Inseparable

 

I love social media most of the time. It has some benefits as well as some disadvantages. One thing I enjoy is being able to connect with friends and family. I also like meeting new friends. I use social media pretty much every day. In the mornings, I do a Facebook Live devotional called Peace Out! I started it during the pandemic, and there hasn't seemed like there was a good place to stop since we all still need to peace out. 

The other ones I don't use as much. I do have a YouTube channel and an Instagram account. I also just recently started a TikTok channel. I mostly used it to post shorts taken from my morning FaceBook Live devotionals. I was getting about 200 views a day and they just dropped to 15 -20 views a day. But I started putting up caregiving videos of me transferring my son, him moving around, and other improvements. Those started getting 2-300 views, but devotional videos barely get any. My thought was this - I want to find a way to "marry" the two.

I'm not sure why people want to watch me work with my son. But it's impossible to separate my caregiving from my faith. They are definitely married and inseparable. 

It's only through faith that I can keep going at all. How could you take one without the other? So, I'm working on some ideas for videos that marry the two. I want others to understand that God doesn't leave when we become caregivers. Actually, He is our ultimate caregiver! 

The two are so inseparable in my mind and heart that I can't imagine trying to get up and care for my son without relying on God. Is there something, someone better than that? Stronger than Him? I think not. 

After my son's accident, I discovered a new definition and reality of faith. It's not a force that keeps bad things from happening. Instead, it's a force that keeps us close to God in the middle of the stuff. It's what carried Daniel through that long, dark night in the lion's den. It's what walked through the fire with the three Hebrew children. It's what met Moses on the back side of the wilderness where he was hiding from his past. It's what stirred up David to run to the fight with Goliath - knowing he was going to win! We have this same faith in the same God who is going to carry us through our struggles, too.

Today, I'll remind myself that God did not separate faith from my circumstances. In fact, it's faith that drags God right into the middle of the mix! But He comes willingly just to help us get through. My meditations will be on how God is not afraid of this journey. He walks the path right beside me and you. He didn't say it's too rough. Too rocky. Too hard or too soft for His taste. He just keeps holding us up and walking with us - right there for when we realize we still need Him. I know He will walk beside me today and carry me as needed. I think I can trust Him for one more day. Will you join me?

_________________________________________

Book of the Week!

1 John Study Guide

• ·         What does it mean to be loved by God?

  ·         What happens when God lives in us?

  ·         Are you ready for a deep dive into God’s love?

  ·         What does God really think about you?

• ·         How is it possible to be a child of God?

Grab a copy of the 1 John Bible Study Guide! It’s like John decided to write an expository letter about John 3:16. Oh, how He loves us! Until we get that – we won’t get much else! Take a walk through this powerful, life-changing epistle written to the early Christians.

Take the journey through these five chapters and learn more about your heart and God's heart. Find your own answers and new insights as you work through the series of thought-provoking questions that lead you to God's heart.

eBook: Dove's Fire Ministries Bookstore 

Kindle or Print: Amazon Bookshelf

Over and Over Again

 

If there's anything caregivers understand, it's how the days roll by as we do all the same tasks over and over again. Of course, there's always that underlying "what if" ready to throw a wrench in our day with a trip to the ER, a call to the doctor, or an aide or supplies that don't show up. Part of our over and over again situation means constantly being ready to make do and live in "go" mode for the unexpected.

The crazy things prepared for and aside, most of our days are comprised of tasks we do over and over. Some things are common to every household, we just get the complicated versions. Laundry, for instance. Everyone does laundry, but when you care for someone who is incontinent, it adds another layer of complexity to ensure they stay dry and laundry is always done. Cooking is another example. If your loved one needs anything special at all, a basic everyday task becomes complicated and time-consuming. I tube feed my son a real food diet, which means I cook and prepare everything, then blend it to the proper consistency to put through his tube. Cooking is normal - our versions - not so much. Lol.

Days go on and on with things we do over and over again. Now that we've mastered the art of repetitive actions - we can apply them somewhere else! Lol.

Psalm 71: 14 says But I will hope continually, and will praise you yet more and more. (NLT) I'm wondering this morning if we can just figure out how to hope in Him continually. There must be some way to set our souls on automatic wash-rinse-repeat cycles so that no matter what shows up, goes away, comes down, or anything in between, we automatically turn to Him. Maybe that button is found in verse 1. The psalmist started this psalm with a declaration: In You, O Lord, I put my trust. That is where our hope starts and continues. It's as basic as deciding to trust Him with all our whatevers...on and on, over and over again.

