NCFI Cares: Be Ordinary

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Recently, a leader of a missionary organization affiliated with my church gave an update. During his speech he said, “God has enough people doing the spectacular. He needs more people doing the ordinary.” The truth of his words stuck with me. For even in nursing there are the spectacular that we strive for in comparison to the ordinary. I see the spectacular in nursing as being big, bold and noticeable; whereas the ordinary in nursing is the small, quiet, and unseen. I hesitate to give nursing examples, for what may be big and bold for me, may be different from another nurse’s big and bold.

Jesus provides an excellent example of ordinary work with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-26). Jesus stops to rest from his travels and relieve his thirst and chats with a woman, isolated and rejected by society. Well, we know the rest of the story, for through Jesus’ ordinary act of drinking water and talking to woman, an entire town meets the long-awaited Messiah.

As we look through the Gospels we see that the majority of Jesus’ teachings and actions, were ordinary conversations with one-on-one moments with individuals or small groups. Yes, he fed and taught large crowds. And yes, his torture and crucifixion was witnessed by hundreds. Yet, he taught his disciples to pray, he healed individuals and post-resurrection he appeared to a few men and women.

Look for opportunities in nursing to be ordinary, so that the Holy Spirit can do the extraordinary and the Lord receives the glory (Matthew 6:4,6; 1 Corinthians 10:30)

 

 

“Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering and persist in prayer”. Romans 12:12

“Everything starts from prayer” by Mother Teresa

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“Everything starts from prayer.

Without asking God for love,

we cannot possess love and still

less are we able to give it to others.

Just as people today are speaking

so much about the poor,

we too cannot talk so much

about prayer and yet not know how to pray.”

The Joy in Loving: A guide to daily living by Mother Teresa (1996) p. 43

Consider Him

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Be encourage by this wonderful poem–author anonymous.

When the storm is raging high,notforsaken
When the tempest rends the sky,
When my eyes with tears are dim,
Then, my soul, consider HIM.

When my plans are in the dust,
When my dearest hopes are crushed,
When is passed each foolish whim,
Then, my soul, consider HIM.
When with dearest friends I part,
When deep sorrow fills my heart,
When pain racks each weary limb,
Then, my soul, consider HIM.
When I track my weary way,
When fresh trials come each day,
When my faith and hope are dim,
Then, my soul, consider HIM.
Clouds or sunshine, dark or bright,
Evening shades or morning light,
When my cup flows o’er the brim,
Then, my soul, consider HIM.
–Author unknown

 

NCFI Cares: Easter Blessing for You

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My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I feel compelled this Easter to send each of you an Easter blessing! What better way then an amazing video/song entitled “Easter Song” by Keith Green, 1977. The song’s tempo, lyrics and meaning will have you dancing in worship like David!

Easter Song with lyrics

Keith Green live singing Easter Song

Here are the lyrics, if you are unable to view the video and/or hear the song:

Hear the bells ringing
They’re singing that you can be born again
Hear the bells ringing
They’re singing Christ is risen from the dead

The angel up on the tombstone
Said He has risen, just as He said
Quickly now, go tell his disciples
That Jesus Christ is no longer dead

Joy to the word, He has risen, hallelujah
He’s risen, hallelujah
He’s risen, hallelujah

Hear the bells ringing
They’re singing that you can be healed right now
Hear the bells ringing, they’re singing
Christ, He will reveal it now

The angels, they all surround us
And they are ministering Jesus’ power
Quickly now, reach out and receive it
For this could be your glorious hour

Joy to the world, He has risen, hallelujah
He’s risen, hallelujah
He’s risen, hallelujah, hallelujah

The angel up on the tombstone
Said He has risen, just as He said
Quickly now, go tell his disciples
That Jesus Christ is no longer dead

Joy to the world, He has risen, hallelujah
He’s risen, hallelujah
He’s risen, hallelujah
Hallelujah

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Christian Nursing 101: Nurses of Integrity

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Integrity is an important value or attribute as a professional nurse and as a Christ follower. Yet, we may struggle to define integrity or put our finger on what a person with integrity says or does. Honesty, trustworthiness, moral uprightness are few words used by dictionaries. Even though we may struggle to describe a person with integrity, we definitely know it when we see it lacking in a person.  “So and so (speaking of individual) doesn’t act with integrity.”

I encourage you to read the article in Journal of Christian Nursing and let me know what you think. Also, I would enjoy seeing your comments on my definition:

 “Christian integrity is a heart or spiritual condition congruent with God’s character and statutes that is expressed by actions and attitudes forged through the continuous molding of the Holy Spirit through our daily times of devotion.”

