want to live in the shadow of His wings - I want to abide forever in the shelter of His love. But if trust is lacking - I won't be able to stay, will I?

Today, I will purpose to abide in Him and continue to trust Him. My meditation will be on what it means to abide (live) with Him. I'll focus my heart on fully trusting Him - today and forever, as David said. I will learn to abide and to trust - will you join me?

Whatever Lies Ahead

I was reading some of the OT prophets over the weekend. As I was spending time in prayer, the scripture out of Habakkuk came to my mind and I whispered it in my prayers. In the last part of verse 2, the prophet says, revive Your work in the midst of the years, oh Lord. That was my prayer and later became my meditation.

We are living through some tough times, and I'm seeing lots of whining come across social media channels. I'm certainly not unsympathetic, but I'm like you've been home for two whole weeks... seriously? I recall when I became a caregiver and the social isolation was one of the most difficult parts. And honestly, even as caregivers, we can mourn the loss of the freedom we have enjoyed - whatever level of freedom we had, even if it was minimal.

But there's always some good news, and I found it in the latter part of this same chapter of Habakkuk. Verses 17 and 18 say this:

Though the fig tree does not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls--
Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.....

There is so much in these two verses - and we are living some of it right now. Just a few weeks ago we could go to the store and buy eggs if we needed them. Now there is a limit - if they are available at all... things like that are just crazy. But when I think about our situation - and the trouble so many are facing - I have to find peace in this - our salvation is sure. 

We've talked a lot about how as caregivers we didn't lose any of our promises. Our righteousness is secure in Him - there isn't an exempt card from Christianity - we still get ALL the benefits and we still have ALL the responsibilities. Nothing shakes His kingdom - and that Kingdom is inside us. Nothing in the spiritual realm has changed - His word still stands secure. God didn't change His mind on anything when this man-made virus started in China and moved across the globe. He didn't take a deep breath and say, Oh no. 

We know as caregivers that it took us some time to figure that out - because for some of us - our worlds were greatly shaken. Our faith was shaken. Mine was redefined. We know God carries us through those tough times- He continues to speak, to care, to watch, and love us just like always.

Today, no matter what lies ahead - I'm going to trust God. I will rejoice in my salvation because it's not from this earth and nothing on earth can shake it or change it. My meditations will be on staying hidden in Him - for today. I'll trust Him just for today. I will wait for Him today. I will thank Him for being my soul's anchor - today and for whatever lies ahead. Will you join me?

How to Care for a Loved One from Afar



As caregivers, we want to do our best for our senior loved ones. When we’re stuck living far apart, however, it can feel impossible to give them the care they need. Fortunately, there are many things you can do for your loved one no matter where you are.

Thanks to our ever-connected world, you can give them the gift of care despite all the distance between you. It’s hard to be far apart, but thanks to technology, we can be together no matter where we are. Here are a few great ways to be a caregiver from afar:

Help Around the House

When you're an in-person caregiver, it's easy to help your loved one with household chores and maintenance. Being far away obviously makes this more challenging, but that doesn't mean you're at a loss. Making slight home modifications and outsourcing services can be great ways to help your senior loved one get the assistance they need.

For example, is your loved one’s laundry room set up in the basement? Navigating stairs gets trickier (and more dangerous) with age, and lugging laundry up and down the stairs can be risky. To eliminate this hazard, find a way to have their washer and dryer installed on the first floor. You can also install grab bars in the bathrooms, add improved lighting and remove trip hazards like rugs and cords.

When it comes to their home’s exterior, is your senior overwhelmed by spring and summer lawn maintenance and watering? In addition to hiring a lawn care service, consider having sprinklers installed, so they have one less thing to manage. In Oklahoma City, it averages around $2,644 to have this kind of system installed. You can easily get online quotes from local firms to do the work.

Besides hiring services to help with nominal tasks, consider setting your loved one up with grocery delivery. This can be especially handy if they no longer drive and primarily use public transportation. Most grocery stores these days offer delivery, and you can order everything your loved one needs online and have it sent straight to their door.

