{{date:MMMM d, yyyy}} | ISSUE No. 3 Three
Seeing God's Grace in Caregiving
Regifted Grace® Grace
YOU ARE FLAWLESS
Front Cover photo © 2019 Cheryl Knapp
Strengthening Those Who Encourage Others
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3 FROM THE EDITOR: ... flawless restoration Cheryl Crofoot Knapp 5 Facing the Known Unknown J. D. Wininger 12 Your Old Men Shall Dream Dreams Lori Wilkerson Stewart 15 Generation Legacies Cheryl Crofoot Knapp 20 Broken, But Still With Purpose Wanda O. Holt 22 Broken Vessels Myra Braswell 27 Speak Life: Failure to Flawless Jenny Reese Clark 30 Devotions for Caregivers Rev. Craig H. Bode 33 Books and Resources
Regifted Grace® Ministry LLC is an interdenominational, non-profit Christian ministry created to encourage those impacted by long-term illness, particularly families and their caregivers. We seek to educate, encourage, and provide resources. We have walked in your shoes or are there right now. And we want to lead you to discover collateral beauty in serving others and that the grace is always greener on God's side. REGIFTED GRACE®: The Magazine is published electronically. SUBSCRIBE TO MAGAZINE HERE: https://cherylcrofootknapp.com/ join-with-other-caregivers/ Editor-in-Chief: Cheryl Crofoot Knapp Contributors: Kerri G. Daniels, Jenny Reese Clark, J.D. Wininger, Jeanette O'Conor, Craig Bode, Lori Wilkerson Stewart, Wanda O. Holt, Myra Braswell, Maryann Makekau, Donna Marentay For submissions, subscriptions, queries, and advertising: P. O. Box 727, Yellville, AR 72687 OR: cheryl@cherylcrofootknapp.com Compilation Copyright 2019 by Regifted Grace Ministry LLC. Each author preserves their individual copyright rights. Submissions: We accept submissions that uplift and encourage others. Please send by email by the first of each month. Maximum length is 1400 words; bio up to 150 words. Final discretion to use or not use a creative work is at the sole discretion of Regifted Grace Ministry. REGIFTED GRACE® is a federally registered service mark of Regifted Grace Ministry LLC. Stock photos courtesy of Pixabay.com. Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
What do you think of when you hear the word “flawless”? Perhaps something that’s unbroken, undamaged, as good as new, spotless, pure, impeccable, without fault, or error-free? With that kind of definition, I think we’d have to painstakingly search high and low for anything or anyone that is completely flawless. When I competed at the Mrs. America pageant back in 1996, I worked out really hard to look as physically fit as possible. I was heavy as a kid; so much so that the neighborhood kids nicknamed me “Schultzie” after the overweight sergeant on the show, Hogan’s Heroes. So finding myself at the Mrs. America pageant as Mrs. Minnesota was totally outside my comfort zone. I got down to a skinny size 2 (for the only time in my life!), yet could only see my flaws. My imperfections. Gee, her legs are skinnier than mine. Wow, her muscles are more sculpted. She looks like a model! I focused on the perfection of others through my filter of personal flaws. But as we all stood outside on risers wearing our swimsuits, with the mountains of Las Vegas as the backdrop, I couldn’t help but see the majesty of the mountains and praise God that I was at the Mrs. America pageant—an accomplishment that was never on my bucket list. I fought back the tears and tried to see myself through God’s lens. At the end of my year-long work as Mrs. Minnesota-America, my final event was a big parade in a small town. We were nestled in a loaned convertible and waited for the parade to start. We were behind a pulled wagon carrying a small band. My mind thought, “Gee, what song are we going to hear over and over again during this parade?!?!?” My annoyance at thinking it would be an “It’s a Small World” moment of getting a song forever etched in my mind quickly dissipated when they struck up the song. It was the Hogan’s Heroes theme song. The “Schultzie” song. My nemesis. Only an amazing God could create such a coincidence! What He showed me is that I never had to be Schultzie again. Ever. Colossians 1:21-22 (TPT) says: “Even though you were once distant from him, living in the shadows of your evil thoughts and actions, he reconnected you back to himself. He released his supernatural peace to you through the sacrifice of his own body as the sin-payment on your behalf so that you would dwell in his presence. And now there is nothing between you and Father God, for he sees you as holy, flawless, and restored …” (TPT) The experience of caregiving can create a ripe climate for second guessing ourselves and see only what we’re not doing well. We sometimes (or often!) feel broken and flawed, just like the person receiving our care. We put ourselves last because there’s no time for “me.” But God … says that He will see us as holy, flawless, and restored. Not that He “might see us” or “maybe will see us.” No, scripture says there’s nothing between God and us when we know Jesus as Savior BECAUSE THEN He will see us as holy, flawless and restored. Don’t let any “Schultzie” moments in you define who God created you to be. He created you to be flawless, despite the situations that are flawed. In God’s eyes, we are flawless, no matter what others, including ourselves, say about us. God’s restoration plan of salvation exceeds our mistakes or wounds. This issue is in honor of you, the FLAWLESS caregiver. Click on this link to see an amazing video of MercyMe’s song, “Flawless.” Grab your tissues … this is powerful … just like God’s love for YOU! Watch it all the way to the end. You’ll be forever changed! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjLlLPZderk
... flawless restoration by Cheryl Crofoot Knapp, Editor; Copyright 2019 Regifted Grace Ministry
