Tag: Psalm 46:10

Acknowledge God for Real Rest

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Acknowledge God for Real Rest

18.1 My Story

I had been awake for thirty-three consecutive hours. My marathon of being up began on Tuesday when I had awakened at 5 AM. I had gotten up, checked on my wife, showered, and went to Starbucks at 6 AM for my morning writing. From writing, I had headed to the local climate controlled shopping mall where I did my morning walk at 9 AM. Following the exercise, I had an appointment with the dermatologist at 10:30 AM.

I returned home just before lunchtime. I again checked on my wife. She was in her recliner. She said her head was hurting, and she had been trying to call her doctor and me.

Her neurologist had recently reduced her steroids. When the dosage of the steroids had previously been cut, she had felt bad, so the doctor increased the dosage to former levels. 

Miss Benita assumed this is all that was needed.

Now she couldn’t figure out how to use her cell phone. Fear and concern overwhelmed me. Doctors were contacted, medications changed with an immediate doubling of the steroids, and sleep overcame her. 

She did not wake up until after 8 PM.

She didn’t know me when she awoke. She couldn’t tell me what day or month it was. 

When I asked if she knew the time she answered, “blue?”

We headed for the emergency room at the hospital where only four months earlier, she had a brain tumor removed. 

I was up all night. My three children took shifts being with me. Around 9 AM on Wednesday the doctor told me the brain tumor had recurred. He said another surgery would only add a few weeks to maybe two months maximum to my sweetie’s life. He said your options are surgery or hospice. With hospice, you have days to weeks at best.

Miss Benita and I had previously spoken on what to do if the brain tumor recurred. I followed her wishes and chose hospice. I called my children, my brother, her sisters, my minister, and my best friend informing them of the situation.

The next step was to move her from the intensive care unit to an intermediate care unit where they worked on stabilizing her and helping her regain her faculties. It wasn’t until late in the day that she was moved from ICU to a room. During this time, my oldest son arrived on the scene. My best friend was there with me, as well.

It was nearly noon on Wednesday before I somehow managed to drive home. Instead of sleeping, I prepared the house for the arrival of my wife’s sisters who were coming in from out of state. I had my sons schedule to shuttle them from the airport to the hospital.

At one-thirty on Wednesday afternoon I tried to sleep. I slept less than ninety minutes before waking up and returning to the hospital.

When I got back to the hospital, my oldest son and best friend lectured me on the need for rest.

It was late in the day on Wednesday before the massive amount of drugs given my wife took hold and had her where she was conscious, could talk and understand.

I shared with her what was happening. The trust she had in me showed in her eyes and on her face. I still remember her response.

She said with a nervous smile, “I knew the Melanoma Cancer was going to kill me. I didn’t realize it was going to kill me today or in the next few days. I believed I would make survive at least until the end of the year. I hope I live long enough to see Jason (our son) graduate from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in May. Thank you for not letting them cut on me. Thank you for loving me enough to let me go by honoring my wishes.”

I nodded.

She squeezed my hand and added, “I’ve always been in God’s hands. He has this. Trust Him. I do.”

I went home around 7 PM that evening and cried out to God. I hurt. I was exhausted. I remember having Psalm 46:10 come to mind, “Be still and know that I am God …”

I got in bed and started recalling Bible verse after Bible verse. I had worked with the children in my church for nearly two decades in a program called “Bible Drill.” The program’s purpose was Scripture memory. I had memorized the verses along with the children.

Those same verses came to mind, calmed my spirit, and helped me to sleep.

I also was listening to spiritual songs that praised God. The songs calmed my nerves and spirit. I had to slow down enough to experience God’s presence.

18.2 Slow Down and Know God

Part of caring for a person with a chronic illness is slowing down and knowing God. As we live with the daily challenges of caring for a person with an ongoing disease, it is essential that we get adequate rest. 

This respite is both physical and spiritual. Psalm 46:10 tells us to slow down, that is to be still and know I am God.

18.3 Bible Verse

Psalm 46:10 (KJV), ” Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

18.4 What the Verse Means

Psalm 46:10 is a famous verse for comforting ourselves and others. While the passage encourages the reader to rest and relax in God as well as reflect on who God is, the Scripture is a wake-up call to be in awe of God. 