Stay in Touch

Long-distance caregivers often worry about their loved ones feeling lonely, as older people often suffer from social isolation. Fortunately, staying in touch in a variety of ways gives you and your loved one a sense of connection, and helps prevent them from feeling like they’re all alone. Phone calls, emails, and letters are all excellent ways to stay in touch. Also, if your loved one doesn’t have a smartphone, consider setting your loved one up with a tablet or video chat system so you can see each other while you talk. This gives you both the chance to have a face-to-face connection, and it can help you see for yourself if there are any problems like a disheveled appearance or a messy home.

Get Allies Nearby

Finally, staying in touch with your loved one’s neighbors and nearby friends is an excellent tool for the long-distance caregiver. Those who see your loved one in person and even on a regular basis can help determine problems early on that you might miss from afar. Ask your loved one to give your phone number to the neighbors or some friends, and touch base with them regularly. They may be able to clue you in if your loved one is experiencing property neglect or other signs that something bigger is going on.

Caring for someone from a distance can be difficult, but there are plenty of ways to make it work. You will be amazed at everything you can do for your loved one without being able to physically be there. With the right game plan, you can be the caregiver you want to be, no matter where you are.

Photo Credit: Unsplash

One Day in the Grave

Today is Saturday, and tomorrow is when most of our culture celebrates the Resurrection. I say it needs to be something we celebrate daily in our lives, but corporately, tomorrow is the day. If we think about it, today is the only whole day Jesus spent in the tomb. He was crucified and buried on Friday - and rose on Sunday. It's the only 24-hour day the earth was silent.

Imagine how the disciples were feeling on this day. Jesus had been their hope, they had pictured Him setting up a physical kingdom and now their dreams and all they had invested in for the last three years was gone. They were scared. Most likely, they were silent. Sometimes as a caregiver, I've experienced pain beyond words. There just isn't always a good way to articulate feelings or emotions, especially when they are so deep in our souls.

Silence isn't always bad. I go back to Psalm 46:10 where God encourages the psalmist to be still and know I am God. Sounds simple, huh? But being still and quiet isn't always easy in our busy digitally connected lives, is it? 

As I was sharing video devotions this morning on Facebook Live, I realized that sometimes, being quiet and acknowledging that He is God - is an act of worship. Our minds are being inundated with information day in and day out. We are stressed beyond what we ever imagined and as caregivers, we can go numb. In some ways - we are in a state of shock.

But God is still God and acknowledging that when the world is spinning around in sporadic circles - is worship. There's no fanfare, no entertainment value, no song and dance. But it's worship. Religion wants us to think worship looks like a well-orchestrated song or show. But in that moment that we quiet our souls and our minds and just say You are God. That's an expression of worship - pure and simple. But powerful too.

Today, I will try to quiet my very busy mind - and I will stop the worry and anxious thoughts that He knows so well - and I will just say: You are still God. You are still my God! My meditation will be on His existence and I'll focus on that instead of my own existence for today. I'll wait for His peace to fill me and I will embrace it and let it rule in my heart today. Will you join me?

The Supposed-To-Be's

So many things are supposed to be happening right now. It's the height of racing season and I'm supposed to be lining our races for myself and a few to push Chris in. It's Easter weekend and many families are supposed to be planning huge family gatherings, early Sunday morning church services, and Easter egg hunts.

But none of that is happening as the world is still on hold. For many of us caregivers, it doesn't really look all that much different. But the atmosphere is different. The world is a different place right now  - nothing is as it is supposed to be. 

I've kept my thoughts in Psalm 46 a lot this week. I'm meditated on verse 1 and I'm still chewing on it. It says God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. But then the next verse says this: Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and the mountains be carried into the heart of the sea....