Today, I'll remind my soul that God is trustworthy. One thing is certain - He's earned my trust. I won't let my "hope" look away from His grace for even one second. Instead, I will declare with the psalmist that all my hope and trust are in Him. I'll spend today waiting for His answers to my most pressing questions. I'll try not to wriggle around too much while I wait for Him and trust Him for one more day. Will you join me?

___________________________________________

Book of the Week!

1 John Study Guide

• ·         What does it mean to be loved by God?

  ·         What happens when God lives in us?

  ·         Are you ready for a deep dive into God’s love?

  ·         What does God really think about you?

• ·         How is it possible to be a child of God?

Grab a copy of the 1 John Bible Study Guide! It’s like John decided to write an expository letter about John 3:16. Oh, how He loves us! Until we get that – we won’t get much else! Take a walk through this powerful, life-changing epistle written to the early Christians.

Take the journey through these five chapters and learn more about your heart and God's heart. Find your own answers and new insights as you work through the series of thought-provoking questions that lead you to God's heart.

eBook: Dove's Fire Ministries Bookstore 

Kindle or Print: Amazon Bookshelf

Blooming Deserts

Paul reminds us in Romans 8 that God makes everything work out for good as we trust Him. But it's interesting that this concept is throughout the Old Testament, too. When I find a passage that is really speaking to my heart, I camp there. So, since yesterday, I've been camped out in Isaiah 51 and 52. I've read these two chapters several times and even read them out loud a time or two...

Yesterday, I thought a lot about verse 2, which says, "Abraham was alone when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation." Since we can feel alone and be alone so much of the time, this verse was encouraging to me. But this morning, I've been sitting on verse 3, which says, "The Lord will comfort Israel (Jakob) again and make her deserts blossom. Her barren wilderness will become as beautiful as Eden - the garden of the Lord." 

The caregiving journey can feel so very barren at times. We can wonder if God can bring anything good out of the dry and barren experiences. This verse encourages me and reminds us that He sees right where we are and will cause the desert experience to bloom and become beautiful. It made me think of Hosea 2:15, which reminds us God makes our valleys of pain or trouble into gateways of hope. 

No matter what our caregiving days look like, how "easy" they may be or how difficult - God is a florist, always causing goodness, grace, and mercy to bloom beautifully in our lives. Even if it feels like the desert, it doesn't mean there's no life - God is the source of our life. He waters our parched souls. One of my favorite songwriters is Dennis Jernigan. There's a line in one of his songs that says, "The drier the land, the sweeter the rain." We can appreciate the rain of heaven as it falls on our parched souls and brings refreshing we can't even explain. Fellowshiping with God always brings birth and growth. We can trust Him for that!

Today, I am determined to soak in some of the rain of heaven on my soul. My prayer will be that God will show me the growth in this desert. I'll wait for His grace, mercy, and strength for today as I trust that He is indeed working all things out for good - even in this place. I'll look for the door of hope - and when I find it - I'll walk right through it into thanksgiving. I'm thankful He has not abandoned my soul - He keeps it close to His heart, where I can grow in Him! I can trust Him for one more day. Will you join me? 

________________________________________________

Book of the Week!

1 John Study Guide

• ·         What does it mean to be loved by God?

  ·         What happens when God lives in us?

  ·         Are you ready for a deep dive into God’s love?

  ·         What does God really think about you?

• ·         How is it possible to be a child of God?

Grab a copy of the 1 John Bible Study Guide! It’s like John decided to write an expository letter about John 3:16. Oh, how He loves us! Until we get that – we won’t get much else! Take a walk through this powerful, life-changing epistle written to the early Christians.

Take the journey through these five chapters and learn more about your heart and God's heart. Find your own answers and new insights as you work through the series of thought-provoking questions that lead you to God's heart.

eBook: Dove's Fire Ministries Bookstore 

Kindle or Print: Amazon Bookshelf

No Wine Needed

 This morning, as I was preparing to go live on Facebook for Peace Out devotions, I found this really cool scripture in Isaiah 51. In verse 21, the prophet says, now listen to this, you afflicted ones, who sit in a drunken stupor, though not from drinking wine. (NLT) I was like, Wow! How many times on this caregiving journey have I felt just like that? I wouldn't even venture a guess. Usually, I describe it as those sit-drink-coffee-stare-at-the-wall moments. 

Trauma itself can have that effect, as can the ongoing struggles of caregiving. It's easy to get overwhelmed and even underwhelmed, lol. I think we've all had those moments where we go numb. And we didn't use a glass of wine to get us there! :-) Overwhelming is often an understatement when it comes to caregiving. There are just those days when there are no words and no one to understand, even if we tried. Those days are often filled with heavy sighs, and they are perfect for learning to wait on God. But boy, are they uncomfortable! 

