Hope and Grace: two familiar terms that have recently stood out, perhaps in a new light. In Peru, we drove through city after city with minimal infrastructure, street lights but no running water, houses of canvas or brick, or just black tarps stretched out to post a claim on land, others were more developed, some had roofs and windows, many with dirt floors, in some communities such as Alto-Trujillo the mafia threatened civilians, others had paved roads and shops. Yet regardless which city, the nicest most well-cared for buildings were the Catholic churches. Before we arrived in Peru, the Pope had recently made his rounds visiting cities. Many billboards still remain freshly painted, entire walls and roadways were brightly decorated to welcome him, one even stated "the Pope is our hope." Catchy, right? In shock, my heart was grieved to see so many led astray with false hope and even paying money to come see him or receive a blessing. What is hope? What is like to live with hope? How does this hope change my life today? How does or should it impact the choices I make? These questions have often crossed my mind; perhaps even more frequently since working in the emergency department. Sometimes the world seems especially dark or "hopeless," that nothing will really change or that any efforts would be like a drop in an ocean. And in itself - that would be true. The world is hopeless, without Christ. Or even closer to home, perhaps there is a family situation seems without hope, a coworker that is too difficult, an addiction too far gone, an emptiness that cannot be filled. The manifestations and consequences of sin are overwhelming. But we are not without hope! {1 Thessalonians 4:9-18; Hebrews 11:1} We can have hope because the world as we see it is not the end of the story. Hope is trusting One we cannot yet see; rooted and grounded in faith; reveals a humble heart of dependence on God and confidence in His character. Hope is an eager anticipation! Yet before we can share that hope, it must first truly be ours. The Hope inside us because of Christ is based on a personal real relationship with Him! "…so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf…" Hebrews 6:18-20 Secondly, that hope is not in myself. Sometimes, the prideful thought has occurred to me "if only that person would let me in a influence in their lives, I could imagine how there how situation would work out! I could write a beautiful ending to their story, if only they would let me!" How often do we want to play God or take control of a situation? Yet again I am convicted that I am not anyone's source of hope! Only Christ is and can be. Instead my prayer must be that I and others would seek Him, yield to His Word, and obey His voice in our lives. Whether a coworker, or a patient, or a child in Peru, HE is their hope. He is their salvation. HE alone has the power to change lives. He has already overcome death; He has overcome the world! This the hope that we have in confidence for He is faithful. His character is steadfast. His testimony is proven. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. It is often asked how there could be a good God when the world is full of hate, hypocrisy, strife, war, wrestling with ethics and intolerance? Yet, God is not the author of confusion {1 Corinthians 14:33}. Sin is not evidence of the God's existential absence, but of man's will. God's design did not include sin, nor did He leave the world without hope and a way of salvation! For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. … so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:17-21 Grace: God's grace, a gift of which I am so undeserving. Grace that is my salvation {Eph 2:8-10}, and sustains us through our sanctification. God in His grace, reveals the next step for us in His will and gives strength to follow Him. However, recently, I have been convicted that only in God's grace did He not reveal details of what this last six months was going to look like. Had I known what working at the ER would mean, all that would be entailed, I am fairly certain I would have never accepted. But God is working for our good! He knows where and how we need to be stretched, and I pray we may stay humble and contrite before the Lord in dependence on Him to do so. My inadequacies are ever present in my eyes. The confrontation with worldviews has been glaring. Likewise going to another country will usually push one far enough out of any comfort zone to make one think about life from another perspective. The only foundation in the midst of shifting cultures is God's Word! In both situations, the Lord has consistently reminded me of the difference Christ makes in every area of life if we yield it to Him. In the clinics with Medical Missions Outreach, most of the evangelism is intentionally done by the mature believers in the church there previously discipled by the pastor. Every single patient who came through the clinic would get to hear the gospel explained one-on-one in their own language. But this time, many of our translators were not Christians and came simply for the experience of practicing English. They were so excited to speak English and many asked why we would come all this way for clinic. It was a wonderful opportunity for the gospel, because that is why we came! How sweet it was to reflect on the