While our earth may not have physically moved, it's certainly changed for many of us. There are new fears, new dreads, and just new ways to do old things. (like getting groceries, doctor appointments, etc.) But we don't have to live in that sense of fear or dread. Why not? Because God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 

I remind myself that He has not changed. He has not given up or thrown in the towel. He hasn't thrown His hands up in despair wondering what to do next. That's why I continue to trust Him even in the midst of this man-made crisis. Even if the earth shifts off its axis - He can still be trusted.

Today, I'll remind myself that He is still on the throne - He's still in control. My meditations will be on His faithfulness to keep our souls no matter what our bodies go through. I'll turn my thoughts to His strength that He has shared with me... little ole me. I'll tell myself that He loves me still.. and today is not the day He has decided to change. And I'll rest right there in those thoughts. Will you join me?

The Giver & Receiver

I'm still walking through Psalm 46:1 in my morning devotions. Yesterday, we talked about how God is our refuge- we run to Him and hide in Him. But the psalmist goes on to say that He is our peace. I have a  lot of favorite scriptures about peace! But I want to focus on one in Psalm 29:11.

This verse says  The Lord will give strength to His people, the Lord will bless His people with peace. I love this verse! When we put it all together, He is our refuge - as long as we run to Him, as we talked about yesterday. We must run to Him and hide.

But now, He is also our strength. Again - we must run to Him and let Him be our strength rather than trying to do it all on our own. This scripture in Psalm 29 says He gives us strength - and He gives us peace. But it's up to us to accept it - hold it - submit to it - and walk in it. He can pour it on us all day long but we still won't have peace or strength if we don't yield our hearts and ways to Him.

Even though He pours His abundant peace on us - it can't take effect until we let it rule in our hearts. (Colossians 3:15) This makes it an actionable item, doesn't it? We have to take action to receive and walk in the peace He gives. He keeps giving peace. He keeps being a refuge. Now it's up to us to run to Him, receive from Him, and rest in that peace.

That's a tall chore for many of us - our brains are so busy and we are currently being inundated with so much information - we don't even know what's true or false anymore. But there's one thing for sure in these uncertain times - We can still walk in His peace. Remember that Paul told us we are not citizens of this world -our citizenship is in heaven. (Philippians 3:20) Our task is to live from there - instead of trying to fit in around here.

Today, I will trust Him with myself and my loved ones. I will choose to let His peace rule in my heart no matter what I see or hear. I'll trust Him over the craziness in this world. I'll lean in to Him a little closer and rest on Him more fully as I trust Him to get me and the ones I care for through one more day. Will you join me?

Better Get Running

It's funny (not haha) to watch the world adjust to living in a cave during this pandemic. As caregivers, most of us are used to it on some level or another. Sadly, we are used to being treated like we have the plague, at least in some circles. There is so much uncertainty and insecurity as well as lots of adjustments to make. It reminds me of when I first brought my son home to care for him. I was so afraid. Every time I needed to transfer him, I'd get sick to my stomach from fear I'd drop him or hurt him in some way. Of course, he's better and I've adjusted. We always do - but sometimes after dealing with much shock! lol. And the world will figure it out too. Eventually.

My go-to scripture in difficult times is PSalm 46:1. It says it all. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. I'm camping out in this verse this week and sharing it in live devotions on Facebook. This morning, I just looked at the very first phrase - God is our refuge. Now, the funny thing about a refuge is it's always standing. It's always there. However - it's up to us to run to it. It's up to us to take refuge in that safe place. We also have to stay there. God cannot provide refuge for us if we are running around outside it declaring He's our refuge. The key is to get inside and stay inside.

I encourage you to run to Him. Then, stay there. Trust Him in this crisis - just like we've been trusting Him all this time. Whether you know Him or not - He will welcome you into His heart with open arms.

Today, I will meditate on how He protects me during the storm. I'll purposefully run to Him and stay in His refuge. My thoughts will be on how He protects my whole being - my soul and my heart. I'll trust Him for today - will you join me?

Big Shoulders

  One thing that I absolutely love about God is that He has big shoulders. He can handle anything I need to give to Him to carry. God's ...