How would you define Christian integrity?

CARES book review

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“Every day we have a devotional time in our chapel. And I am often the one who preaches God’s message to my fellow nursing students and to my clinical instructors! I select a story from thisBook. I share it with my fellow colleagues and together we reflect on God’s message, on what he wants us to be. The book contains many short exhortations, comforting and instructive words, to help us lead lives that reflect the love of Christ. There are encouragements to strengthen and words to challenge us. I have discovered more about Christ through Prof. Carrie and her Book. My Spiritual wellbeing changed when I started to read it everyday. I have already finished reading the book from the first page until the last page. But I still read the first page again because God said “I am the
Alpha and Omega – The beginning and the end”. For me that means I want to read the book again from the first page because God’s word doesn’t end in the last page or after you read the whole book, It’s unending. I thank the Nurses Christian Fellowship International for The CARES book and Prof. Carrie Dameron for writing it!”

by RENNARD CHRISTIAN J. DE PERIO, NCF PHILIPPINES

CNI Magazine March 2017

Thank you Rennard for the wonderful review.

Download the Christian Nurse International by NCFI for the full review, as well as nursing articles written by our global colleagues.

NCFI Cares: Proceed with Caution

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“My Father is working ucautionntil now, and I am working.” (John 5:17) This was Jesus’ response to the Jewish leaders who had accused him of violating the Sabbath by healing a lame man.  Jesus repeatedly came up against the religious establishment for doing things in contrast to their rules–healing the blind, touching the unclean, and teaching the people.  We can find ourselves in similar situations as Jesus. Especially, when the work of the Lord is in contrast to health care and/or educational institutions rules.  We may find ourselves coming up against the leadership.

For example: a group of Christian nurses want to meet weekly to pray, but the hospital administrators refuse to give them permission to use a room. What can the nurses do?

  • Pray for the situation and the administrators while trusting the Lord to provide.
  • Listen to the Holy Spirit who knows the work of the Father and the “will be done”
  • Proceed with a heart filled with the grace and peace of Christ, knowing we represent Jesus to our colleagues and leaders.

This is just one example of when our Heavenly Father’s work is in contrast to the goals and plans of our health care and/or educational facilities. When these occasions arise we need an extra dose of discernment and guidance. Please recognize, this is not a call to be rebellious for rebellious sake. Instead, it is a reminder when conflict arises to proceed cautiously and discern the good, acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2).

NCFI Cares: The Test from upon High

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I wanted to share this guest devotion from my colleague in Argentina who provides godly wisdom during times of testing by the Lord. It is not only relevant. The timing of the devotion also demonstrates how the Lord impresses upon different members of the body of Christ to teach and encourage others during such a time as this. Peace of Christ to you, Carrie77ba6-ncficares_3bloglogoJames 1:12 “Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has proven to be genuine, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him.” Reading: James 1:12-18.

My friend listened silently, as the doctor gave a diagnosis, treatments, and a long list of explanations. The doctor, noticing my friend’s quietness, stopped and asked her, “Why are you not asking questions?” She replied, “I stopped listening when you said that my small son has Diabetes.”

A simple sentence “Your son has Diabetes.” is difficult for a mother to hear. As believers we ask the question, “How does God allow these things to happen?” The Word says, “Blessed is the man.” But, can you be happy for someone who receives this diagnosis? Is it a punishment or a test? It is common that we have a mistaken concept of what the word means by “test”. And it is common that we have a wrong concept of what means the word “proved”.

Abraham had a similar experience, yet more profound. After many years God gave him a son, whom then God asked Abraham to sacrifice (Genesis 22:9-12). How is it that we are before God a “friend” of ours delights in our suffering (James 2:23)? Often we have read that God not only proves us, but allows the test. But whom does God prove? God tests those he loves. Those who are his friends. Difficult as it is to understand, with the criteria of this world, but those of us who know God as our Creator we know that God is molding us.  Since he has given us form, it is possible that it hurts us, a tear never escapes from us. God is never going to leave us alone in the tests. Instead, he is gives us the assurance in his Word that will not just prove us beyond what we could expect.

The tests that come from upon High extracts qualities of light that God has been sowing in our heart: obedience, faith, humility, patience, and total dependence. If you have decided to serve the Lord prepare yourself for the test. Say to the Lord, “Here I am.” And in times of adversity you will be able to reach Peace.

Guest devotion by Martha Fernandez Moyano, Argentina, NCFI International Board Member