Month: January 2015

Christian Nursing 101: Chaos at Work?

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The topic of spiritual warfare had been stirring around in my mind and spirit for quite awhile, for I was unsure how to approach such an important Christian teaching.  Then when nursing and healthcare headlines filled with bullying, violence, and incivility, the perfect backdrop to discuss Spiritual Warfare in Christian nursing presented itself (thank you Lord).

The article “Chaos at Work?” in January/March 2015 issue of JCN gives a brief snapshot of Satan’s plan in our work eStrategy of Satan pixenvironment. My hope was to bring the topic to the forefront of our mind and spirit, so that as Christian nurses we can explore this additional perspective of the health care environment.

Resources/Citations used for the article

The Strategy of Satan: How to Detect and Defeat Him by Warren W. Wiersbe–classic book with biblical approach to Satan.

 

Satanology/Demonology–an in-depth discussion with relevant doctrine into Satan/Demons.

Stay tune for April, 2015….Standing Firm with Prayer! Where I discuss how to respond to the swirling work chaos!

As always I would love to hear from you. Either share your story in the comments or send me an email carrie@carriedameron.com.

NCFI Cares: A Personal Drought

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Personal Drought

In the last devotion, we discussed sprinkling our drought ridden communities with the love of Christ. Even though we naturally think of non-Christians needing a sprinkle, Christians can experience times of drought as well. These are seasons in our faith-walk when we may lack the zeal or passion for ministry. We may feel or sense a depletion of the Holy Spirit’s strength in our life. Maybe we are plagued with doubts or fear; feel alone or abandoned by the Lord; or just apathetic about our ministry or relationship with Jesus.

“How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I have anguish in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day?”

These are the words of David from Psalm 13. We don’t know what was happening in David’s life when he poured out the barrenness of his soul. But, we are encouraged knowing that many mighty men and women of God experience personal droughts.

Does your faith feel dry and cracked? Is your relationship with the Lord empty and barren? If you are currently experiencing a personal drought, much like a dry season of the soul—then take comfort in knowing you are not alone. Many Christians have and are currently needing their own sprinkle.

Grace & Peace

p.s. In the next devotion we will look at how David responded to his spiritual drought.

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PRAYER WORKS! Acrostic for integrating prayer into nursing

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In the Christian Nursing 101 article Stand Firm with Prayer, we explore how authentic open communication with the Lord guides our response to our chaotic workplace.  Look for the article in Journal of Christian Nursing in April/June 2015.

In the meantime, check out creative ways to implement prayer into our daily nursing using the fun acrostic PRAYER WORKS.

P is for Presence—bring the presence of God to your daily work by offering spontaneous requests and thanks throughout the day. This is a form of living prayer.

1 Thess 5:17: pray always 1 Cor. 14:15: What should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praises with my spirit, but I will also sing praises with my mind. Gal 5:25: If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit.

R is for Request—ask specifically for God’s insight. Whether it is a complicated patient, coworker, or a difficult situation—ask God for his eyes, heart and wisdom; then pray and act with His wisdom.

Romans 8:26-27: The same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will.

A is for Alert—be alert for opportunities to pray; colleague is worried about her marriage, friend shares their stress about their children—stop and pray with them.

Ephesians 6:18: With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints

Y is for Yield—yield to how God will use you through prayer. God will soften your heart for His will as he brings people and incidences to your mind. Be open to those who need prayer or a caring touch/word. Pray for them and then pray for them again, when you think of them.

1 John 2:5-6: But whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him. The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.

E is for Earnest—be earnest in your prayers. Commit to praying weekly for your institution and unit; or daily for pressing matters.

Luke 11:9-10: So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Romans 12:12: Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer.

R is for Record—keep a prayer/praise list is a great way to remember and reflect on how the Lord is working your life.

Psalms 143:5: I recall the old days; I meditate on all you have done; I reflect on your accomplishment

W is for Word—use scripture in your prayers. The Psalms and the New Testament contain wonderful insight into how the word applies to our lives.

Psalm 119;18: Open  my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in your law! Verse 24: Yes, I find delight in your rules; they give me guidance. Verse 27: Help me to understand what your precepts mean! Then I can meditate on your marvelous teachings.

O is for Others—include your colleagues, managers, students, and prayer. Create a list and commit to pray for them daily.

Luke 6:28: pray for those who mistreat you.  Colossians 1:9; For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you… Ephesians 3:14: For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on the earth is named. I pray that…

R is for Rejoice—gratitude and praise can be interwoven into our prayers and life. Be spontaneous with your praise and thanksgiving being reminded of Who continues to remain faithful and provide for us.

Phi 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice! Psalm 69:30: I will sing praises to God’s name! I will magnify him as I give him thanks!

K is for Kingdom—we are part of the larger body of Christ and the work of God, so prayer for Christian nurses and health care providers locally, nationally and internationally.

Ephesians 6:18: pray for all saints. John 17:20: Jesus says, “I am not praying only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who believe in me…”

S is for Sensitivity—when seeking to pray for patients be sensitive and complete a spiritual assessment, which includes finding out if Christian prayer is part of their spiritual life.

1 John 4: God is love and his love is in us thus, love our neighbors and love other Christians (paraphrased) 

NCFI Cares: Just A Sprinkle

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I New sproutslive in a part of the United States where there is a distinct difference between the “dry” and “wet” seasons. This is especially true since the past few years have been exceptionally dry and has left my neighboring hills and fields with the barren tundra of cracked dirt and parched grasses.  Thus, when those first drops of rain sprinkled across our thirsty landscape bringing just enough moisture to wet the pavement, the hard dirt gave way to small shoots of grass straining to find the sun. This small amount of moisture awoke the grasses in anticipation of nutrients and growth.

I couldn’t help but make the parallel to the human soul or spirit. Like the drought ridden dirt blown away and grasses with withering roots, a soul and heart can be barren without the nutrients of Christ. Whether it is a blade of grass or a dry soul, a drop is all that is needed to awaken the soul to spring forth in anticipation of the nutrients of a renewed soul.

Many times in the evangelical world we think that a non-Christian heart needs a bucket or river of water to bring growth, not necessarily. All life sprouts anew in response to a sprinkle of water. Imagine the greater miracle when the moisture is the living water of Christ (John 4:14; Rev. 7:17; 22:1).  Don’t worry about bringing the bucket or river of salvation. Just sprinkle God’s love to our drought-ridden communities and watch the fruit of the Spirit bloom!

1 Cor. 3:6 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow.”

Blessings for 2015

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