FACING THE KNOWN UNKNOWN BY J. D. WININGER Copyright 2019 J. D. Wininger
Some of my favorite caregiving memories of my dad were our early morning talks. Each morning, I said a quick prayer before rising and quietly made my way to the kitchen to make coffee. Then I set the tone for my day with “God time”—the time I set aside every morning for study, prayer, and fellowship with my Lord. During God time, I could usually hear my dad turn off his CPAP machine which signaled it was time to suspend my prayer time—a visit from my dad was imminent. I came to cherish these interruptions as they always began the same way. As soon as I heard a flush and water running in the sink, I knew my bathrobe-clad friend would soon stick his head around the French doors and utter a gleeful, “Good morning!” followed by, “Am I bothering you?” “Never, Dad.” I would rise and pull a comfy red chair close to my desk. Next came the best part—the embrace. At any age, there is nothing quite as comforting as your parent’s hug. Most mornings, we chit-chatted about how he rested, his plans for the day, and whether he wanted coffee or hot cocoa that morning, followed by him checking his blood sugar and perhaps returning to bed for a two-hour nap. But on one morning, I knew from his demeanor something was bothering him. “What’s up, Dad? Something’s bothering you?” He admitted he was lying in bed contemplating his death. We discussed his final wishes numerous times. But this time, his voice told me he was frightened. I knew I had to dig deeper. “Well, Dad, you’re nearly ninety years old. You’re wearing out, my friend. We know you are closer to going home, so I’m not sure I understand.” With a shaky voice, he responded, “That’s just it. Where’s home? What am I going home to? I know what the Bible says about heaven, but what happens between now and then? I’m scared. I know I’m saved; we talked about that. But, I’m so afraid of being all alone.” My dad was the toughest guy in the world to me. To see him reduced to a frightened little boy tore at my soul! My eyes grew moist as I took his trembling hand and told him I understood. I took a sip of my coffee. “Wow, Dad. That’s some pretty serious thinking you’re doing for this early in the day.” I took a longer sip of coffee, I hurriedly tried to organize my thoughts. How do you reassure the man you love more than life itself that dying will be okay? Dad looked into my eyes as I began. “I think what you’re asking is one of those eternal questions. We’re facing a known unknown here.” He looked at me quizzically as I continued. “It’s like the thorn in the Apostle Paul’s side. What was that?” I paused. “Or, how is it that big fat bumblebees have huge bodies and tiny wings yet still fly?” My dad smiled, and I knew I could continue. “Dad, there are some things that I don’t believe God wants us to understand. They’re beyond man’s understanding. I think that’s why He included Isaiah 55, verses 8 and 9.” I grabbed my Bible and read this scripture to him. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV) “You see, Dad, we aren’t meant to know all things like God does. We have to rely on our faith in Him for the things we can’t fully understand. We need to stand on the truth of God’s word and His promises so we can take the next step in our journey.” He nodded, but I knew I hadn’t answered his questions. I was grateful to be able to remind him that, as Christians, we live by faith. That faith is what allows us to get up each day, face a fallen world, and do our best to honor and bring glory to God in everything we do. As God often does, He came beside me as I picked up my notepad and pen. I jotted down thoughts that were entering my mind. I asked my dad to give me a minute or two as I wanted to better answer his specific question about what happens after we die. He slowly nursed his hot chocolate, and I kept writing, amazed at how words and scripture references seemed to flow so easily onto the page. I laid down my pen and offered the explanation that had been given to me. “Dad, there is little in God’s word that deals specifically with what happens when we die. But through our faith as Christians, here’s what I believe. As humans, we are two parts—body and soul. Genesis 3:19 (AMPC) says, ‘…For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.’ Ecclesiastes 12:7 (NLT) tells us, ‘Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.’ “For me, Dad, I take these God-inspired words to mean that when true Christians die, our corrupted bodies are laid down. But our soul (our spirit, which is intertwined with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit) is instantly transported to be with God.” I gave my dad an example of how my belief is supported by God’s word. “For example, do you remember what Jesus said on the cross to the thief who defended Him? He said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’ (Luke 23:43 NKJV)” Dad nodded his head in agreement and leaned forward in his chair. I knew I peaked his interest. “Dad, when we die, because we are saved, we will be with Christ.” Dad smiled. I knew I could have stopped there. But God didn’t, and I moved to the next thought on my list. “Dad, while our soul is immediately in heaven with Christ when we die, our bodies aren’t. We will be alert, aware, and conscious, but our soul will be in a transitional state. We’ll have peace, rest, and consciousness of heaven. But while our souls are perfected, our complete glorification (the glorification of both body and soul) will not occur until after the rapture when the dead in Christ are brought into the clouds to be with Jesus, followed by those true Christians who are still alive. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) This is when our bodies, both living and dead, are glorified.” I told him many great theologians and godly thinkers differ on this. Some believe we are in an unconscious state (like being asleep) and unaware of time passing, while others believe our souls exist in a spiritual state in the heavenly realm where time as mankind understands does not exist. “Dad, I believe we aren’t meant to know, but accept what we believe God’s word tells us and use that as our basis to move forward in faith. It is in that final promise of heavenly rewards received at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10) that we have hope. This is the reason for our hope, Dad. And hope is the byproduct of having faith. The more faith we have in God’s promises, the more hope we feel.” With that, Dad’s shoulders relaxed. His stoic countenance softened. It felt good to help him work through his crisis of faith and find peace with what we both expect will be the next milestone in his life. He stood and headed back to the kitchen with his empty cup. I stood up, too, and enveloped him with an embrace and soft kisses on his forehead. “Dad, none of us look forward to our death. It is the greatest known unknown we’ll ever have to face, buddy. My earnest hope is that when you and I face our own death, we do so with great joy because we know our next thought will be in the presence of our Lord. When that day comes for you, Dad, know that I will miss you terribly. And while those of us left behind will grieve your loss in our lives, we will celebrate the final step in your journey of attaining eternal life in heaven.” Dad’s smile was radiant. He hugged and thanked me, and he made his way into the rest of the day. We haven’t spoken about our conversation since that time. But I thank God for His wisdom and guidance to help me calm my dad’s fears and prepare him to face the known unknown of human death. Prayer: Father, I humbly pray your wisdom, grace, and mercy for those reading this. Whether facing questions about what comes after a Believer’s human death for themselves, or a loved one, Father, give them peace. Fill them with your spirit of hope and help them find the joy awaiting each of us on that day. Father, show them who we are in Christ and that one day we will become perfected, flawless, glorified, uncorrupted residents of Your kingdom for eternity. If there’s someone who doesn’t know for sure their future is secure in Christ, then I pray you enter their heart and send them someone who can help them find or assure them of their salvation. We know, Lord, there is but one way. That is through our belief in Your Son, Jesus Christ. In faithful surrender to Your Son as Lord and Savior of our lives, Your grace is extended to those undeserving of Your love. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen.
J.D. Wininger is an award-winning business writer and speaker who has authored hundreds of books and manuals, and thousands of contract-winning proposals by applying his God-given talents for writing and communicating throughout his career. He has written for national magazines, CBN.com, Refresh Bible Study magazine, and contributed to several books. Since retiring in 2011 to become a gentleman farmer and rancher in northeast Texas, J.D. applies his spiritual gifts and talents to teach compelling lessons in faith, heartfelt devotionals, and author nonfiction works in pursuit of increasing discipleship in Jesus Christ. A semi-retired consultant and copywriter, He and his wife Diane spend much of their time sharing God’s love through service in nearby communities. When not tending his cattle, Magic the donkey, Bubba the chocolate lab, an ever-growing number of barn cats, or doing chores, J.D. enjoys spending time researching, discovering, and glorifying his Lord.
https://jdwininger.com
My father is 83 and suffers from severe dementia. A pastor for over 50 years, Dad's audio sermons captured on cassette tapes fill several boxes. Today, those boxes are stored away in a bedroom closet. In his day, he preached to large crowds around the world—India, South Korea, Guatemala, Honduras, and most of the 50 states. Once a great orator, encourager, story-teller, and prayer intercessor, he now spends most of his days watching TV. Growing up, I could hear my dad's voice coming from his office down the hall all the way from my bedroom. If he wasn't on the phone comforting or praying for one of our church members, then he was talking to God. His prayer time started around 5 or 6 am. As I lay in bed half-awake and half-asleep, I loved to hear him cry out to God and worship the Lord. My father loved God, and I loved that about my father. Nowadays, he doesn't talk on the phone, and he doesn't lead in prayer. The truth is ... he rarely puts a sentence together anymore. But when he dreams at night, I believe he's in his right mind. A few nights ago, Dad was talking in his sleep. My mother woke up and began to listen closely to understand what he was saying. He got up out of bed and stood in the center of the room. Dad pointed and said, "You pray." Then, as if looking at another person in the room, he said, "You pray." Once again, he turned and said, "If you pray too, it's like we have a prayer chain . . . the prayer of agreement. God will answer our prayers." Mom immediately said, "John, what would you like to pray about?" Right then, Mom said it's as if Dad woke up. He didn't know what she was talking about, and he was confused. Mom gently put him back to bed. Acts 2:17 (TLB) says, "Your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams." Perhaps my father is still on this earth to dream dreams. What if, in the spirit realm, my father is seeing future events? What if he is praying and interceding with the angels? Another time my father sat up in bed and said, "We have to be united." What if he is prophesying as he sleeps? My grandfather always prayed this scripture over his children: "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:13 (NKJV) Sometimes I question why God doesn't go ahead and take my father home to be with Jesus. But I have to trust that it's God's good will and pleasure to allow my dad to live with dementia. How comforting and encouraging to realize that Dad is still able to minister during the night! What a powerful nighttime warrior against the enemy! Good night, Dad. Sleep well. Keep praying and prophesying and dreaming dreams ... Copyright © 2013 Lori Wilkerson Stewart, used with permission. LORI WILKERSON STEWART (M.A. in Journalism, Regent University) is a television producer for CBN. She and her best friend, Matt, have been married and in full-time ministry for thirty years. Lori is crazy about her three adult children (and also a little obsessed with her Rhodesian Ridgeback, Nala). She enjoys books, movies, anything British on PBS, news, daily updates from her talkative middle child-- stories in any format! Lori's favorite things are: long walks with Matt and Nala, Sunday lunches after church with her family, and her weekly date nights with Matt. Promises for Prodigals is Lori's first book. Learn more at: www.LoriWilkersonStewart.com
YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS By Lori Wilkerson Stewart COPYRIGHT 2013 LORI WILKERSON STEWART
GENERATIONAL LEGACIES by Cheryl Crofoot Knapp
The morning seemed normal enough, except for the disappearance of his shoes. Dickie shuddered to think he would be late again for school and feared his parents’ reprimands. His young ears loathed their harsh words about his deficiencies and failures. He rummaged through his sparse closet a final time, grabbed his jacket off the floor, and discovered a tattered pair of tennis shoes. Dickie quickly slipped into the shoes, tiptoed down the stairs, slipped out the front door, and embarked on his walk to elementary school. Dickie’s day at school was uneventful. At the end of the day, he said goodbye to his friends, traveled the trek home, walked up the steps, and stood in disbelief when he opened the front door. “Where is everybody?” He called out for his parents as he wandered from room to room. No parents. No stuff. He waited in the empty house until his parents finally returned. They somehow forgot to tell my dad they had moved. When my dad told me his story, I was heartbroken. But it helped me understand why he was harsh with me about my deficiencies and failures. He couldn’t give me what he did not have—he could only emulate what he was taught. When my sons were young, I consistently told them I loved them. When they did stupid things, I never told them they were stupid. But I yelled a lot, reminded them of any deficiencies or failures, and passed on the generational legacy of my grandparents. I despised how I treated them, but no matter how hard I prayed, my reprimands about spilled milk continued. I had a personal relationship with Jesus, but why couldn’t I stop yelling? I surely wasn’t starting them “off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6 (NIV) Instead, I was leading them to feel the hurts my dad and I experienced! Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Luke 18:16 (NIV) Did I hinder them through a legacy of harsh words and impatience? Would they turn away from God because they felt turned away from me? Would they pass my grandparents’ behavior to their children? When my sons were teenagers, I continued to pray for deliverance from yelling and that God would protect them from my harsh words. God says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV) I wish I knew back then that He permits me to quit dwelling on the past, set aside my mistakes and those of my ancestors, and accept a new way to walk through life! When my sons became adults, the yelling was gone. But my hardest questions remained. Did I hinder my sons’ desire for Jesus? Did they experience brokenness by my words? If I stood side by side with my sons in front of a mirror, would they see Jesus’ reflection in me? Do they see my legacy to be one of anger or one that leads them closer to Jesus? 2 Cor. 3:18 (NIV) gives me hope: “And we all … are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory.” None of us are perfect in this life. We are all in the process of transformation--going from flawed to flawless. It’s never too late to lead my sons deeper into a legacy of faith. I asked my sons for forgiveness and what they remembered most about their childhood. They said I lived out my faith, always showed up, and loved them like crazy. Yelling was not on the list! And my dad? He’s in Heaven—and still my biggest fan! Copyright © 2018 Cheryl Crofoot Knapp, used with permission.
Cheryl Crofoot Knapp lost both parents to Alzheimer’s and is passionate about using her life experiences to encourage others. She's a devoted Christ follower, caregiving survivor, mother, and Mrs. Minnesota-America 1996. She authored Undefeated Innocence, writes devotions featured on Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN.com), spoke at the Passionate in Purple Gala, and participates in Walks to End Alzheimer’s. Her blog is at cherylcrofootknapp.com, and you can email her at cheryl@cherylcrofootknapp.com. Her book can be purchased at: https://amzn.to/2QvbDyL. She writes “Caregivers Corner: Caring for Parents,” which is featured in Broken But Priceless online magazine. She is a frequent co-facilitator at the Mruk Center on Aging’s Alzheimer’s Dementia Caregiving Support Group meetings. Cheryl is a member of First Baptist Church of Mountain Home (Arkansas), participates in Walks to End Alzheimer’s, and she has served in Bible study, worship, evangelism, and prison ministries. She founded Regifted Grace Ministry and shares her contagious faith at conferences, retreats, banquets, and churches, as well as on television and radio interviews.
