God don't live at Church

Despite how we may feel at times, we are never alone. One thing that I realized this weekend was how the traditional "church" can make a caregiver feel when they cannot attend meetings. On our end, it can be discouraging because the fellowship is really valuable. But it's important for us (at least for me) to remember that God don't live at church.

Yesterday morning one of the groups that I had joined on facebook had a post for everyone to share what they learned at church. Well, I cannot go to church - and the church certainly does not come to me! That got me to thinking and I set up an account with blog talk radio and did the first broadcast yesterday called God don't live at church. Honestly, once I got started I really encouraged myself. You can hear it if you want:  Coffee with Caregivers

As I was sharing, it really hit me how this enormous, powerful and creative God lives right here inside of me. I was in awe. I read Isaiah 40 and how the prophet describes how God holds all the water in the world in the palm of His hand. That's an amazing chapter. But I also really like God's own account of creation that is in Job 38 and 39. They can simply leave you speechless. But so can the fact that we have all of God inside this human vessel. That we are His choice of habitation. And at the same time He is literally everywhere - and has nowhere to go! He's inside us period! And that's to be the theme of this week's devotions.

My first scripture selection is Ephesians 3:16 - that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man so that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. Gain strength today by acknowledging that His Spirit is inside you. And you don't have a separate Holy Spirit since you can't "go to church," nor do you have less of Him due to the circumstances. The fact that we are caregivers have no influence whatsoever on the package deal we get with the Holy Spirit. We have all of Him inside our being.

Actually, if you are hurting you are mentioned specifically in scripture. The Lord is near the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18); He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3). Now that's some good stuff right there!

Today I will meditate on the fact that God is near me, with me, and His Spirit is inside me. I will carry on today in the strength I gain from Him making me His home. Will you join me?

Don't "Should" on Yourself

Do you ever find yourself comparing your life to others? It can be pretty easy to get caught up in comparing our situations to those of other caregivers. And in this world of social media craziness it can be even easier to look through status updates and see what the rest of the world is up to. If I'm not careful, a brief look through Facebook updates can plunge me into depression because I see what the rest of the world is getting to do today while I am trapped in my home.

I see my friends are at the gym, grabbing a Starbucks coffee, shopping at the mall or attending a concert. These are daily, or at least common activities for many people. But for the caregiver they are not plausible or possible in many cases. It can be easy to fall into the trap of comparing our lives with others whether they are caregivers or not, but it's not wise. Paul even warned the Corinthians about comparing themselves among themselves. (2 Corinthians 10:12) He told them that it was "foolishness" as translated in the NLT. And it can be a huge trap for caregivers that are living in seclusion, socially isolated; even though we are here by choice and willing to remain.

So if we cannot compare our lives with each others, or with the free world, how do we know how we're doing? Psalm 119:5-6 has our answer: Oh that my actions would consistently reflect Your principles! Then I will not be disgraced when I compare my life with Your commands.(NLT)

The true measure of a (spiritual) man is found in scriptures. It's not so much how we stack up with the rest of the world, the rest of the church or even other caregivers. It's how we stack up when we are compared with the Word. I must say on many counts I fall short. I do grumble and complain, I get angry, I am impatient at times. I even feel like I am hopeless or faithless some days. But instead of perusing through Facebook statuses to see how I should be feeling or what I should be doing - I should be looking into His word to find out how I should be responding to life, to others, and how I should be conducting my life.

It's really not worth the time to sit around and think about what I should be doing.Instead of should-ing on myself I will stay in the Word, and give it the utmost priority in my life - it will bring about changes. Remember, it will not return to Him without accomplishing what He sent it to do! (Isaiah 55:11) His Word will work in us to perfect us and make us look like Him. So instead of checking out everyone else and how they are dealing with their lives, perhaps it's time to check Him out and see what tools He has given us to live this life.

Today my meditation will be on how I am conducting myself. I will check to see if my actions reflect His principles; and make changes in myself where they do not. I will compare myself with His commands, and not my friend's FB status! I will embrace His word - and let it carry me through today. Will you join me?