The Sandwich Generation does have its issues, no doubt about it! For that matter, the fact that many of us are aging members of the baby boomers generation gives us plenty of challenges as well, doesn’t it? In the midst of all of this, have you ever wondered, “what does the Bible mean – “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God concerning you?" (KJV)

I actually started wondering about that when I was a new Christian in my 20s. I used to pray over this passage and meditate on it a lot as a young Christian, wondering what God meant. I still remember sitting on my kitchen floor, sponge and Mop N Glo in one hand, and these verses, among others, in my other hand. I still meditate on the subject a lot, but now it’s more a thing of joy having seen God use it abundantly in my life. In fact, if you read my blog on Thursday, you are probably smiling with me. I actually started this post on Wednesday around 4 pm. That same day, around 7 pm, I managed to step off a curb, twist my ankle, and ended up with a 5th (fifth) metatarsal fracture (that’s about mid-way on the right side of my right foot).

As I related there, having been working on this blog post earlier helped me to put into practice choosing to praise God in spite of the pain and frustration of the situation! God also reminded me to use what happened to set a positive spiritual example for my grand-tween. All in all, as gloomy as this all looks, it was actually a blessing. It's not the first time God’s done that in my life, and I doubt it is the last, either.

Over the years, I’ve heard a few well-studied and well-meaning pastors make the comment in a sermon, "God doesn’t mean we are to praise Him for the situation. We are just to praise Him in the situation." I fully agree with praising Him IN it, but I believe He also wants us to praise Him for it. I’ve spent a lot of time reading, rereading, and researching:

• If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10
• Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father. Ephesians 5:20
• And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
• Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

When you put all those together with "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, you realize that, if you love God and have received Christ Jesus as your Savior, you truly can praise God for all things and for allowing all things in your life. You can know that He loves you so much, know that He WILL work it together for your good, and KNOW that you can trust Him.

So yes, I have to admit, hobbling around on a broken foot at ¼ my normal speed would not be the first choice of this Sandwich Generation granny nanny. But I am trusting and believing that, for whatever reason, God has allowed it for a purpose and I will choose to praise Him in it AND for it.

And for those of you who have been wondering what does the Bible mean – “in everything give thanks, for this the will of God concerning you?" I hope and pray this has been a bit of a help and an encouragement to you. Have a blessed day! For more devotionals and Bible verses of encouragement for the Sandwich Generation, I invite you to join us for Spiritual Sunday.

Running inside with his special Star War LEGOs creation, my grandson tripped and fell on the patio steps. He was fine, but his LEGOs crashed and the various pieces flew off in different directions, leaving him very upset.

I came out, gave him a big hug and helped him pick up all the pieces. As we did so, I discovered a sharp piece of broken glass lying under the pile of leaves. “Hey there, Sweetie,” I told him.  “Do you remember that verse I taught you? Romans 8:28: ‘And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.’” “Yup,” he replied. “This is such a perfect example of that verse,” I told him. “You thought it was all bad that you dropped your LEGOs. But God worked it out for our good by using that to help me find this broken glass that could easily have hurt you or your puppy dogs!” He cheerfully agreed, then ran off with a big smile on his face and his hands full of his new and old LEGOs. I followed, enjoying the thrill of watching God at work in his life and mine!

Kaye

Info PR: n/a I: 160 L: 0 LD: 4,550 I: 270 Rank: 919412 Age: no matches I: 0 whois source Robo: yes Sitemap: yes Rank: 3536066 Price: 97 Links: 89|10 Density

“Ways to Fall Asleep” headlines abound in a wide variety of magazines from those geared for the young on up to those with an older readership. Sleep medication ads are all around. “Can’t Sleep” issues can impact just about everyone. Of course, some do have more difficulties than others. The elderly often have a harder time sleeping as they continue to age. Those going through menopause struggle with the problem due to hot flashes and other issues. Caregivers of any age can struggle with sleep when worries over health, finances, kids, etc. take over. It’s frustrating, it’s exhausting, and it makes it doubly difficult to carry on with all the various responsibilities we caregivers have.

I have discovered a few creative ways to fall asleep and thought I would share my newest one, which is also my favorite one. I discovered that I could use my mp3 player to “lull” me to sleep while also planting God’s Word into my mind. I have it loaded up with a wide variety of sermons by some of my favorite pastors. When I awake, and can’t go back to sleep because my busy mind starts kicking into overdrive, I just grab my Apple iPod , turn it on to a sermon from one of the epistles, set it for a low but audible setting, and pop one ear bud in my ear. Then I tuck the iPod under my pillow and start listening. If I absolutely can’t sleep, I  am learning more about God and His Word. Most nights, I find that I am back to sleep within five minutes, with the added blessing of a verse or two impressed on my mind. Occasionally I will wake up again for a few minutes, listen to a bit more of the sermon, and then it again lulls me right back to sleep. Don’t get me wrong, these are not boring sermons. I thoroughly enjoy listening to them when I don’t have a chance to do my own regular Bible study. In fact, I will later make sure I listen to them while driving in a car since I do miss so much of it. When I do, I find it interesting that the parts I did listen to I do remember.

