Eternity

Seven years ago in early March my Mom passed away after having suffered a stroke a few days before that.  I was with her the last few moments of her life.  I wrote about that experience, about care-giving, and my reflections on eternity a few days after her funeral in March of 2017.  Bear with me as I bring that post back today.  Eternity is really so close to us, just a breath away.  Easter which is right around the corner reminds us of that.  Just click on the link below to reread that post.

http://christiancaregiving.blogspot.com/2017/03/eternity_11.html

His Grace

I have heard people say, "I don't think I could handle that."  They then proceed to name the set of circumstances which they feel they would never be able to handle, if that set of circumstances would occur in their lives.  When I was younger I remember thinking that there were two things I just "knew" I would not be able to handle, if they happened to me.  These two things were the death of my husband  and the loss of a breast.  God asked both of these things of me.  My  first husband, Wayne, died in early 2011 at the end of a long battle against his neurological disease, and I also lost a breast due to breast cancer in the same time frame that I was my first husband's caregiver.

After being my first husband's caregiver and then losing him to death I also said that I never wanted to be a caregiver again.  Yet God has asked me to be a caregiver once again now to my second husband,  Bob.  The circumstances are diffierent but the emotions are also so amazinly similiar.  I so often have felt in the last months that I couldn't go on.  Yet God has always been there with me with His grace and comfort.

The truth is that God does not give us grace ahead of time.  He gives us His extra grace to handle a difficult and "impossible" situations at the time we need it and not before that time.  That does not mean that the difficult situation will be pleasant, and that one is free from negative emotions.  It just means that God will give sufficient grace and even a measure of joy and peace in the midst of the situation.

In the book of  ll Corinthians in the New Testament of the Bible the apostle, Paul, asked the Lord three times for release from "a thorn in the flesh." We do not know for sure what this affliction was that Paul was experiencing, but apparently it was serious enough that Paul cried out to the Lord for relief.  The Lord did not choose to take this affliction from him, however.

Instead the Lord said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (II Corinthians 12:9)  The Lord was going to give Paul the grace he needed moment by moment to endure and even prosper in the midst of this affliction.  Paul's response in ll Corinthians 12:9b-10 was to say, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.----For when I am weak, then I am strong."  Paul was content to feel weak and to suffer his affliction, because in the process the Lord's sufficient strength in Paul would be seen more clearly.

How about you dear reader?  Are you willing to trust that God's grace is sufficient to get you through any challenge you may face today or in the future?  I remember feeling afraid of what the future held while caring for my first husband.  How was I going to handle each new decline in his physical functioning?  Yet God paved the way and gave me His strength step by step even during the moments when I felt very overwhelmed.  I often wonder the same thing in the challenges I now face.

Do you believe, dear reader, that God's grace will be given to you moment by moment?  Do you believe it will be delivered at the right time and that the grace will be sufficient for every scenario? Do you believe His grace will be enough for you to stay firm in your faith and to continue to believe in God's goodness and love?

God's grace IS sufficient for all your needs, dear reader.  He will equip you for whatever lies ahead.  You will not only survive, but you will prosper spiritually through the process.  This is a truth that I have to remind myself as well when I feel overwhelmed, confused, alone, or need His comfort.  I still often give into fear.  It is not easy to walk this life's path.  Yet I am reminded that God will give me the sufficient grace at the moment and moments I  need it.  God is doing it for me and will do the same for you, dear reader!

Fill My Cup, Lord

Have you ever experienced moments of emptiness, longing, or a feeling that this world is not your home?  Especially in times of trial I think we can have these feelings crop up.  If we try to soothe these feelings with things of this world, it never works.  The only One that can soothe and comfort us is the Lord Himself.  Looking forward to an eternity with Him is the only ultimate and lasting source of comfort.

There is another song which has been floating around in my mind lately.  It is called, "Fill My Cup, Lord."  

"Like the woman at the well

I was seeking

For things that could not satisfy
And then I heard my Savior speaking
"Draw from My well that never shall run dry"

Fill my cup, Lord
I lift it up, Lord
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul
Bread of Heaven, feed me 'til I want no more
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole

There are millions in this world
Who are craving
The pleasures, earthly things of gold
But none can match the wondrous treasure
That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord

Fill my cup, Lord
I lift it up, Lord
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul
Bread of Heaven, feed me 'til I want no more
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole
Here's my cup, fill it up and make me whole." 