simplicity of the Gospel, Christ sacrifice, and His unconditional love. One translator asked me after repeating back the whole gospel to me - "is it really that simple?!" How quickly my eyes lose sight of eternity. How easily I forget how undeserving I am of God's grace. We praise the Lord for the 81 new believers from that week, 3 of whom served as translators! For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 No government, humanitarian relief, program or myself can ever "fix" the world or relieve its suffering, but we can introduce them to the One Who is their hope. Who has already paid for their redemption. One who gives me Hope, not of this world. The overwhelming task and inadequacy of myself is not a reason to give up but a motivator to seek the One who already has written each stories' ending. For the time we have is not to be wasted - but to steward well. It is with hope of greater things to come, hope of sweet fellowship without the taint of sin, hope of rejoicing without ailments, hope of worshipping face to face, hope of seeing the One who is Perfect, for the hope in our Savior that we press on. And with grace that we walk, with grace for each conversation, grace for each unknown, grace for tomorrow and sufficient for today. May these be our reality - for this world is not our home. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. 1 Peter 3:15 What makes some men great? While walking through the ongoing archeological dig of David's Palace in the City of David - Jerusalem - my mind was drawn to these passages and could not escape from these thoughts: Why is David's legacy still remembered? And what went wrong with the kings after him? What happened before David? The Jewish people, called Hebrews at the time, were a theocracy, ruled by God. Yet the people wanted a physical, human king, someone tangible to be like the other nations around them. Perhaps, like we try to find a tangible substitute for God in our lives. God granted the request with specific instructions. Hence Israel chose Saul, who brings us to David anointed to be king after Saul. "Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, “Behold, you ... Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” 1 Sam 7:4-9
Long before Israel had kings, Moses wrote God's guidelines for them. Long ahead of time, God knew what would be the downfall of their human leaders. This passage never before stood out to me until reading through the legacies of Israel and Judah's kings that descend from David. A common theme is the idolatry brought in from foreign nations, often by marrying foreigners, or the love for glory, recognition, power or money. “When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose. ...Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold." Deut 7: 14-17 "And {God's Law} shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel. "Deut 7:18-20 God never left His people without guidance, but time and time again they would shun Him, turn to idolatry, and face years of hardships personally and internationally. All three of these commands Israel and Judah would fail to obey. Since we, however, are not kings, can we not be like David? Just as God gave guidance and promises to the kings, so also does He love, provide, instruct, reprove, and protect His children today. We have been given a treasure in Scripture, letters from One who unconditionally loves us and wants what is best for us. Let it be out of trust in who God is that we seek to know and walk in His Word. In just one generation we see the heartaches David experienced within his own family. Between the many wives and sons and daughters, strife was brought into his home with sin {2 Sam 12, 13, 18}. How much tragedy could he have avoided by obeying the commands given him - the truths he proclaimed as a youth? The lineage that follows only spread the foreign idolatry, conspiring, tributes, and wickedness. It is easier to pick out history's failures, but this is applicable to today. Will those who come behind us find us faithful? So perhaps David's fame is due to his many psalms, or credited to the legendary stories of his valor, but I think it is because of the relationship he had following God. His heart was poured out before his Creator whom he loved and sought out.
This - David's submission to and trust in God's Word - this was his strength. This is greatness. "Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, 'Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that You have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in Your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of Your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! Because of your promise, and according to Your own heart, You have brought about all this greatness, to make Your servant know it. Therefore You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, and there is no God besides You..." 2 Sam 7: 18-22 What do you say when asked about nursing school? What do you say at a senior banquet??? How do you describe God's faithfulness and the lessons you have learned {and are still learning} through 4 of the most difficult, strenuous, testing, lonely, yet encouraging, exciting, stretching, humbling, life-changing years of your life? Was it what I thought it would be? No. But what did I know? I had no idea what to expect really.
