Hiding...

Receiving the calling of caregiver comes with all sorts of trials. Misunderstanding people (even those who profess to be believers) have no problem criticizing the wisdom of your actions. Those who are unfamiliar with our situation will give advice, even though it has not been solicited! A caregiver receives looks of apathy, sympathy, disgust, and everything in between! Even those who love you the best will often disagree with your approach to life!

When the world comes at us with such great velocity, we feel we will be crushed and broken. That is the time to hasten to the arms of the Father!

Psalm 91 is such a great comfort in our times of distress. Verses 2-5:

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor the arrow that flieth by day;

Oh what a great image of the loving Father tucking His children under His wings to protect them from danger!

In times when I have been deeply distressed, I have closed my eyes and envisioned myself entering the throne room of the Creator of the Universe and crawling up into His lap and being encircled by His powerful yet loving arms. It is there that I find the courage to continue on, even though others might attack or injure my spirit, wittingly or otherwise!

Dear Heavenly Father, let us learn that when the attacks come, we must run to You for You are our refuge. Please give us the strength to withstand the attacks from the adversary; help us always to remember that You are far greater than he who administers the blows. Make us realize that every attack against us does not make us any less favored in Your eyes; help us to understand that in coming to You, You find pleasure in us. Lord, we were created in Your image, for Your good pleasure, and I pray that we will learn that Your strength is all we need. Help us to see that You are our great defender and let us find rest in You alone!

Obedience, Sacrifice, and Little Children

Sometimes it seems like the Lord gives us just too much. Much more than we can possibly handle. If you are like me, you nearly faint at the thought of being overwhelmed by big things or too many things! I often wonder to myself, "Why can't things go on as they have?"

Growing in the Lord means that we have to be refined and often re-refined! A stubborn heart that is unyielding is of no use in the Lord's ecomony! We need to be flexible and willing to bend. It is so much easier to understand for those of us who have parented children!

When I first heard a teaching that obedience is better than sacrifice to God, it blew my mind. I had no idea what that meant. Isn't God all about Christians giving til it hurts? Isn't making sacrifices what God wants from us?

Then I had children!

Oh boy, talk about a lesson being brought to mind! Suddenly, I knew exactly what this teaching meant! Oh, it is lovely getting a hand full of wild daisies handed to you from a chubby little hand, but when those flowers are picked in disobedience, a real chord is struck! Disobedience is a terrible thing. A child often has no sense of danger and when he or she haphazzardly wanders about with no regard to warnings issued, and then disregards the warnings, it breaks our hearts as parents. How much moreso do we break the very heart of God when we choose to follow our own "instincts" instead of heeding the Will of God?

Many times, following God's perfect plan for our lives is simple and not too painful. Other times, it seems like the Lord is handing out more than our fair portion, especially when we see others living on "Easy Street". May we keep our eyes on Him and not look to the right, or the left! May we seek to follow after the Master and do His good will! May we beome as little children, trusting, trusting, trusting! May we have a faith that carries us through, no matter what!

Lord, I pray that you will give us hearts that are willing to follow after you. Teach us to come just like little children, completely trusting, and knowing that Your ways are much better than our own. Help us not to stumble or be tempted by the world and its ways. Show us that your way is the much better way. As we reach out our spirtual hand to You, please hold it and lead us in the way we should go...in Your paths of righteousness. Thank you, Lord for being the loving and Holy Father that you are. Thank you for your patience when we stumble and make mistakes. Thank you that you do not merely throw us aside, but wait for us until we return. Thank you, Lord, for second chances! Please make your presence known in our lives and give us a confidence that we know You are always there, waiting just like a parent awaits a little child! Thank you, Lord for who You are. Make us to walk in Your ways!