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FOCUS
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Serving?
"If your gift is serving others, serve them well." Romans 12:7a NLT
As Caregivers we ARE serving others - right? We are trying to help, or even take care of, a family member/loved one. We are trying to do it "well" even if it doesn't always feel like it. We are trying to follow where God is leading. We are, prayerfully, even trying to take care of ourselves. The idea of taking care of self, of spending time with God - just for us, seems like an excellent idea we just aren't sure we have the "time."
An interesting point to think about is if we are willing to let someone else "serve" us. Are we willing to let someone help us by giving us respite? Can someone else do some of the cooking, for instance, so we can take a little time "off"? Can we actually 'schedule' some time just for us?
We usually think of how we are serving. We rarely think about how someone else might be able to serve us. Can we accept the challenge to think of both -- how we can serve "well" but also how someone can serve us?
As Caregivers we ARE serving others - right? We are trying to help, or even take care of, a family member/loved one. We are trying to do it "well" even if it doesn't always feel like it. We are trying to follow where God is leading. We are, prayerfully, even trying to take care of ourselves. The idea of taking care of self, of spending time with God - just for us, seems like an excellent idea we just aren't sure we have the "time."
An interesting point to think about is if we are willing to let someone else "serve" us. Are we willing to let someone help us by giving us respite? Can someone else do some of the cooking, for instance, so we can take a little time "off"? Can we actually 'schedule' some time just for us?
We usually think of how we are serving. We rarely think about how someone else might be able to serve us. Can we accept the challenge to think of both -- how we can serve "well" but also how someone can serve us?
Gifts?
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. (Romans 12:6a NLT)
Have you thought about giving yourself a gift? One of the training classes I was at, for a volunteer position I was in, spoke about having bad days --> give yourself a pick-me-up gift. If you are having a great day --> give yourself a celebration gift. A friend, in the same training I was in, agreed our 'celebration gift' was ice cream! This is an interesting idea! Sometimes to stop, take time for us, is the gift we can give ourselves.
God has given us, "in his grace," different gifts. Each of us can do something that is special do us. Yes, I quilt - like a LOT of other people - but I can do it as time with God, time in prayer and to give as gifts. I will even admit that the gift I give myself, on occasion, is something to do with quilting (or knitting). I might, although it doesn't happen often, is to actually make something for me.
What gift has God given you - that you love to do? How is it you spend time with God? Can you give yourself a gift? Some things to think about.
Have you thought about giving yourself a gift? One of the training classes I was at, for a volunteer position I was in, spoke about having bad days --> give yourself a pick-me-up gift. If you are having a great day --> give yourself a celebration gift. A friend, in the same training I was in, agreed our 'celebration gift' was ice cream! This is an interesting idea! Sometimes to stop, take time for us, is the gift we can give ourselves.
God has given us, "in his grace," different gifts. Each of us can do something that is special do us. Yes, I quilt - like a LOT of other people - but I can do it as time with God, time in prayer and to give as gifts. I will even admit that the gift I give myself, on occasion, is something to do with quilting (or knitting). I might, although it doesn't happen often, is to actually make something for me.
What gift has God given you - that you love to do? How is it you spend time with God? Can you give yourself a gift? Some things to think about.
Rescue and strength Exodus 14:30-31, 15:1-2
2. "The Lord is my strength and song, And he has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will extol Him." (Exodus 15:2)
God has just "rescued" the Hebrew people from the Egyptians. God has not only brought them out of Egypt He has brought them through the Red Sea on "dry land" (v. 14:21) and then "the sea returned to its state." (v. 14:27) Now Moses and the people are singing and praising God. Yes, God is their strength and song. (v. 15:2)
There are times when we know God has given us a miracle too. Being able to arrive, safely, at our destination - especially after a storm is one I can think of right away. At other times it can feel like we are between the "sea" and the "Egyptians." It is good to know God is with us during those times. And, like Moses, we can sing songs of praise.
Thinking about God's strength, in us, can be harder to do but just as important. Caring for each care receiver can feel like a very long journey between the sea and the 'enemy.'
This is when we need to come together to encourage. We need to sing the songs of praise and remember God IS our strength.
Who are you doing this with? When are you doing this?
God has just "rescued" the Hebrew people from the Egyptians. God has not only brought them out of Egypt He has brought them through the Red Sea on "dry land" (v. 14:21) and then "the sea returned to its state." (v. 14:27) Now Moses and the people are singing and praising God. Yes, God is their strength and song. (v. 15:2)
There are times when we know God has given us a miracle too. Being able to arrive, safely, at our destination - especially after a storm is one I can think of right away. At other times it can feel like we are between the "sea" and the "Egyptians." It is good to know God is with us during those times. And, like Moses, we can sing songs of praise.
Thinking about God's strength, in us, can be harder to do but just as important. Caring for each care receiver can feel like a very long journey between the sea and the 'enemy.'
This is when we need to come together to encourage. We need to sing the songs of praise and remember God IS our strength.
Who are you doing this with? When are you doing this?
Strength Joy -- thoughts
"Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength" Nehemiah 8:10b (NIV)
This part of Nehemiah is taking place right after Nehemiah, and Ezra, have read The Law to the Hebrew people. They are upset about not following God let alone following where God is leading or calling. Many of us think we are following hte Law even if we aren't, necesarily, following where God is leading.
At the same time the JOY of following God -- The Law and where God is leading -- is both a wonderful, strengthening feeling and hard to describe. The "joy" is both the peace of celebrating with God and the knowledge of God's strength in us. It is an interesting combination of feelings, knowledge and emotions.
How do we know the Law? How do we follow where God is leading? How do we celebrate not just the strength God gives but the "joy" of said strength? Can we celebrate the strength and the "joy" with others?
This part of Nehemiah is taking place right after Nehemiah, and Ezra, have read The Law to the Hebrew people. They are upset about not following God let alone following where God is leading or calling. Many of us think we are following hte Law even if we aren't, necesarily, following where God is leading.
At the same time the JOY of following God -- The Law and where God is leading -- is both a wonderful, strengthening feeling and hard to describe. The "joy" is both the peace of celebrating with God and the knowledge of God's strength in us. It is an interesting combination of feelings, knowledge and emotions.
How do we know the Law? How do we follow where God is leading? How do we celebrate not just the strength God gives but the "joy" of said strength? Can we celebrate the strength and the "joy" with others?