I fainted once in a doctor's office as a patient and fainted again visiting a friend in the hospital, so coming close to high school graduation mom once asked whether I really wanted to go do nursing school :). Despite my fears, I have never fainted since! There was literally nothing else I ever saw myself doing. There was no doubt in my mind. Was I nervous? of course. But there was no plan B. Nurses warned my with horror stories saying that they hated nursing school but love their jobs. Yay! that should make me excited right?! I knew coming into it - it wasn't always pretty. I can still testify to that :). I knew the course work would be "hard" but had no idea what that really meant. I was told I needed to be good in science but had never heard of "theory." Still don't like talking about nursing theories, even if I almost understand them now. What I did not expect: how much you {faculty, staff and students} really care. It is more than just a job to you! You deeply care for us and your patients; you have prayed for us and learned more than our names. It is obvious when you genuinely care for each other. I would probably lean towards Flo's {our ever affectionate nickname for Florence Nightingale, a story for another day} perspective in that one cannot really teach character and caring. One can teach skills, and some nurses really just do it as a job. I think we all equally enjoyed some of the lectures. You probably enjoyed standing to teach for 6 hours as much as we enjoyed sitting the same chair in the same room 6 hours a day 4 or 5 days a week all semester long. But we were learning even when we didn't realize it. You cared enough to think about life beyond the classroom, even when we did not understand why you pushed us to dig deeper; it was to prepare us. You cared enough to make us think about our patient's lives, and not just for filling out paperwork. Another thing I didn't expect was how close we would become and the incredible friendships. I have never experienced such long-standing comradery as we have. In studying together, praying together, making messes in lab together, coffee together, quizzing each other, watching each other practice that sterile wound dressing change for the 15th time, taking each other's blood pressure over and over {it was a difficult thing sophomore year!}, running to the den in 3.5 minutes, grab and go breakfasts together, driving to clinical together, doing paperwork in the study lounge late into the night - whether or not we may have wanted to - there was no getting away from each other. There are many moments I will never forget, like my heart racing during my first check-off when I had to take the pulse 4 times before I got it right because the clock on the wall was ticking soOO loud that I thought the pulse was 60 every time, to the time we watched out first delivery and baby being born, to the time we suited up for the operating room, to the interview for entrance into the nursing program. There are somethings, on the other hand, we are all going to try to forget, and that is ok too. :) But one of the greatest comforts, looking forward to the uncertainty of the future. is to remember God's faithfulness of the past. In Exodus God called His people time after time to remember, to tell the next generation, and to reflect on His protection, guidance, provisions, and mercy. These are so true; even when life changes, He does not! The reality that this is it, that we are really never going to be told to download another syllabus from online {printing them just takes too much time these days right??}, that we are really going to get to wear scrubs more than one day a week for clinical, that we are really going to wear the pinning dress and walk across the stage - has not set in. And it probably won't until it is passed. But through this all - the endless projects, tears, prayer, unit analysis for chemical equations and drug calculations, flashcards, labs, long nights, nursing diagnoses, care plans that we had no idea how to do, pathophysiology, mission trips, group presentations, history of civ terms, or getting news from home, the phone calls we never wanted to get, the days we would not have asked for, losing those once close, the unpredictable and hard days - God has brought us through more than I ever expected or anticipated. Thankfully, God is never limited to our expectations! Life is a journey, and these four years are no exception; better yet, it is just the beginning. I have SOO much more to learn! What has been my favorite thing in nursing school? First, the people! But secondly, and perhaps counterintuitively {that is our fun word we all learned in Anatomy & Physiology}, it is seeing suffering. NOT because it is easy or fun or I would wish it on anyone. But because of our studies, because of our major, we have the incredible honor and opportunity to see into people's lives, to walk alongside for a mere 4 or 8 or 10 hours, not really accomplishing anything that the staff probably could not have done without us - but if we let ourselves, we get an incredible reality check on a weekly basis. This is not just an assignment but a privilege. Going to the hospital became normal, and it took me a little while to realize that most people don't ever see what we see, unless it has happened to their family or friend. Most people - especially at college - don’t get to see the community and reality of hurting people as closely or as often as we do. We get the opportunity be reminded - of faces we will never be able to get out of our minds - that we live in a very broken world and our only hope is in our Creator. As the freshman class prepares for entrance interviews, I have been reminded of the one question that stood out to me from my interview 3 years ago. The chairman asked if I realized I would not be able to continue in the program if I for example became blind or no longer physically able to complete the skills. Of course I said I understood, but the question never left my mind. What if I really did have to leave? Is this where my purpose is? Since then I have realized that as much as nursing school has become a part of who I am, as much as it has shaped my thinking and choices, as much as I love it and could not imagine having studied anything else - it is not my identity. It is much more comforting to know that we are resting in Christ. He is our Rock and sure foundation! In reading through Job recently, it hit me that even before Job lost all of his children {a much greater loss}, he lost his entire livelihood. Everything that could have been said to be "his successes" was no longer. If his identity had been in his agricultural establishments, his vocation, his trade and business - his greatness and value was stripped away. But Job responds instead with great wisdom, realizing that his successes were from the Lord, that he did not come into this world with anything and would leave with nothing. The fact that we have come this far, is only by His grace. Come what may tomorrow; our security is only in Him! So what are our plans? As some would say, "if I had a dollar for every time someone asked... I would be a rich man!" Proverbs 16:9 says "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." Some days those plans are exciting, other times overwhelming. Is it a necessary part of life. We are supposed to be proactive, but in making plans let the Lord lead. All the individual steps He already knows. We may only see a few puzzle pieces right now like "pass the NCLEX" then "get a job" but I am thankful to know the ONE Who made the puzzle, Who is holding the puzzle box, and Who will put all the pieces together! His timing is not mine, but His plan is perfect. Now as we look forward to graduation, my challenge to myself is to never let those faces - those stories - just be a job. Yes, we will have a duty to serve, to think critically, to follow protocol, to advocate, to educate, to assess, and implement, but in some ways anybody can do that. Not everybody cares. I am learning that one person cannot be everything, to everybody, all the time; and life is not about glory in doing the spectacular but faithfulness in the daily and mundane. To give, we must first "fill up" spiritually, emotionally, and professionally intellectually. But as we go out celebrate our hard work, and find our apartment, our job, choose to fill our free time, take those "well-deserved" vacations, may we keep our eyes off ourselves. May we ask for eyes to see the needs around us, to invest, and bless those who have served us.
Real life is not made up of all Instagram worthy moments or consistent emotional highs - if they were constant they would not be called "highs". However, when one peruses over 500 friend's weekly posts of highlights seeing how "good" they look, fun things they did, or things they want others to know - it has the potential to create a false sense of reality or of what reality should be. While there is nothing wrong in it of itself, with comparison can then dwell discouragement, discontentment, or disappointment. Real success is not defined by Facebook likes, magazine-quality photos, or Twitter followers - or at least not by my definition.
Faithful
loyal, constant, and steadfast, having a strong belief, true to the facts or the original.
Over the past few weeks, I have struggled with motivation in the quiet alone moments when out of exhaustion, grief, or brain fog it is easy to desire relief instead of perseverance. Escape may seem more appealing than faithfulness. I know this is not unique to me. Nor is it unique to college students. Neither is nursing school an excuse, for even still when it is over there will be new challenges. And in the moments when things do not "feel good" we must rely on what we know to be true - God's character, His promises, His Word, His righteousness, His holiness, His faithfulness.
Reading a book this past year from the late 1800's by a well known missionary made me think: even then she said that in writing letters home to her supporters she would share the highlights. She would write about 3 who accepted Christ as their savior, one who was baptized, the children she was able to meet with - and do not get me wrong, we should rejoice together and praise the Lord for these things! But this particular time, she wrote about each village, each family, not just the top five "successes" but the time after time their team was rejected, when the door was shut, when they were ignored, when the fathers would not allow her to meet with the children, and of the babies that were sold. She titles the book: Things as They Are. Like the praises, this is also a testimony of her faithfulness.