 Here is a link to the song, "Fill My Cup, Lord"  being sung:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzDDv3wEuA&list=RD-bzDDv3wEuA&start_radio=1

Press On

This week has been a difficult week for this writer.  It was the anniversary of my sisters' death on the 13th.  My husband is struggling in his acceptance of his assited living situation.  My back issues have been worse again the last few days.  Life feels like it is on hold.  One song has come to my mind through all this.  That song is the song, Press On.  Here are the lyrics for that song:  

Press On

Song by Selah

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Lyrics

When the valley is deep
When the mountain is steep
When the body is weary
When we stumble and fall

When the choices are hard
When we're battered and scarred
When we've spent our resources
When we've given our all

In Jesus' name, we press on
In Jesus' name, we press on
Dear Lord, with the prize
Clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on

Dear Lord, with the prize
Clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on

In Jesus' name, we press on
In Jesus' name, we press on
Dear Lord, with the prize
Clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on

We find the strength to press on
To press on

You can also listen to it being sung by clicking on the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8DVJve79e4

God's Presence

The Lord desires that we hide ourselves in the peace that only He can give, in the peace of His presence.  We need to do this in in everything we do, be it in the quiet moments or when we face difficult challenges.  We all need to do this, as we walk the path God has assigned us.  As we do this remember the Lord's presence is in us and beside us.  He also walks in front of us and behind us.

Dear Reader, I know the burdens of life can become heavy and challenging at times.  We can walk with joy in our hearts, however, if we remember that the Lord is our burden-carrier. The Lord says in John 16:33 of the New Testament of the Bible that in this world we will have burdens and trouble, but He goes on to say, "But take heart!  I have overcome the world!"

I don't know about you, dear reader, but for me it is good to know that the Lord is with me and has already overcome the world!  2023 and early 2024 has had some difficult challenges for me, but God never failed me.  He will not fail you either, dear Reader.  Psalm 31:19 says, "How great is Your goodness which You have stored up for those who fear You." We don't need to fear outside circumstances.  We need to stand in fear and awe of the Lord and to hunger and thirst for His presence.  The psalmist in Psalm 63:7 of the Old Testament of the Bible says, "Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings."

This is the pathway to peace no matter what the circumstances.  May we all endeavor to rest in that peace.  May we resolve to walk in His presence throughout this coming year. 

The Face of Dementia

 

As our population is aging we hear the word dementia used more often.  According to the internet, "Dementia is not a specific disease but is rather a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing daily activities--- It is a condition characterized by progressive or persistent loss of intellectual functioning especially with impairment of memory and abstract thinking, and often with personality change, resulting from organic disease of the brain."

Dementia is also defined as "a group of thinking and social symptoms that interferes with daily functioning."  It often involves memory loss, poor judgment, and impaired social skills.   It can cause fear, confusion, and combativeness in the person with dementia.   This in turn can cause heartache and negative emotions for the loved ones of people who are experiencing dementia.  Dementia can be managed, but there is no known cure at this time.  

Loved ones are often scrambling for or searching out the best possible resources and answers for their loved ones with dementia.  There never seems to be a perfect answer or solution, and loved ones are left with feelings of guilt, frustration and fatigue because of not being able to do more for their loved ones.  

If you know someone with dementia, you can pray for that individual and his or her family.  You can visit the person with dementia and shower love and respect on him or her.  God has made us in His image, and even people with dementia are reflectors of His image.  Sin has tainted the world with diseases of various kinds which can cause havoc.  Yet the Lord is still in control.  We also can do our part, however, in this world affected by disease.  We can pray for those affected, and we can do our part to honor and help them and their loved ones.

Things Too Wonderful for Me

Psalm 131 is a beautiful Psalm in the Bible which speaks of humbly trusting in the Lord.  So often we try to figure out and manage life and it's struggles on our own.  We employ and seek out our own devices and solutions to try to solve life's problems and trials.  If we do pray to God for answers, we sometimes ask God to solve our problems and heartaches the way we think is best.

Instead, in Psalm 131 the psalmist says, "I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me."  We can't understand God's ways.  We can not fully understand what He has in mind in the issues and trials of life, but He is so much wiser than us.  We can rest in His wisdom.  The psalmist goes on to say, "But I have stilled and quieted my soul."

The psalmist has stilled and quieted his soul "like a weaned child with His mother."  He is content to just be in and enjoy the presence of the Lord.  An unweaned child wants something from the mother.  The child wants the mother's milk.  The weaned child only wants and desires to be in the presence and company of his mom.  He is not looking for what the mother can give him, but he just finds solace and comfort and joy in who the mom is as a person.

So it is with God.  We can find joy in His presence alone and in who He is as our loving and faithful God.  Psalm 131 tell us, "We can find "hope in the Lord both now and forevermore."