BROKEN, BUT STILL WITH PURPOSE
by Wanda O. Holt Copyright 2019 Wanda O. Holt
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 NLT This familiar scripture says God works all things out for our good. Many of us have difficulty understanding how our brokenness can produce any good. Some things are so horrible and unfixable that they defy explanation. When a young boy was killed in an accident, his father struggled with how any good could come from his death. Maybe there is nothing good in something that broken—but, we are not defeated. God is still love and has a purpose for us. He is still working for our good, despite broken circumstances. We can never know why brokenness happens. We just know that it is a part of the human journey. It is a part of our journey of faith that will end in eternal life with Jesus. When my mother was struggling with dementia, she would become frustrated by life’s difficulties and ask me repeatedly why life had to be that way. My answer always was, “This is not heaven.” We know two things about God. He does not send evil our way, and God does not waste anything. He will find a way to use even the broken shards to make something new. It is not our job to figure out the why. Our job is to remain faithful to God’s purpose for our often-broken lives. When faced with cancer, a dear friend of mine would often quote John Lennon who said, “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.” Lennon was an atheist, but he expressed the essence of Romans 8:28. God will not leave us in our brokenness. He has a purpose for us beyond the brokenness. This is not the end. This is not heaven. “Dear Heavenly Father, Master Creator and Lover of my soul, take this mess of a situation that I find myself in and make something new and beautiful out of it. It is hard for me to see any purpose in this brokenness. Everything is not okay, but I know that it is not the end. You are still in control of my life and my future. Amen.” Excerpt from BROKEN: Finding Purpose from Brokenness. Copyright April 2017 by Wanda O. Holt. Copies available at www.wandaholt.com.
Wanda O. Holt is a wife, mom, writer, insurance agent, friend, speaker, encourager and child of God. She and her husband, Jerry, live in Nashville, Tennessee, where Wanda is actively involved in the local business community. They have two daughters, a son-in-law, grandson and granddaughter. Wanda started writing by keeping a diary as a young girl. Her writing and speaking focuses on Christian and ethical business topics. Wanda enjoys helping others dig deeper into God’s Word by writing devotions and small group curriculum. She also writes blogs on a variety of Christian and business topics.
BROKEN VESSELS By MYRA BRASWELL copyright 2019 MYRA BRASWELL
Endless mounds of rubble and debris were sprawled out across the narrow street of what used to be the site of many of my fondest childhood memories. My heart sank as I gazed through my windshield, and I couldn’t help but brush away the warm tears that trickled down my cheeks. I saw firsthand the ravages of Hurricane Michael that pillaged my father’s boyhood hometown—the place to which we could always come “home.” I refused to accept that it would never look the same again. It was now all but unrecognizable. I was grateful that my father wasn’t alive to see the nightmarish sight in front of me. It would have broken his heart. As I sat and reflected on the utter devastation, chaos, and loss that I saw through my tears, I was reminded of my own young life. I embarked on my life’s journey with big, fairy tale-like plans. I pictured my own “white picket fence,” a storybook cottage kind of house with a perfect little family and a “happily ever after.” In my mind, it even had a fancy crimson bow tied around it, just like a package commemorating a splendid occasion. Unfortunately, that’s not at all how it turned out. What I dreamed, worked hard to build, plan, plant, nurture, care for, and tend looked just like the scene I now saw outside the confines and safety of my car. How many of the people whose physical homes were destroyed by this monster hurricane also felt the stinging winds of disappointment as they witnessed their dreams dying around them like a barren wasteland? How many young wives and mothers were once just like me—shattered, broken, and abandoned—left to scavenge through the rubble of a life, hoping to find something, anything, that might help piece their lives back together again? Life seemed to have played the cruelest of jokes, and the punchline was anything but funny. In his book The Quest for Character: Inspirational Thoughts for Becoming More Like Christ (1993: Zondervan), Chuck Swindoll describes the process used in Biblical times of restoring and mending cracked or broken pottery. Wax softened by the warmth of rubbing was pressed into cracked earthenware pots, disguising the damaged wares and giving them the appearance of a more perfect piece. Merchants or peddlers could then sell these pieces for a higher price to the unassuming shopper. Once this practice became more widely used, wise and savvy shoppers learned to hold pieces up to the light to expose the hidden cracks. The transparency of the wax allowed the light to shine through. Swindoll encourages us to also be transparent, sincere, unashamed, fearless, and forthright about our brokenness, and never be deceitful or attempt to disguise the pain of our past or difficult life experiences. It is in these broken places of our lives where the brilliance of God's love and light can shine through the brightest. God can use our brokenness and transparency for His glory, giving each of us a unique purpose and use. There is a beautiful picture of this very concept found in scripture: "We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God and not from ourselves." (2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT) In our humanness, we are fragile against the upheavals of life. We are exposed to the painful realities of illness, family crises, death of loved ones, loss of income, wayward children, divorce, abuse, addiction, depression, and so many other catastrophic challenges that crack and damage our spirit. Sometimes we are ineffective and can’t hold it all together. Our ability to hold love and pour it out on others is lost when we are tossed in these storms and crashed to the ground, broken and in pieces. But our Father, the Master Potter, doesn't leave us there! In His unique and loving way, God renews and restores our broken places. Rather than using a method that just gives us a temporary fix to look as good as new, He accentuates