Watching a close friend of ours with a new little youngster, she has likewise been an example to me of faithfulness. Time and time again putting him to bed, disciplining, cleaning up spills for seventh time, when the balls again get poured across the living room, when parents once again eat a cold meal, there is no glory, no immediate accolades, no recognition, but this is faithfulness. Faithfulness is the unseen early mornings, the uncelebrated or maybe "boring" afternoons, the long evenings working or caring for an aging parent, or of preparation or studying - trusting in pursuit without sight or evidence of success. We joke about the weather here, that it changes constantly - and often that is also true of our emotions. One comment, one class period, one co-worker, one day, one red-light in traffic, or maybe it is many sleepless nights, many hospital visits, or many hurtful words. Even the disciples while walking with Christ were afraid, confused, called out for being faithless, tired, and doubting. If they struggled, how much more so I! {Mk 4:40, 52, 9:19, Mt 17:20, Lk 17:5} By the testimony of my friend Sarah who moved to her heavenly home this week, I am reminded of her faithfulness. She did not give up hope, but also did not waste a moment. In 7 years of battling cancer, whether in losing her hair three times or walking for over two years on crutches, spending months in the hospital or on isolation at home, Sarah exemplified courageous joy and unrelenting strength for so many who she did not even know were watching. I will not quickly forget sitting next to her my first day in ASL class, picking songs to sign together, practicing in class and back-stage, seeing her walk in with her crutches with the biggest smile, her determination to stay caught up in school, and her quickness to share with others how God was always good no matter what. This is faithfulness. Her faith in her Healer was constant, and now she is forever healed!
For "it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." 1 Corinthians 4:2
"Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart." Proverbs 3:3 Before Christ went to the cross, He address Peter {and the disciples} saying "Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” {Lk 22:31-32} "The righteous shall live by faith." {Rom 1:17, Habakkuk 2:4} Our faith does not rest on man's wisdom, but in God's power {1 Cor 2:5} and likewise, praise the Lord that his faithfulness, does not depend upon ours. {Rom 3:3-4, 2 Tim 2:13} "What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means!"
The pictures above represent stories from Korea, Japan, China, India, Burma, England, Ireland, Scotland, Romania, Russia, Ecuador, and the US ... of faithfulness across centuries, across nations, across youth and the aging, in prison, in heartache, in persecution, in ill heath, in war, in loneliness, in forgiveness, in love, and in passionate burdens. Stories of 6 years of teaching before having a single convert, burying 3 children and wife, caring for abandoned children and spending years on a translation. They are true stories; they are real people. And to these I add Sarah. But even greater than their stories is their GOD; He is a true Foundation, He is our ROCK. What potential do our lives have when we seek "faithfulness" and live "full of faith"? May this be our desire: in every stage of life to trust, to persevere, and to run well.
Well done, good and faithful servant
For Sarah, her journey is finished, and she has finished well! And in my eyes, this is success.
"Well done, good and faithful servant. ... Enter into the joy of your master." Matt 25:21, 23
https://journeywithsarah.wordpress.com/
I remember watching the green fields of rice grow more distant with watery eyes as the plane left Guyana over a year ago. I hoped - but did not expect to ever return to the country that opened my eyes in so many ways to seeing the body of Christ in another place and that challenged me to be ready always to give an answer for the hope that is in us. My trip to Guyana in January 2015 with Medical Missions Outreach was my very first missions trip, and to say that it opened my eyes would be an understatement. To be - for a short time - even a small part of what the Lord is doing there left a great impression on my mind. While I have had the opportunity to travel to a couple other countries since then, Guyana and MMO still held a special place in my heart. As we returned this summer to serve again with the Yankana family and Bible Baptist Church in Grove, it was a exciting to see how the church is continuing to minister. Below is video compiling some video clips from the week and pictures. Sunday, we enjoyed worshipping with Pastor Yankana and Bible Baptist Church. The children sang so enthusiastically in Sunday School and were a great blessing! So many of the church members were served so faithfully helping set up and tear down clinic, driving the buses throughout the week, and preparing meals. We were thankful to have the opportunity to serve alongside them.