To be fair, this passage is to a specific people at a specific time, and they were indeed afflicted. But if you look back up at verse 16, you'll see that the prophet reminded them that they were hidden in God's hands. He was carrying their hearts, their wounds, their struggles, and their situations in His capable hands. But He also had them hidden in His hand. I like the picture that comes up in my imagination. God's loving hand gently holding me and my soul back from sure destruction. I think that's how we live out each day, knowing He's got us come what may. 

The final part of verse 16 says it all. He tells Israel, "You are mine." I think He whispers this same thing in our hearts today - we are His and there's no storm strong enough to rip us from His hands. We are secure in Him and His gentle reminder that He's got us is all we need to make it through another day.

Today, I'll meditate on how He holds me in His hand. (Singular hand, btw!) When things get rough or complicated, I'll remind myself that He is still holding me and that there is absolutely nothing in heaven or in earth that can make Him let go of my heart - even if I'm sitting in a drunken stupor with no wine involved. The storms can remove me. Strong winds can't sway me. Absolutely nothing can rip me from His grip of grace. So, I will be content to rest in His hand as He carries me through just one more day. Will you join me?

__________________________________________________

Book of the Week!

1 John Study Guide

• ·         What does it mean to be loved by God?

  ·         What happens when God lives in us?

  ·         Are you ready for a deep dive into God’s love?

  ·         What does God really think about you?

• ·         How is it possible to be a child of God?

Grab a copy of the 1 John Bible Study Guide! It’s like John decided to write an expository letter about John 3:16. Oh, how He loves us! Until we get that – we won’t get much else! Take a walk through this powerful, life-changing epistle written to the early Christians.

Take the journey through these five chapters and learn more about your heart and God's heart. Find your own answers and new insights as you work through the series of thought-provoking questions that lead you to God's heart.

eBook: Dove's Fire Ministries Bookstore 

Kindle or Print: Amazon Bookshelf

The Soul Eclipse

 

I've been told that I "wear caregiving well." I'm pretty sure it was meant as a compliment and, of course, pointed to God's sustaining power. I'm still the silly, fun-loving person I always was, even though life changed forever. It can certainly feel like our soul is eclipsed by the cares of life. And there are very few people who will look past the moon (caregiving) to see the true light in the soul behind it. That's okay.

I still love a good joke and tasteful pranks. Who doesn't love a good laugh? It's good for the soul, and sometimes I watch funny movies just for the soul's benefit. But it seems that there is always a soul eclipse as caregiving can cast a shadow on everything since it infiltrates literally every aspect of our lives. There's no getting around it.

People see the bright and cheery part - but they don't see the nights I lay awake trying to figure out how to make ends meet. They don't see the times I'm so overwhelmed with emotions that I cannot function. Or maybe the stranger stares (we all get those!) are because they can't figure out why there is such a bright light behind our caregiving-darkened souls. But we know.

We know the sustaining power of God that shines around our souls and keeps us going. We understand that He is right there in the mix during those long, dark nights of the soul, and He's there to help us pull it all together once we get ready. But He also waits for us to be ready. He's not put off by our pain. He's not disgusted by our not-so-normal way of life. He never throws up His hands because He doesn't know what to do with us. And He certainly doesn't ignore us because we live life differently than everyone else. He doesn't have a box for us to fit in, so He's not lost when it comes to loving us.

Today, I will remind myself that God is in it with me - He's here for the long haul. He hasn't set a limit on His grace, and I know I have enough for today. I'll be thankful that His light continues to shine on my caregiving path, no matter what tries to eclipse it. My thoughts will be on His never-ending power to sustain my soul. And I'll trust Him to do just that for one more day. Will you join me?

The "Because" Clause

 

As caregivers, we didn't exactly initiate the battle life threw our way. Most of us did choose to take on the fight, though, right? We didn't choose for our loved ones to have a disability, be in mental or physical decline, or have an accident. Our choice was to take care of our loved ones while acknowledging the battle it was going to thrust us into. And that's okay. Here we are!

In 1 Chronicles 5:18-20, it tells us of the armies of Rueben, Gad, and Manasseh. Since they were skilled warriors and heavily armed for the day, they launched an attack on the "ites" in the land. For caregivers, the battle chose us, but these tribes chose the battle. We don't know what happened or what was going down, but we know from verse 20 that they cried out to God during the battle. While that is important, it's the next part that got me.

