"For Such a Time as This" -Esther 4:14: A Caregiver's Encouragement

By Carolyn Harrison

This compelling, profound book shares a powerful narrative of an inexperienced caregiver’s journey through elation, trials, adversities, pain, grief, joy, and peace, which led her to discover an intimate relationship with God and a greater knowledge of His peace.

The author captivates her readers with comforting Bible verses; original poems; heartfelt reflections; spiritual guidance; a plethora of resources to encourage and to empower.

Bible verses are used throughout the book to communicate the supremacy and the authority of the Bible. You will discover that the Word of God, prayer, and the Name of Jesus give rest and “peace which passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).

Be ready to experience an incredible journey!

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Nov 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9781664289604

Carolyn Harrison

Carolyn Harrison attracts the reader to her with her passionate and powerful writings as a caregiver. Her writings convey encouragement, inspiration, love, the promises of God, and hope. After the demise of her beloved mother, she was motivated and led by the Holy Spirit to pen her recent book, For Such a Time as This: A Caregiver’s Encouragement. Carolyn retired from Hamilton County Schools in 2008, completing thirty years of service. She was a caregiver to her beloved mother from 2003 to 2015. In 2016, she began her personal Gospel tract ministry. Carolyn is a 1975 graduate of Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, Florida, where she received her bachelor of science degree. While in attendance at Bethune-Cookman University, she became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and of Pi Omega Pi, a scholastic honor society recognizing academic achievement among students in the field of business education. She graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1981, where she received her master of education degree. While attending UTC, she became a member of Kappa Delta Pi, an honor society in education. Her professional and nonpartisan organizations include Chattanooga-Hamilton County Retired Teachers Association, Tennessee Retired Teachers Association, National Retired Teachers Association, and American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). She received special recognition as a Legendary Lady of Merit, awarded by Tennessee State University National Alumni Association Chattanooga Chapter. When Carolyn is not devoting time to her personal ministry, she enjoys trying new things—writing, landscaping, floral arrangement, and playing the organ. Carolyn was born and raised in LaGrange, Georgia, and she currently resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with her spouse, Charlie. I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. (Philippians 3:8 KJV)

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Copyright © 2023 Carolyn Harrison.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Interior Image Credit: Russell Robards

ISBN: 978-1-6642-8961-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-8962-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-8960-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023900970

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/20/2023

Scripture quotations marked KJV taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture marked (NKJV) taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB),

Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,

1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are taken from the Contemporary English Version®, Copyright © 1995 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

In Loving Memory

04-02.jpg

This is an aged, black-and-white photograph of my beloved mother, Olga Hill, in LaGrange, Georgia, in her late twenties.

If I could touch you, my beloved mother,

If I could hear your voice calling my name,

If I could gaze upon your beautiful face,

Everything about you, my beloved mother,

Is a blessing and a pleasure.

May your enduring, heartfelt memories be

eternally cherished in the pages of this book.

To my

husband, Charlie Harrison

For your sincere and constant love for my beloved mother

Let’s not merely say that we love each other;

let us show the truth by our actions.

—1 John 3:18 (NLT)

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Part 1: My Story

1.   Commencing Years

2.   Progressive Years

3.   Concluding Years

4.   Homegoing

5.   Homegoing Anniversary

6.   Caregiving

7.   Reflections

Part 2: Encouraging Bible Verses

1. Trusting in the LORD

2. Are You Worried or Anxious?

3. Why Fear?

4. Confidence in Prayer

5. Meditating on the Word

6. Waiting on the Lord

7. Strength in Weakness

8. Peace in the Midst of a Trial

9. Joy in the Midst of a Trial

10. Death of a Believer

11. Why Do You Need a Savior?

12. What Is the Gospel Message?

13. Assurance of Salvation

Resources

In Memoriam

About the Author

Preface

Those who know your name trust in you, for you,

LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

—Psalm 9:10 (NIV)

The Holy Spirit guided me to study a few biblical examples in the Bible where God called and used individuals to execute His plan. Some of them were just like me—fearful, faithless, imperfect, inexperienced, and inadequate. He used me in an area that was unfamiliar to me. I peered at my deficiencies and limitations. Do you know how I felt? I was petrified. I contemplated on some of the un- words—unqualified, unschooled, unskilled, and untrained. Does God think like me? No. He was not interested in my credentials, expertise, training, or knowledge. He had a plan. He called me to be a caregiver. I am going to be an amateur caregiver, I thought.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8 KJV)

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9 KJV)

In my finite mind, I could not comprehend what God was about to do in my life. He had a plan and a purpose.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 KJV)

God took me on an incredible journey with Him. There were no detours, no exits, and no turning back, but there was proceeding forward with my eyes fixed in a steady and focused manner on Him. My path was tedious and complicated at times. During those periods, the Holy Spirit guided me