and highlights those broken areas of our life and gives them beauty and value. They become a featured part of our life's testimony and are impactful for carrying the treasure of God's love and light! Our brokenness becomes a brilliant display of God's workmanship and artistry on the human heart and life! In ancient Japan, potters developed a process known as "Kintsukuroi" which means golden repair. When they added gold to the resin used to repair "flaws" or cracks, the gold became the most visible part of the pottery. Rather than disguise or cover up the flaws, the flaws instead became the very thing that drew the attention and appreciation of anyone who looked at it. The golden repair is obvious and noticeable and demonstrated the masterful skill of the artisan. Something of beauty came from what was flawed, cracked, or broken. Isn't that just like our Heavenly Father, the Divine Potter? Isaiah 64:8 identifies Him as the Potter, and we are the clay. He creates an incredible masterpiece out of the heap of debris left in the aftermath of the hurricanes of our lives. Our disasters break His heart! He carefully mends and fixes the brokenness of our yielded earthen clay vessels, highlights our flaws, and turns them into something worthy of display. Far from ordinary, every life is a beautifully broken "jar of clay" in His hands. When we are held up to the light of His glory and grace, His love shines forth brilliantly from the cracks and flaws! We are truly beautifully broken vessels, fit for our Master’s use! Let us not seek to rebuild and renew our hearts and spirit in an attempt to be looked upon as "perfect" and without flaws. Rather, let us celebrate that we are made worthy because of our flaws and imperfections. For in every crack, every scar, every pain is the golden glow of the Master Potter’s hands! We may be broken vessels, but we are beautifully broken. Amen!
Myra Braswell majored in Business Administration at South University in Savannah, Georgia. She continued her education in Gerontology and is a board-certified Dementia Practitioner. She carries certifications as an Aging Life Care Professional and Life Coach, a trainer from Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving at Georgia Southwestern University for their “Dealing with Dementia” Program, and from Stanford University for their Chronic Disease Self-Management Program. Other certifications include Functional Aging Specialist, Ageless Grace Education and Trainer, Specialized Dementia Trainer, DACE Coach, and Dreams Coach with internationally-recognized dementia education non-profit Second Wind Dreams. Myra served as a Programming Direct for Senior Citizens, Inc., working in close association with the Area Agency on Aging. She worked in administrative roles in both skilled nursing care and with a nationally recognized in-home living assistance agency. Myra serves on the Board of Directors for a Dallas, Texas, based non-profit, For Love & Art©, which provides virtual museum art books/shows for the infirm and those with limited mobility. She served on the GA Elder Abuse Council, is a member of Georgia Council on Aging, a volunteer community educator for the Alzheimer’s Association, and a STAR Volunteer Award winner for the Georgia CARES program. Some of Myra's hobbies include music, writing, art, reading, and interior design. Myra is a published author of inspirational short stories, articles, and devotionals which you can find at www.she-rises.net or www.regiftedgrace.com.
SPEAK LIFE: failure to flawless by jenny reese clark copyright 2017 jenny reese clark
The bitter words leaped off my tongue and were audible before I had enough energy to restrain them. Once heard, the damage was done. There was nothing I could do to remove the painful sight of seeing my son respond to my affections in tears. Through the lenses of his smudge-stained glasses, shame presented itself more clearly that day than I’ve ever seen. My tongue was so piercing that its effectual end brought an even greater consequence than had I not spoken a response to him at all. If you are anything close to ordinary, you too may have found yourself suffering the cost of a sharp and brutal tongue. Though we intend to speak life and hope-giving words to our children at all times, we will suffer from failing moments of weakness and anxiety ourselves. The goal is not to refuse communicating our emotions while under pressure, but rather learn how to offer unflawed love and grace in all of our responses all of the time! As a mouthpiece from God, the prophet Isaiah foretold of a Lord who would be the stability of our times and the abundance of our Salvation. He proclaimed that He is our wisdom and our knowledge. The Lord’s promise to not break a bruised reed or quench the wick of the faintly burning has never been broken and should be the source of our inspiration when it comes to how we choose to communicate with others. (Isaiah 33:6, 42:3) God’s reservoir of grace is never-ending and so should our tender mercy towards one another. A few hundreds of years ago, the great Puritan minister Richard Sibbes wrote: “We have this for a foundation truth, that there is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.” Resting our confidence in this is an amazing fact. If God has enough power to release us from our guilt, shame should never be an extension of ourselves. We must simply trust and follow the One who can provide us with peace everlasting. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28-30 (NIV)
Jenny Reese Clark is a living testimony of what true faith in Jesus Christ can bring. As a multiple felon of various drug charges including Unlawful Manufacturing of Methamphetamines, Jenny is no stranger to breaking the rules or suffering their consequences. Today, Jenny is recognized by the Alabama Department of Mental Health as a Certified Peer Support Specialist and has since received a Pardon from the State of Alabama. As the wife of a US Army Chaplain, she continues to reach out through her own military ministry known as The Spencer Project. While she actively blogs and speaks about her own spiritual journey, she is also a contributing author for Lift Up Your Day, a website designed to encourage believers through written stories and podcasts and The Life of a Single Mom Ministries, which strives to establish support groups and programming for single parents to promote self-sufficiency in parenting, finances, and health & wellness. Jenny is also an active volunteer with Fort Benning's Protestant Women of the Chapel and served as the Vice President of Programs for 2016-2017.