The verse was written in the context of a time of trouble and war; therefore, we should consider the words with that context in mind. Back in Psalm 46:1, we were told that  “God is our refuge and strength.” Psalm 46:10 is telling us to wake up, stop fearing, and acknowledge who our God is. As we care for our loved one, we too should take the time to acknowledge who God is.1

18.5 Pray Using Scripture

  • Heavenly Father help me to be still and know You more intimately, and to feel Your presence.
  • Lord Jesus, please help me to slow down and even stop when necessary to get to know God.
  • I pray that I would find rest in the adequacy of God.

18.6 Responding to God’s Hope

  1. Are you getting enough rest? You cannot care for someone twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. You need assistance. 
  2. Are you slowing down where you can hear God and feel his presence? 
  3. Ask God to help you rest, have the help you need, and to experience his presence. 

18.7 Takeaway

We need to take time to acknowledge God. God provides rest for us.

1 https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/what-is-the-meaning-of-the-verse-be-still-and-know-that-i-am-god.html

If you are not a Christian, accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior is a prerequisite to obtaining God’s peace.
Click HERE to find out how to become a Christian. You can trust Jesus Christ and become a Christian now.

Photo Source: Image by congerdesign from Pixabay

This blog is from the forthcoming book, “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D.

To receive a notification when “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D. is available and to get occasional updates on the writing of Jimmie Aaron Kepler, please complete the “Email Sign-up” found in the far left column of the blog.

Know God

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Devotions, Hope, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, Memoir, Prayers3 Comments

18 Know God

18.1 My Story

I had been up for thirty-three consecutive hours. My marathon of being up began on Tuesday when I had awakened at 5 AM. I had gotten up, checked on my wife, showered, and went to Starbucks at 6 AM for my morning writing. From writing, I had headed to the local climate controlled shopping mall where I did my morning walk at 9 AM. Following the exercise, I had an appointment with the dermatologist at 10:30 AM.

I returned home just before lunchtime. I again checked on my wife. She was in her recliner. She said her head was hurting, and she had been trying to call her doctor and me.

Her neurologist had recently reduced her steroids dramatically. When the dosage of the steroids had decreased previously, she had felt bad, so the doctor increased the dosage to former levels.

Miss Benita assumed this is all that was needed.

Now she couldn’t figure out how to use her cell phone. Fear and concern overwhelmed me. Doctors were contacted, medications changed with an immediate doubling of the steroids, and sleep overcomes her.

She did not wake up until after 8 PM.

She didn’t know me when she awoke. She couldn’t tell me what day or month it was.

When I asked if she knew the time she answered, “blue?”

We headed for the emergency room at the hospital where only four months earlier, she had a brain tumor removed.

I was up all night. My three children took shifts being with me. Around 9 AM on Wednesday the doctor told me the brain tumor had recurred. He said another surgery would only add a few weeks to maybe two months maximum to my sweetie’s life. He said your options are surgery or hospice. With hospice, you have days to weeks at best.

Miss Benita and I had previously spoken on what to do if the brain tumor recurred. I followed her wishes and chose hospice. I called my children, my brother, her sisters, my minister, and my best friend informing them of the situation.

The next step was to move her from the intensive care unit to an intermediate care unit where they worked on stabilizing her and helping her regain her faculties. It wasn’t until late in the day that she was moved from ICU to a room. During this time, my oldest son arrived on the scene. My best friend was there with me, as well.

It was nearly noon on Wednesday before I somehow managed to drive home. Instead of sleeping, I prepared the house for the arrival of my wife’s sisters who were coming in from out of state. I had my sons schedule to shuttle them from the airport to the hospital.

At one-thirty on Wednesday afternoon I tried to sleep. I slept less than ninety minutes before waking up and returning to the hospital.

When I got back to the hospital, my oldest son, and best friend lectured me on the need for rest.

It was late in the day on Wednesday before the massive amount of drugs given my wife took hold and had her where she was conscious, could talk and understand.

I shared with her what was happening. I still remember her response.