During the week, I worked in the Lab. The clinics are set up with 1) Registration 2) Triage 3) Seeing a Provider 4) Lab if necessary and 5) Evangelism while the pharmacy fills prescriptions for each patient. We were also excited to have the Vision Clinic this year! With our reading charts and the auto-refractors their glasses were very popular among the patients. It is usually a great draw to the clinic. Lack of clear vision is a great detriment for many people especially who work with their hands, and many patients were excited to be able to read again. Some things the Lord has kept on my mind even as I returned home was the importance of being obedient to the Spirit - not because we feel adequate but because Christ wants a willing heart. Throughout the week, I can be fairly comfortable and even confident cleaning ears, taking blood pressure, and dressing wounds. Likewise, as Christians, we are to study to by approved unto God, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. In a society of political correctness to the point it is stifling, it is easy to slip into the mindset that our statements and remarks in public must be general, generic, and non-controversial or in other words remove all references to our God. While is usually profits little to debate, it is appropriate to give Him honor and praise! If we are not willing to speak of the hope that we have, who will? There are lots of other voices loudly proclaiming false hope; may we be bold to share the life we have been given! The Medical Clinic:Registration and Triage: Providing wound care and working in the Lab... These flyers and posters where made weeks before we came, to tell the community about the clinic! the whole team helps with preparing medications such as vitamins for children and adults when it rains, it pours! The providers: a team of doctors and nurses Sharing the Good News! The Vision Clinic:The People:Between playing cricket on the street, and climbing trees, these boys were excellent at the flips! The Communities:These are just a few of the Mandirs and Mosques we regularly passed, representing the Hindu and Islamic strongholds in the country. Georgetown:Food & Fun:Everything always tasted delicious: plantains, curry chicken, star fruit... but the sloth was definitely at the top our list of cool things!
"Rend your hearts and not your garments."... Joel 2:13 I have to admit, it has been a long time since I last read Joel. But since reading this short book last week, this one verse has replayed in my mind over and over... What does it mean to rend your heart - practically? It is contrasted to tearing your clothes which is often mentioned in Scripture as a sign of intense grief or anguish usually in response to a loved one's death or God's judgement on the nation of Israel. The book of Joel was likely written after the children of God returned from a time of exile in Babylon to the land of Israel. The people were then faced with a famine due to locusts and God calls His people to repent and return to the Lord, for in the Day of the Lord He will bring deliverance and judgement to the nations and bless His people with His Spirit. “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, In other verses it is compared to circumcision. This is an even more tangible, painful, obvious picture. It is sometimes easy for me to slip into thinking that repentance is only necessary for salvation, or perhaps, we only take time to cry out to the Lord after a special conference or camp, but it should be a regular part of our worship to the Lord. A question once asked by a pastor still rings in my mind, "When was the last time you cried over your sin?" This does not mean you have to cry to be sincere, but when is the last time we at least thought seriously about our sin? A Christian imprisoned for his faith once asked his wife to please not cry for him but cry only over sin. I am convicted to think how often we are desensitized to sin. For what are we ever truly remorseful? Or can we dismiss the memory of guilt by turning on the radio on the way home from work, can we sever the conscience enough with entertainment, can we accept profanity in the name of jest? We are created as new creatures and given a new love for our Savior, yet we cannot experience growth in our walk with Him and continue as lovers of the world living for the world's acceptance or approval. The two cannot coexist. To repent requires humility - which is definitely not a natural response. So do we truly love the Lord? enough to tear off the sin, enough to forsake it completely, enough to remove it from our life, enough to cut it out? I am afraid we are too often lovers of pleasure instead of daily examining our thoughts, reflecting on our attitudes, accepting responsibility for our actions, and choosing do what is right - as painful as it may be. And when {not "if"} temptation does rear its ugly head, flee! And when we fall into sin, repent! We must realize the pain Christ suffered for our sin and how it grieves his heart when we choose to continue to walk therein. ... What does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, The purpose of rending or tearing our hearts in humility before the Lord is to love Him more fully. It is an inward, heartfelt, intentional action that God desires and not a show of knowledge or appearance of fake sincerity. It is not visible for others to see, but is a beautiful sight in God's eyes. ... Circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. As nursing students.... we write patient care plans. During sophomore year these were terribly overwhelming and quickly became one of our least favorite tasks, not for their lack of value but for the great time investment required to make one. Now, they make much more sense, thankfully :) While many diagnoses are the same for many patients, each care plan is individualized. Each plan takes into account a patient's specific conditions, medications, limitations, and strengths. My patient may never see my care plan, but I am responsible to implement it. The patient's outcome is based on their compliance with the care and treatments provided. Ultimately, we cannot do anything as healthcare providers without what we call "informed consent" which can be revoked by the patient at any point. A good doctor will use all his resources available to provide the best care and prescribe accurately. The plan of care may include pain relief medications after surgery, ice to reduce swelling, while also prescribing physical therapy, infusions, or nauseating liquids before a scan. Some things are pleasant and others not so much, but all are necessary. The best care plan usually includes both. While sitting in chapel one day, I had a "light bulb" moment. I am definitely a visual learner, and object lessons are my favorite. All of the sudden, I thought "this is like God's plan for us!" He is always doing what is best for me, but I must choose to submit. I have to give my consent - put my life in the care of my Father and take one day at a time. I don't know all that his plan includes yet, but have to trust that everything is for my good and His glory. God's Care PlanToday we celebrate Easter, God's greatest plan - the salvation of His people! His power over death was seen in His resurrection from the grave. It is finished! Everyday, this same power is working in and through us for our sanctification. Here is the breakdown in a care plan format... it is just the way my brain is wired these days :) Assessment:
Diagnoses:
Planning the goal & expected outcomes: this is the ultimate purpose and just some of the things the Lord wants and wills for us! {Micah 6:8}
Interventions: As for God, His way is perfect {Ps 18:30}
Evaluation: May we run the race well!