LOVE SWEET LOVE: What the world needs is love ... because what the world really needs is Jesus Christ, the Savior from sin. "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us." (1 John 3:16a—NIV) There is only one who can teach us love and train us in the art of loving others—Jesus Christ. Jesus offers each of us His perfect love. It is unlike any other human love you may have known. In His love lies the saving power of His sinless life, innocent death and glorious resurrection. His love alone is equal to the challenges of today. You do not need to perform or work or do anything to earn it. It is His unconditional gift for one and for all. What freedom and relief is found when you stop the striving and the struggling and simply accept Christ's sincere and satisfying love! And that love will allow you to lay down your life in love for others. OUTING FEAR: How do you face fear? There is only one way that works ... firm in faith! Your fear will gradually get to you and eventually overwhelm you if it is not confronted with faith in the only One who can reliably reassure you: "Don't be afraid!" In taking on our humanity, Jesus Christ has, with His death and resurrection, confronted and conquered everything that would command fear from you, and has even defeated death, the ultimate terror. His call to believe in Him offers you fear-free living and the confidence of eternal life with God in glory. Today be among those of whom it can be said: "They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear ..." (Psalm 112:7-8a—NIV) DEPTH OF GOD'S LOVE: Words cannot describe the depth of God's love for you. You are the absolute delight of your heavenly Father! What an amazing thought that will lift you up no matter where you are today. "For the Lord takes delight in His people ... Let His faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds." (Psalm 149:4-5—NIV) No matter how others view you or judge you, or even reject you, God "takes delight" in you. God does not just put up with you, humor you, tolerate or work around you. He enjoys and delights in you! You are valued enough by Him that He willingly gave up His own dear Son to bear the punishment for your sins and make you His precious child, favored by your Father in heaven. God's hand of love and blessing is and will remain on you today! LEAVE REGRETS BEHIND: God gives you this day to put a smile on your face and joy in your heart. Don't allow past regrets or future worries to rob you of today's gifts. You can only accept and effectively address the challenges and opportunities of today. You can only experience and enjoy the blessings and gifts of God placed in this day. "Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today." (Exodus 14:13—NIV) It is only today's problems and needs that require your focused response. Worry about tomorrow or regret over yesterday will only cause you to miss today! Don't make the tragic mistake of allowing tomorrow's threatening skies to darken this day. And don't keep pulling yesterday's cloud over today's sunshine. Live in the present; that is where you will find God and experience the full fellowship of His salvation in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Devotions for Caregivers
BY REV. CRAIG H. BODE COPYRIGHT 2018-2019 CRAIG H. BODE
After graduating in 1980 with a Masters of Divinity in Biblical Studies from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Rev. Craig H. Bode was ordained and called as Pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Euclid, Ohio, where he served for 32 years before accepting the call to serve as Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Pierce, Florida. Craig and his wife of 42 years enjoy immensely the family God has given them, including daughters Emily and Sara and son Paul and their families which have blessed them with 11 grandchildren. For more information, Craig can be contacted at craig.bode@gmail.com. You can subscribe to his daily posts on Facebook (craig.h.bode) or follow him on Twitter (@CraigBode).
glorified un-expectations bY kerri gene daniels CLICK ON TITLE TO PURCHASE
Broken. Scared. Scarred. That pretty much sums up the reality of how I felt as a caregiver and losing both parents to Alzheimer’s, a terminal disease that is painfully brutal, we know how it ends, there is no cure, and it doesn’t get better. I pleaded with God to not allow them to suffer anymore. And I asked God the question, “Where are you in Alzheimer’s?” I began looking for the answers in scripture and was amazed at what I found. I found permission to mourn. I found grace. And I began to discover the collateral beauty in Alzheimer’s. Sometimes caregiving got ugly, and sometimes it felt like no one else really understood. But God always understood, and He walked the journey with me. You are not alone–according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2018 Facts and Figures report, 5.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and over 16.1 million caregivers gave 18.4 billion hours of care valued over $232 billion. If you feel broken, stressed, scared, scarred, tear-stained, fear-filled, and weary, I’ve been standing right where you are. And I wasn’t defeated by it. I’m still standing, and a better person because of it. UNDEFEATED INNOCENCE will help you find hope in difficult circumstances and the grace to get up one day at a time with one foot in front of the other.
