Author Julie-Allyson Ieron offers devotional thoughts and Bible-based encouragement to overwhelmed caregivers of aging parents and other relatives. Julie is the author of more than two dozen books, including The Overwhelmed Woman's Guide to ... Caring for Aging Parents. (www.womencareforagingparents.com)
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Write Joyfully: If You're In Chicago ... Please Come ...
Write Joyfully: If You're In Chicago ... Please Come ...: I'm speaking tomorrow morning for the Lifebuilders ABF at The Orchard in Arlington Heights, IL. It'll be the first of four new presentat...
Friday, October 26, 2012
Bearing Fruit -- Wherever, Whenever
Treasured friend,
As I may have mentioned earlier, since Dad's most recent illness, we've restarted our tradition of reading Scripture together as a family each day. In the hospital, we read a Psalm every morning. Now, at home, with Dad having a rough time getting back into a sleep pattern we've taken to reading together as we tuck him into bed. (In the hospital, the old cliche that they wake you to give you a sleeping pill isn't very far off reality -- and that sets a bad habit to break even in the peacefulness of home!)
Last night, we read a passage from Psalm 92, which we all found especially meaningful. It's a Psalm of praise, of speaking with our lips the truths of Who God is and how He remains faithful throughout the generations. Somehow, in speaking it aloud, I find a passage like this one bolsters my faith and reaffirms my assurance that God is Who He claims to be.
I'd challenge you to read the whole Psalm aloud, from start to finish, but for now let me give you the passage Dad asked me to reread so it could really sink in:
Psalm 92:12-15 (ESV)
12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green,
15 to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Dad especially liked that passage about still bearing fruit in old age. And, I'm his witness that he's doing just that. Yesterday, he told his surgeon in no uncertain terms that God was guiding his hands throughout the operation--because our friends and family around the world (literally) were praying for the procedure. And don't get me started on how many times in the past month Dad shared the message of salvation with nurses, techs, and anyone else who had reason to enter his room.
Even in this most trying time for him physically (and he's had more than his share!), Dad is providing for me an example of just how to be unashamed to declare that the Lord is "upright" and that He is the one, guaranteed, solid rock -- where we can stake our eternal future with absolute confidence.
I pray that my life -- and yours, my dear friend -- will leave that same legacy. May you flourish in the courts of our God, today, no matter your circumstance.
Blessings and prayers,
Julie
© 2012, Julie-Allyson Ieron. All rights reserved. For reprint permission, email: orders@joymediaservices.com
As I may have mentioned earlier, since Dad's most recent illness, we've restarted our tradition of reading Scripture together as a family each day. In the hospital, we read a Psalm every morning. Now, at home, with Dad having a rough time getting back into a sleep pattern we've taken to reading together as we tuck him into bed. (In the hospital, the old cliche that they wake you to give you a sleeping pill isn't very far off reality -- and that sets a bad habit to break even in the peacefulness of home!)
Last night, we read a passage from Psalm 92, which we all found especially meaningful. It's a Psalm of praise, of speaking with our lips the truths of Who God is and how He remains faithful throughout the generations. Somehow, in speaking it aloud, I find a passage like this one bolsters my faith and reaffirms my assurance that God is Who He claims to be.
I'd challenge you to read the whole Psalm aloud, from start to finish, but for now let me give you the passage Dad asked me to reread so it could really sink in:
Psalm 92:12-15 (ESV)
12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green,
15 to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Dad especially liked that passage about still bearing fruit in old age. And, I'm his witness that he's doing just that. Yesterday, he told his surgeon in no uncertain terms that God was guiding his hands throughout the operation--because our friends and family around the world (literally) were praying for the procedure. And don't get me started on how many times in the past month Dad shared the message of salvation with nurses, techs, and anyone else who had reason to enter his room.
Even in this most trying time for him physically (and he's had more than his share!), Dad is providing for me an example of just how to be unashamed to declare that the Lord is "upright" and that He is the one, guaranteed, solid rock -- where we can stake our eternal future with absolute confidence.
I pray that my life -- and yours, my dear friend -- will leave that same legacy. May you flourish in the courts of our God, today, no matter your circumstance.
Blessings and prayers,
Julie
© 2012, Julie-Allyson Ieron. All rights reserved. For reprint permission, email: orders@joymediaservices.com
Monday, October 15, 2012
Connecting Trust and Help
Treasured friend,
These days for our little household, the Word is speaking exceptionally vividly--perhaps more than we've noticed in quite some time. It is truly alive and active and sharp and more relevant to everyday life than any other multi-millennial document could ever be. It is, after all, the Spirit Who breathes life into its phrases and sentences and paragraphs.
With that in mind, today's Breath of the Word that we enjoyed in our morning devos is this:
I pray for you, as for our family, that we will receive from Him the power and the will to trust in Him -- and that as we practice the trust muscle, we will find the help and deliverance and strength that will carry us all through.
Blessings and prayers,
Julie
© 2012, Julie-Allyson Ieron. All rights reserved. For reprint permission, email: orders@joymediaservices.com
These days for our little household, the Word is speaking exceptionally vividly--perhaps more than we've noticed in quite some time. It is truly alive and active and sharp and more relevant to everyday life than any other multi-millennial document could ever be. It is, after all, the Spirit Who breathes life into its phrases and sentences and paragraphs.
With that in mind, today's Breath of the Word that we enjoyed in our morning devos is this:
But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him. Psalm 37:39-40 (NKJV)
I pray for you, as for our family, that we will receive from Him the power and the will to trust in Him -- and that as we practice the trust muscle, we will find the help and deliverance and strength that will carry us all through.
Blessings and prayers,
Julie
© 2012, Julie-Allyson Ieron. All rights reserved. For reprint permission, email: orders@joymediaservices.com
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
A Mind Exercise
Treasured friend,
We had a lovely visit today with one of our pastors, Ted Olson. One of the Scriptures we shared together was from Philippians 4:8 (HCSB). What an amazing passage to emulate and to make a matter of prayer ...
And, as Paul explains in the next verse, the end result is that you'll know beyond a doubt that the God of Peace will be with you. What a powerful promise to cling to today!
Blessings and prayers,
Julie
© 2012, Julie-Allyson Ieron. All rights reserved. For reprint permission, email: orders@joymediaservices.com
We had a lovely visit today with one of our pastors, Ted Olson. One of the Scriptures we shared together was from Philippians 4:8 (HCSB). What an amazing passage to emulate and to make a matter of prayer ...
"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things."
And, as Paul explains in the next verse, the end result is that you'll know beyond a doubt that the God of Peace will be with you. What a powerful promise to cling to today!
Blessings and prayers,
Julie
© 2012, Julie-Allyson Ieron. All rights reserved. For reprint permission, email: orders@joymediaservices.com
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Promise to Cling To
Treasured friend,
I wanted to share with you a Scripture we're finding especially meaningful today:
I love the line in "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" that says with authority and conviction, "All I have needed/Thy hand has provided." That is the hope of our confession today. We pray it is yours as well.
Blessings, from our home to yours, my treasured friend!
Julie
© 2012, Julie-Allyson Ieron. All rights reserved. For reprint permission, email: orders@joymediaservices.com
I wanted to share with you a Scripture we're finding especially meaningful today:
Hebrews 10:23 (ESV)God's faithfulness is never in question, regardless of our circumstances.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
I love the line in "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" that says with authority and conviction, "All I have needed/Thy hand has provided." That is the hope of our confession today. We pray it is yours as well.
Blessings, from our home to yours, my treasured friend!
Julie
© 2012, Julie-Allyson Ieron. All rights reserved. For reprint permission, email: orders@joymediaservices.com
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