She said with a nervous smile, “I knew the Melanoma was going to kill me. I just didn’t realize it was going to be today or in the next few days. I really thought I would make survive at least until the end of the year. I hope I live long enough to see Jason (our son) graduate from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in May. Thank you for not letting them cut on me. Thank you for loving me enough to let me go by honoring my wishes.”

I nodded.

She squeezed my hand and added, “I’ve always been in God’s hands. He has this. Trust Him. I do.”

I went home around 7 PM that evening and cried out to God. I hurt. I was exhausted. I remember having today’s verse come to mind, “Be still and know that I am God …”

I got in bed and started recalling Bible verse after Bible verse. I had worked with the children in my church for nearly two decades in a program called “Bible Drill.” The program’s purpose was Scripture memory. I had memorized the same verses as they had. Those verses came to mind, calmed my spirit, and helped me to sleep.

I also was listening to spiritual songs that praised God. The songs calmed my nerves and spirit. I had to slow down enough to experience God’s presence.

18.2 Slow Down and Know God

Part of learning to care for a person with a chronic illness is slowing down and knowing God. As we live with the daily challenges of caring for a person with an ongoing disease, it is essential, we get adequate rest. 

This respite is both physical and spiritual. Today’s Scripture tells us to slow down, that is to be still and know I am God.

18.3 Bible Verse

Psalm 46:10 (KJV), ” Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

18.4 What the Verse Means

Part of learning to care for a person with a chronic illness is learning to slow down.

18.5 Pray Using Scripture

  • Heavenly Father help me to be still and know you more intimately, and to feel your presence.
  • Lord Jesus, please help me to slow down and even stop when necessary to get to know God.
  • I pray that I would find rest in the adequacy of God.

18.6 Responding to God’s Hope

  1. Are you getting enough rest? You cannot care for someone twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. You need assistance.
  2. Are you slowing down where you can hear God and feel his presence?
  3. Ask God to help you rest, have the help you need, and to experience his presence.

Photo Source: Pixabay

This blog post is from the forthcoming book, “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey” by Jimmie Kepler, Ed.D.

To receive a notification when “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey” by Jimmie Kepler, Ed.D. is available and to get occasional updates on the writing of Jimmie Aaron Kepler please complete the “Email Sign-up”  found in the far left column of the blog.

Slow Down and Know God

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Devotions, Hope, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, Memoir, PrayersLeave a comment

Slow Down and Know God

Part of learning to care for a person with a chronic illness is slowing down and knowing God. As we live with the daily challenges of caring for a person with an ongoing disease, it is essential that we get adequate rest.

This respite is both physical and spiritual. Today’s Scripture tells us to slow down, that is to be still and know I am God.

My Story

I had been up for thirty-three consecutive hours. My marathon of being up began on Tuesday when I had awakened at 5 PM. I had gotten up, checked on my spouse, showered and went to Starbucks at 6 AM for my morning writing. From writing, I had headed to the local climate controlled shopping mall where I did my morning walk. Following the walk, I had an appointment with the dermatologist.

I returned home just before lunchtime. I again checked on my wife. She was in her recliner. She said her head was hurting, and she had been trying to call her doctor and me.

Her neurologist had reduced her steroids dramatically. When the steroids had previously been cut, she had felt bad, so the doctor increased the dosage to former levels. Miss Benita assumed this is all that was needed.

His time she couldn’t figure out how to use her cell phone. I called the neurologist office. They increased the dosage. My wife took the increased medications and went to sleep. I had checked on her every twenty minutes all afternoon. She did not wake up until after 8 PM.

When she awoke, she didn’t know who I was. She couldn’t tell me what day or month with was. When I asked if she knew the time she answered “blue?”

We headed for the emergency room at the hospital where only four months earlier she had a brain tumor removed.

I was up all night. My three children took shifts being with me. Around 9 AM on Wednesday the doctor told me the brain tumor had recurred. He said another surgery would only add a few weeks to maybe two months maximum to my sweetie’s life. He said your options are surgery or hospice. With hospice, you have days to weeks at best.

Miss Benita and I had spoken on what to do if the brain tumor recurred. I followed her wishes and chose hospice. I called my children, my brother, her sisters, my minister, and my best friend informing them of the situation.