Rationale & Source: God's Word
~ God has not changed; MY plans might, but He is still the same. His perspective make sense~
and this... is what it actually looks like most of the time when I write care plans... :) Here is a photo journal of sorts for my week in Honduras with Medical Mission Outreach. It was such a blessing to see how God is working there! The ministry of Team Honduras lead by missionaries Matt & Dallita Goins, Jon and Sarah Stammen, and Mark and Amy Coats in incredible. Their humility, dedication, and love for Jesus radiates in all that they do. Thank you for your prayers and support! Iglesia Bautista El FaroPreparing meds at the church before clinic starts! El Progresso, YoroThe Medical ClinicThe team's reaction when they saw the early morning line as we drove up for the first day of clinic! During the four days of clinic we treated 3,618 patients. For the first time, we ran out of so many medicines we had to close clinic a few hours early on the last day. The Lord blessed greatly and even brought the most patients on the rainy day! Over 70 members of Iglesia Bautista El Faro volunteering during the week serving as translators, patient guides, registration, and did the evangelism. Triage: takes blood pressures, pulses, chief complaint, and oxygen saturation. 10 Doctors and nurses served as providers; they send patients to our lab, diagnose, and prescribe. As I saw patients come through the clinic one after another, something struck me. So many did not appear to be sick; on the outside they were smiling, carrying their children, feeding a baby, and talking amongst themselves. Granted some had obvious wounds and bandages or limps and crutches, but at a glance most seem to be doing fine. I was convicted that this is often how I can view people around me. I can dismiss the urge to talk to someone, get distracted by my phone, forget about someone sitting beside me because they seem ok. No one is dying right? Sure, if there was an emergency I would help, but they're ok; or are they? Then, once the young and older patients sit down beside you and tell you about their chronic pain since an accident 5 years ago, or the problems since delivering her last child 36 years ago, or the injury at work 2 months ago, or the inability to eat for the sake of pain, or the sudden chest pain that will not go away anymore - the seemingly normal looking patient becomes complicated. Every person has a story. While we saw many of the same diagnoses, each life has it's unique struggles; we sometimes had to dig with our questions to find the root of the complications and untreated diseases. Many patients had parasites, and all were treated for parasites. The parasites are like sin and sneak in with contaminated water using all the food's nutrients and starving the body. They grow and must be rooted out. While we treated the illnesses we could, it was a constant reminder of their greatest need, Jesus Christ. This is why we do clinics - to give them real hope. But it is often only after someone knows that you care and are listening that we can introduce them to the Healer of their sins, the One who extends to us a gift of eternal life because of His payment for our sins. As I go home, I pray I will not miss opportunities God gives to introduce others to my Father. May we live redeeming the time, be sensitive to the Spirit, and be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is within us Members from the church sat down with each patient to pray for them, and explain the gospel. MMO is careful to make sure the patients hear it in their own language from someone they can follow up with afterward in the local church. This builds a foundation for relationships with new believers. We praise the Lord for 51 who accepted Christ! While the patients heard the gospel, the pharmacy prepares the prescriptions. Here is a video I pieced together, I am not a videographer! But it should at least give you an glimpse of the week and show what the clinic days are like :) The Vision ClinicSo many patients came for the vision clinic. Many of them receiving glasses for the first time. First: they read the eye charts on the wall and either wait on the doctor if they have cataracts or pterygiums or wait for the autorefractors. After receiving a prescription, the volunteers look for a pair of reading glasses or a close prescription from the donated glasses. It is a lengthy process and hard work, but many were very thankful to see clearly again! One little boy came having injured his eye a week prior to have the doctor find a metal shard in his eye. Instead of losing his sight in that eye, it is likely it will heal with the eye