Continuing to count God's sweet blessings...
2995. Quiet evenings at the lake.
2996. A/C in the extreme heat last week.
2997. Cooler temps in the forecast this week (if you can upper 80s cooler!).
2998. Early morning walks.
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If you have never been to church, you may be wondering what to expect. You’re bound to be excited, but you may also feel a bit apprehensive or even intimidated, after all, it’s a new experience. But, there is no need to be afraid.
First and foremost, it is important to recognize that you will struggle to find a place that is more welcoming than a church. Everyone wants you to be there so don’t be nervous. A lot of people worry about getting things wrong, i.e. standing up at the incorrect time, but don’t panic, as you can simply follow the lead of everyone else. If you are feeling unsure, don’t be afraid to stay seated until you get a general idea of what is going on. The people of the church respect that everyone worships and prays in their own way; you certainly won’t be judged for failing to stand up.
Do some research before visiting the church. Churches like The Gathering have websites filled with information. You’ll get a real feel of what to expect. You should aim to arrive early, approximately ten minutes before the start time of the service, and, of course, make sure you dress respectably.
It’s a good idea to try and find a place to sit somewhere in the middle. Stand up when hymns are sung but don’t panic if you don’t know the words – there is no need to mime. Communion can also be a source of worry for some people, but you can stay in your seat, you don’t have to go forward. But, don’t be intimidated from going forward either if that’s what you want to do, again, simply follow the lead of others.
A Guide To Baptism
If you want to become a member of the Christian Church, you should consider getting baptized. This is something that can be performed at any church. It is a religious rite that involves either immersing a person’s forehead in water or sprinkling water on their forehead, which symbolizes purification and admission to the church.
You can be baptized at any age, with most people getting baptized as a child. The Bible gives a number of different reasons to be baptized. Baptism is an outward symbol of inward change. It represents going down into the water unclean and coming up new and clean with Jesus.
In reality, baptism can mean a lot of different things to a lot of people, as we all have our own interpretation of faith. However, baptism is your personal identification with Jesus Christ, and it is your internal assurance of your passage from your old life to your new one where you openly join others who believe in Christ.
Churches provide baptisms for those who want to be a member of the Christian Church. They will talk you through the entire process, so you feel at ease and fully understand the beautiful journey you are embarking on.
We demolish arguments and every
pretension that sets itself up against
the knowledge of God, and we take
captive every thought to make it
obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5
For the most part, I consider my self a positive person. I try to look at life through the glass half full lens. But there are certain situations where I find myself being more of a pessimist.
I wanted a latte from the coffee shop, but when pulling into the parking lot I see a long line. Aggravated and thinking it will take forever, I thought forget it and left. Even though I had plenty of time to wait if the line took longer than normal, which it may have gone quickly, I missed out on something I had been wanting because of a glass half empty view.
Continuing to count God's sweet blessings...
2990. Watching the moon with my husband.
2991. Early morning walks.
2992. Listening to the birds chirping.
2993. A fun outing with my husband, kids, and grandbaby.
Contributed post
Photo by LOGAN WEAVER on Unsplash
Getting older is an inevitable part of life. For most of us, there will come a time when we need more help when it comes to our health and mobility. If you have an elderly parent or parents, then you may need to be involved with helping to arrange this care.
It can be quite a jarring experience to find yourself being responsible for your own parents. This reversal of roles can bring with it mixed emotions. There are a lot of misconceptions and myths around elder care and even elder abuse in some facilities. However, there are nursing home abuse attorneys you can trust to represent the interests of residents should this be required.
Knowing your parent’s needs and wishes, along with the pros and cons of each type of care can help you to make the right decision for your family.
You may want to support your parents by caring for them yourself, either in their home or by having them move into yours. Of course, being able to do this depends on a lot of other factors such as where you live, how big your home is, your career and family commitments as well as the type of care they will need. If your parents just need general help with everyday activities, this is much easier than trying to provide round-the-clock care for a particular illness.
Your parents may wish to stay on their own property for as long as possible. There are ways in which this can be achieved. A home help service can assist with basic needs. This involves someone visiting the house a number of times a week (or even daily) and helping with certain tasks such as dressing, medication, shopping, or physio. More more complex care needs, a live-in carer or full-time caring team who work in shifts can provide medical care in the home. This is provided by trained and licensed professionals.
There are a number of agencies that provide specialist home carers. Some will specialize in more complex care needs and may even have experience in caring for people with dementia or similar conditions.
If your parents have significant care needs, then a care home setting might be the best option. This ensures that they receive round-the-clock care, access to doctors and nurse practitioners. Care homes also provide much-needed social activities to their residents. Keeping active physically and mentally is very important as you get older is just as important as other aspects of care.
Retirement communities are very popular with many older people. They are specialist villages or gated communities that provide housing, entertainment, and medical facilities.
Depending on the particular community, residents can live completely independently, or with the help of the medical and care services on site. Many people move to these communities after retirement when they are in good health and then call upon the additional services as and when needed.
Retirement communities can be a fantastic place to develop a healthy social life and retirement. Many have scenic, landscaped grounds, gyms, spas, golf courses, cinemas, and restaurants.
There are retirement communities in every state but competition for spaces can mean that there is a waiting list.
Making these decisions can be complicated for you, your parents, and your wider family. You need to decide, along with your health care provider, your care needs and how they can best be met.
Of course, another important factor is the financial cost of care. You’ll need to look at any insurance plans your parents have to see what kind of care this provides for them. If they are self-funding or entitled to government help, then there are going to be a lot of administrative hoops to jump through to put the right kind of care in place.
If you are planning on caring for them yourself, make sure you apply for any grants or payments you are entitled to as their primary carer. This can remove some of the financial burdens of having to leave your job or cut back on your hours.
If your parents need help in planning this next stage of their lives, then it can seem very confusing when you’re looking at all of the options open to you. It’s best to get as much help as you can from any medical professionals and social workers. Let their experience guide you to help you make the best choice