Kerri Gene Daniels is an extraordinary woman with an extraordinary story. Expecting to live that fairy tale life, at an early age, Kerri discovered just how difficult life can be. Rather than being devoured and ruled by deep dark despair, Kerri would turn to the only one who could heal and rescue her up out of what became her turbulent life: Jesus Christ. Through the pages of this, her maiden book and Mother's memoir, Kerri illuminates how each human-challenging trial brought her ever closer to the Lord. In fact, as you read Kerri's empowering and God-inspiring true story, you will discover the personal intimacy of God's love in the midst of this life's excruciating uncertainty. Find hope in hopeless situations. Grow faith in Jesus Christ; regardless of life’s circumstances. Learn to love as Christ loves. Find true joy in what appears to be unmanageable situations. Live a day-by-day, God-abiding Spirit-filled life. Identify God’s purpose to gain true meaning for your life. Through the pages of this, her maiden book and Mother’s memoir, Kerri illuminates how each human-challenging trial brought her ever closer to the Lord.
UNDEFEATED INNOCENCE by cheryl crofoot knapp CLICK ON TITLE TO PURCHASE
The Ultimate Caregiver is a new book that provides assistance on all the aspects of daily living. It is designed for family caregivers who intend to care for loved ones at home or in any facility, and it will give you effective and timely solutions for the many problems facing healthcare today. It will educate you and allow you to develop home healthcare skills, good judgment, and the common sense to play an active role in helping your loved ones with their healthcare needs. Tina is a long-time business owner and caregiver, dedicating her life to the healthcare field. She started and is running her own homemaker/ companion service with 26 incredible men and women for the past 12 years. They have cared for people with various types of illnesses. After dedicating her life to helping those in need, she's moved online to have a greater impact. She became a private caregiver to see what was lacking in the industry. She discovered a fresh perspective on both sides of the fence and now teaches others about caregiving and to help caregiving/healthcare professionals who carry a heavy workload. Her passion is to help entrepreneurs and advise those in the healthcare industry, as well as families, in caring for their aging loved ones.
COMPASSIONATE CAREGIVING bY TENA SCANLAN CLICK ON TITLE TO PURCHASE
Maryann Makekau strives to make a difference in the lives of those who hurt. That motivation began in 2008 to bless a friend in need and resulted in two series of children’s books plus Spanish translations. She is an author, speaker, entrepreneur and military veteran. Maryann's compassionate writing, practical tools, and community events have helped families cope with cancer, deployment, and Alzheimer’s disease - nationwide and abroad. Maryann's other books include "When Mom's Cancer Doesn't Go Away," "When Your Mom Has Cancer," "When Your Teacher Has Cancer," and "When Your Dad Goes to War." Some books are available in Spanish.
when your grandma forgets by maryann makekau CLICK ON TITLE TO PURCHASE
To change one s field of influence is to change the course of one's life. "I have come to a point. If I move one more step in any direction, I have to acknowledge that I passed serious long ago. I pursue an ever-eluding precursor of death, and I'm never satisfied when I find it. The time I spend in pleasure does not outweigh the chase, and the reasons why I continue in this parody of life baffle me." - U.S. Marine Thurman Casey Shaw With an honorable discharge and wounds more than surface deep, United States Marine Thurman Casey Shaw leaves one war zone to battle for a half-life existence in another. With a former brother as his only friend in New York, Casey loses himself inside of a world that he can't escape. Addiction and desperate times lead him to an unusual proposal; Once you ingest the contents of this box, you must loosen its hold on your life forever. Accepting the challenge out of pure hopelessness, Casey has no clue that when he wakes up, his life will change whether he wants it to or not. "This novel is a step by step walk through of one of the most dangerous places one can be. While filled with strong emotional content, the array of feelings are broad and explained in a way only one who has been there knows and can. As a former prisoner, I was spared by the same grace offered to Casey. Redemption, sacrifice, faith, and love are all core elements found in this work. It begins serious and ends even more intense. This Marine's story is written for all who seek answers and my goal is that once read, those answers forge next steps."
FIELD OF INFLUENCE by jenny reese clark CLICK ON TITLE TO PURCHASE
dementia care seminar and certification (cdp) Contact donna marentay, cdp (347) 927.6712 / www.NewDawnDementia.com
Jesus can be trusted with the details of whatever you're facing. He is who He says He is and is ready to shepherd your journey and give you eternal life with Him. If you desire to say yes to Jesus, you may pray this prayer: Jesus, I know I am a sinner and fall short of righteousness. I don't want to be excluded from Your promise of restoration and eternal life. My desire is to turn away from sin and follow Your leading and direction for my life. There is emptiness in my life without You. You died in my place and rose again so I could spend eternity with You. Please forgive my sins yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Please come into my life as my Lord and Savior. In your precious name I pray. Amen.
Back Cover photo credit © 2019 Chuck Knapp