I’ve learned to pick pastors who have quieter voices as opposed to those with more dramatic voices. I have also learned not to use sermons on dramatically interesting stories such as Daniel and the Lion’s Den or those from the book of Revelation. They can actually keep me awake because I am so interested or because they have created some anxiety in me. I often use the same sermon every time for a week or two since I never last that long through it. The interesting thing is that before, when I tried praying or lying there, I would stay awake much longer, and often never get back to sleep. I’ve only had that happen once since I started this routine a few months ago.

I use an Apple iPod but I’m sure any mp3 player would work fine. My mom has actually done this for years using a cd player. Those are a bit more bulky and you’d need to have a little table to put it on.

Whether you give this a try yourself, or help an elderly parent with this suggestion, please let us know how it worked for you by leaving a comment below.

One final thought before I bid you adieu. The sermon I’ll be listening to next is from Romans 8:28-30. It’s one of my favorite passages and I wanted to share it with you on this Sunday evening:

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

Have a blessed Sunday! Sleep well.

Driving along with two sick grandkids, so their sicker sibling could go to the doctor’s with their mom, I was feeling tired and stressed. The lights on the police car behind  me didn’t make me feel any better. As I pulled over to the side of the road, I asked God why this had to happen today of all days. It was a day already full to overflowing with colds, fevers, eye medicines, and more. God reminded me to “rejoice always,  pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks.” I have to admit, I was a little slow on the uptake at that moment and a little cranky as well.

The officer explained that my tailight was out. He was so sweet and patient with me as I fumbled through all the papers looking for my registration. As we talked, I mentioned that I was keeping the window up part-way as it had been sticking lately and I didn’t want the sick grandkids in the back to get too cold if I couldn’t get it back up. He explained to me why that was probably happening and which way to pull on it to fix it if it happened again. What a blessing!

I drove off apologizing to God for once again being a doubting Thomas and thanking Him for using that to remind me that all things do, indeed, work together for good to them that love the Lord. We don’t always get to see the good side that quickly. That made this particular incident a double blessing of encouragement for me. But we can rest assured that even when we don’t see positive results right away, we can know that God’s children are the “apple of His eye” and that He is watching over us always and forever!

Twitter. Have you heard the word? Since you’re on the internet you might have. You might be doing it. Or you might be ignoring it. That was me – a month ago. However, I’ve been reading about it, researching it, and finally, this fairly brave Granny Nanny of the Sandwich Generation took the plunge.

I started up an account, @SandwichINK, and have even officially Tweeted. It’s quite fun actually, and a lot harder than it looks – at first. Trying to say something readable in only 140 characters! My goal is to make my Tweeting a useful addition to this site. As I come across interesting links, have quick thoughts to share that can’t wait for a post, or find some inspiring Bible verses to encourage you, I’ll be Tweeting those on Twitter. If you are on Twitter or plan to be, I’d love to have you come join me.

Lest you think it is just for the younger set, I can assure you, I have found plenty of fellow members of the never-aging Baby Boomers Generation people out there. Not only that, but tweeting Senior Citizens are big news! If, however,  you’re not interested in Twittering, no worries. In the column to the right, you’ll see a listing of my most recent Tweets, with the links. And if you want to look through more, just click on "More Updates" at the bottom of the tweets and search away.

One of the tweets I did today spotlights a favorite book of mine. The Promise: How God Works All Things Together for Good, by Robert J. Morgan which is based on Romans 8:28, "We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." I love this book. I’m reading it as a devotional each evening and it has been so encouraging. 

I especially love his quote, "It's love for God that aligns the rest of life in its proper groove."  As a Sandwich Generation senior home care giver and granny nanny, it can often seem like life has gotten into the wrong groove and we’re bumping and thumping along. I keep finding that when I reorient my outlook from my personal desires and needs and focus it on God – loving Him, trusting Him, seeking His glory – it definitely helps. It may only change my attitude but many times that’s all that is necessary.

Granted, this reorientation may be required often, even hourly! It’s definitely not easy, but in God and with God, it is so worthwhile for all of us dealing with the Sandwich Generation issues of caring for elderly parents and helping with our grandchildren.