After they cried out to God from an intense battle, it says He answered their prayer because they trusted in Him. I love that part. He helped them go ahead and win that battle - the one they started - because. The "because clause" is the most important part of this verse to me this morning. 

God could have told these tribes a lot of things - things we probably heard our parents say to us, things we most likely said to our own kids, such as:

• You started it - now finish it.
• You made your bed; now lie in it.
• You picked a fight - be big enough to follow through.
• You got yourself into this mess - get yourself out.

But God didn't say any of those things. Insert the because clause—because they trusted in Him—He answered them. They went on to fight and win that battle because God fought for them.

Here's what encouraged me in this passage. They started it, but God still heard them and helped them. They chose it, but God still heard them and helped them. They brought it on themselves...you get the idea.

Today, I will encourage myself with the truth that God will hear me in the middle of my battle, one that I didn't choose. Instead, it chose me. God will answer me in the middle of the storm I had no control over at all. He will strengthen me as I sit in the back of the caregiver's cave, waiting for Him. If God stands up for those who choose the battle - He will certainly go to bat for those who had no choice. I will trust that He will hear me today, and He will answer. So, I will trust Him for one more day. Will you join me?

__________________________________________________

Book of the Week!

Affirmations for Caregiver

• Are you a caregiver?
• Do you know a caregiver?
• Do you need a little encouragement?
• What does God think about you?

Grab a copy of the Affirmations for Caregivers! This devotional journal gives a scripture and an affirmation for every day. It follows up the truth with soul-searching questions and space to write out your personal answers. What a great way to give it to God and trust Him for another day!

Whether you see yourself as a caregiver or not, this affirmation journal will help change your perspective as you give it all to the One who gave you all. Grab a copy and dive in! It's designed to take about 5-10 minutes a day to reflect, think deeply, and lean into His heart a little closer.

eBook: Dove's Fire Ministries Bookstore 

Kindle or Print: Amazon Bookshelf

The Trouble with New Days

 We know that His mercies are new every morning, and that's simply for our benefit since God has no "mornings." When we wake up each new day, we can rest assured that He's already planned to cover us for the day. I was thinking about all of this when I got up early this morning. The trouble is, though, that I woke up with all of yesterday still hanging over my head. 

Maybe you know. There are all those things that I didn't get to, mostly because of caregiving responsibilities, because those cannot be ignored or put off. That often means that I don't get this blog done as regularly as I'd like. It usually means I am running behind on the work I do to make my living. Sigh. That's a big one! Lol... Even though I get up and remind myself that His mercies are enough for today, there's a lot left over to clean up from several yesterdays. What does God do with that, I wonder?

The first thing that comes to mind is that He is consistent. He is faithful. He is fully capable of handling my new day - no matter how much of tomorrow came over with the morning. He will still gather me up and carry me and all my "stuff" through today, no matter how many leftovers I'm carrying from previous days. 1 Peter 5:7 reminds us to bring all our troubles and cares to Him - and then let Him care for us.

There are no qualifiers, quantifiers, limitations, or exclusions in that verse. Just bring it all—from days gone by to years gone by—and he'll take it all. 

So here I stand on the brink of a new day. I'm a packer, so I can see myself as having my backpack on my back stuffed with all my essential "stuff." But my hands are full of today's stuff, too, and I'm not sure where to put anything. On top of all that, my heart is overwhelmed with the emotions that go with caregiving, from grief to overwhelm, sadness to joy. But He just steps in and scoops me and all my stuff up and pulls me close to His heart. And there I sit. Close to the One I love. Near the heart of the One I trust. Content that He will get me through this day, no matter how many days are in it.

Today, I am resolved to trust Him with everything. I'll lean into Him a little closer and wait for Him to help me navigate the heaviness of today. I'll remind myself that I can trust Him with it all. My meditations will be on how I can learn to let Him care for me so I can relax in Him. I'll sit right by His heart, listening for His breath as I trust Him for one more day. Will you join me?

___________________________________________________

Book of the Week!

Affirmations for Caregiver

• Are you a caregiver?
• Do you know a caregiver?
• Do you need a little encouragement?
• What does God think about you?

Grab a copy of the Affirmations for Caregivers! This devotional journal gives a scripture and an affirmation for every day. It follows up the truth with soul-searching questions and space to write out your personal answers. What a great way to give it to God and trust Him for another day!

Whether you see yourself as a caregiver or not, this affirmation journal will help change your perspective as you give it all to the One who gave you all. Grab a copy and dive in! It's designed to take about 5-10 minutes a day to reflect, think deeply, and lean into His heart a little closer.

eBook: Dove's Fire Ministries Bookstore 

Kindle or Print: Amazon Bookshelf