The next step was to move her from the intensive care unit to an intermediate care unit where they worked on stabilizing her and helping her regain her faculties. It wasn’t until late in the days was moved from ICU. During this time my oldest son arrived on the scene. My best friend was there with me as well.

I was the next morning before the massive amount of drugs took hold and had her where she was conscious. I shared with her what was happening.

I still remember her response. She said, “I knew the Melanoma was going to kill me. I just didn’t realize it as going to be today or in the next few days. I really thought I would make it to the end of the year. I hope I live long enough to see Jason (our son) graduate from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in May. Thank you for not letting them cut on me. Thank you for loving me enough to let me go by honoring my wishes.”

I was nearly noon on Wednesday before I somehow managed to drive home. Instead of sleeping I prepared the house for the arrival of my wife’s sisters who were coming in from out of state. I had my sons schedule to shuttle them from the airport to the hospital.

It was around one-thirty on Wednesday afternoon before I tried to sleep. I slept less than ninety minutes before waking up and returning to the hospital.

When I got back to the hospital my oldest son and best friend lectured me on the need for rest. I went home around 7 PM that evening and cried out to God. I hurt. I was exhausted. I remember having today’s verse come to mind, “Be still and know that I am God …”

I got in med and started recalling Bible verse after Bible verse. I had worked with the children in my church for nearly two decades in a program called “Bible Drill.” The program’s purpose was Scripture memory. I had memorized the same verses as they had. Those verses came to memory, calmed my spirit, and helped me to sleep.

I also was listening to spiritual songs that praised God. The songs calmed my nerves and spirit. I had to slow down enough to experience God’s presence.

Bible Verse

Psalm 46:10 (KJV), ” Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

What the Verse Means

Part of learning to care for a person with a chronic illness is learning to slow down.

Pray Using Scripture

  • Heavenly Father help me to be still and know you more intimately, and to feel your presence.
  • Lord Jesus, please help me to slow down and even stop when necessary to get to know God.
  • I pray that I would find rest in the adequacy of God.

Responding to God’s Hope

  1. Are you getting enough rest? You cannot care for someone twenty-four hours a day seven days a week. You need assistance.
  2. Are you slowing down where you can hear God and feel his presence?
  3. Ask God to help you rest, have the help you need, and to experience his presence.

Photo Source: Pixaby

This blog post is adapted from the forthcoming book, “Caregiving: A Biblical Alternative” by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D.

Hearing God’s Voice

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Devotions, Hope, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, MemoirLeave a comment

Hearing God’s Voice

Part of learning to care for a person with a chronic or terminal illness is listening until we hear God’s voice.

When we face a constant disease too often, we rush in and try to accomplish everything in our own power. We manage this. We plan that. We listen to this aunt or to a trusted friend. We may hear conflicting recommendations from our healing team, that is the doctors, ministers, social workers, counselors, and other caregivers.

While wise counsel is right, we need to seek God and listen to his voice. We do this through prayer, Bible reading, and listening to sermons. We need to encourage our loved one to do the same.

Sometimes we are in such a rush to get to a solution or get things under control that we miss hearing from The Great Physician. We need to remember the words of Psalm 46:10 (KJV), “Be still, and know that I am God:”

Sometimes we just need to sit and be still before we can hear God.

My Story

“I need your decision on starting radiation treatment. What have decided?” asked the surgical oncologist.

“Not today. I just can’t make a decision today,” said my wife.

It was apparent she was overwhelmed with everything.

“Any delay could be life-threatening at the worst and life-shortening at the best. You need to decide on when you want to start treatments,” pressed the oncologist.

My wife rolled her tired eyes. She was less than a month from the initial Melanoma cancer surgery and the removal of both the cancerous area and thirty-four lymph nodes. She had a swollen left arm, wrist, and hand. Lymphedema therapy had just started that week.

“Can you go over the treatment options for us one more time? We’ll then go home and have some time to meditate and pray on what she’ll do next. We understand the urgency for beginning treatment,” I said.