drops. Other AdventuresBesides working at the clinic, we were blessed to meet all the children at Hope of Honduras Children's Home. It is an incredible ministry with 18 children with contagious joy. The older kids were a huge help at the clinic too and several helped as translators. We enjoyed playing soccer, and jumping on the trampoline, and basketball with them. On the last day the whole team took a fieldtrip to the waterfall. It was absolutely breathtaking! So majestic and powerful. Some of the team went cave exploring and diving while some took the kids ziplining. It was great fun! Also pictured are a few of the exciting critters we met during the week :) As I flew home a beautiful array of clouds passed below. Fluffy peaks, wispy trails, golden crowns, and frosty shades of blue, and a hundred shades of white and pink as the sun reflected off a million suspended water droplets. It was a gorgeous sight and always changing with the wind the farther we flew. It is a sight we can never appreciate from the ground below. I thought of it like a picture of God's perspective. He sees an entire other side of our lives. He sees the beginning and the end. He sees the rain to come and the next sunrise. He holds blessings in store and is orchestrating tomorrow. Without going to Honduras, I would have never seen how He was working in the believers there, but God saw. He is working in Guyana, in the Middle East, in China, and so many places far from our limited sight. As I think about graduation and the future, I look up and just see clouds. From my perspective it is all still gray. I have hopes and dreams and do not want to waist any time in serving the Lord, but I wait on His direction and pray. I do not wait idly but trusting. I can trust Him who made all things, whose thoughts are above mine, whose ways are above the heavens.
Ps 37:5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and he shall bring it to pass. I was reminded this Sunday how thankful I am for my mom. She is so many things to me - including a voice of reason and common sense. But more than that I cannot think of my salvation, without remembering how she walked me through the plan of salvation and prayed for me to accept Christ at an early age in spite of my stubbornness. She and Dad also showed me what serving the Lord looks like. As I got older I looked forward to every Wednesday night, because it was my time to help mom get ready to teach the preschoolers. From the littlest things like fixing snacks to teaching, and puppets, and crafts, her love for the Lord and burden for the kids shone and still shines in my mind. Seeing her teach this children's class again brought back a wave of these memories. Mom told the story of the Red Sea parting to K4-5th graders. She might not have intended it for me, but the message came through loud and clear to my heart. She had the kids imagine what it would have been like to have brought 2 million people out in the wilderness following a cloud only to be led to the sea with Egyptians chasing you... crazy! It doesn't make any sense. Why would God do that? And as mom said, the Israelites had no other options. When facing the Red Sea, they couldn't turn back (it would have meant certain slavery or death) and there was no way of going around - they had to go through it. Granted, we may not be facing a literal body of water with our former slave owners within sight - but what are you afraid of? What is something you are battling? What decisions are hard right now? What deadline or bill is quickly approaching that is requiring you to trust God? This is a Red Sea. We can not go around it, avoid it, or give up; we must go through it. Likely the Israelites were confused about the future, concerned for their families, tired from utter exhaustion travelling and overworking as slaves, and afraid; they were even complaining for being there. I am ashamed how often this could describe my response.
So why where the Egyptians even chasing them? Pharaoh had already let the Israelites go. Yet, God who hardened Pharaoh's heart again because he wanted the Egyptians to see the glory of God.
WassailAlso in honor of mom and her recipes... This has newly become my current favorite holiday treat :) Yes, I know there are way too many modifiers in that sentence.
|
AuthorI will be the first to admit that I am not a writer, but have a sincere aspiration to articulate Truth with grace, in love, seasoned with salt. Here is a journal of sorts, or photo documentations of a journey - one currently around the world in Papua New Guinea working at the Kunai Health Center. Thanks for visiting and your support! Archives
May 2019
Categories
All
|