This time it was the young surgical oncologist who rolled her eyes. She nodded and dutifully repeated the options. She concluded with a “Let me know soon what you are or are not going to do. While selecting no treatment is an option. Not having the radiation greatly increases the chances of recurrence. If it recurs,” she added with a strong emphasis, “it will be terminal. There will be no treatment or cure. You will die.”

“Thank you. We’ll let you know in a few days,” I said. On the inside, I was made at how she had restated the obvious — “If it recurs, it will be terminal. There will be no treatment or cure. You will die.”

On the hour drive home my wife slept. She was tired and weary. Over the next few days we prayed, read Scripture, and then she said, “Call the doctor and find out who I need to contact to schedule the radiation.”

I received the contact information. My wife called and set up an appointment. I was amazed at God’s timing. The radiation doctor had a cancelation and they were able to get her in that very afternoon. If we had rushed and said yes to treatment four days early she wouldn’t have been seen for nearly two weeks. Praying and seeking God’s guidance allowed treatment to begin almost immediately.

I firmly believe seeking God in her decisions is one reason why she lived over two-years longer than the initial projections.

It’s another example of my wife’s Godly wisdom andGod’s faithfulness.

Bible Verse

Psalm 143:8 (KJV) “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”

What the Verse Means

As we face trials and hardships, we can find ourselves overwhelmed. When we become inundated by fear, grief, depression, and self-pity, it becomes hard to hear God.

Today’s verse reminds us to spend time with God, to begin our day with God. As Christians, we can trust God. We can ask him to both guide us and to lift us up. We need to stop, that is too slow down and take time for God. We need to at his Word, that is to read the Bible. We need to listen, that his to hear sermons, hymns, and listen to his still small voice answering our prayers.

Pray Using Scripture

  • Heavenly Father draw me to you in the morning where I can hear your righteousness.
  • Lord Jesus, I place my trust in you. Help me to always put all my faith in you.
  • I ask your Holy Spirit to speak to my spirit and to guide me in the way I should walk.
  • I pray you would lift my soul unto you.
  • I pray for myself, my spouse, our children, and grandchildren to be drawn to you, to experience you and choose to attend worship services where we can hear your word preached.

Responding to God’s Hope

  1. Are you including God in your decision-making process? James 1:5 (KJV) reminds us, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
  2. Are you listening for Gods still small voice?
  3. Are you slowing down and waiting on God?

TWEETABLE

Hearing God’s Voice https://wp.me/p1F1No-2OQ #caregiver #hope @jimmiekepler [CLICK TO TWEET]

Photo Source: Pixabay

This blog post is adapted from the forthcoming book, “Caregiving: A Biblical Alternative” by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D.

 

Know God

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Devotions, Hope, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, Memoir, PrayersLeave a comment

Part of learning to live with a chronic illness is slowing down and knowing God. As we live with the daily challenges of an ongoing disease it is essential we get adequate rest.

This respite is both physical and spiritual. Today’s Scripture tells us to slow down, that is to be still and know I am God.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Psalm 46:10 (KJV), “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

What the Verse Means:

Part of learning to deal with a chronic illness is learning to slow down.

Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:

  • Heavenly Father, help me to be still and know you more intimately, and to feel your presence.
  • Lord Jesus, please help me to slow down and even stop when necessary to get to know God.
  • I pray that I would find rest in the adequacy of God.

Photo Source: Pixabay

Thy Will Be Done

Today’s blog post is from the book “Thy Will Be Done: 60 Prayers for the Chronically Ill” by Jimmie Aaron Kepler. It is available in print and on Kindle for Amazon at Amazon Print or Amazon Kindle.

If you are an Amazon Kindle Unlimited member, the book is available to read for free in Kindle format. Over the next two months, I will publish each chapter as a blog post

Rest

Posted in Blog, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, PrayersLeave a comment

Today’s Scripture tells us to rest – be still and knows I am God.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Psalm 46:10 (KJV), ” Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

What the verse means:

Part of learning to deal with a chronic illness is learning to rest.

Praying using the verses:

  1. Heavenly Father, help us be still and know you more intimately, feel your presence.
  2. Lord Jesus, please help our loved one and yourself to get physical rest when possible.
  3. Pray that our loved one would find his/her rest in the adequacy of God.

Photo Source: Pixaby