Energy Therapies in Christian Nursing? Part 2

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Second in this series of articles exploring Energy Therapies and their role in Christian Nursing, Part 2 provides scripture and resources guide our knowledge. With wisdom from scripture, as well as solid Christian medical resources we can discern whether or not Energy Therapies have a place in Christian nursing. The article can also serve as a discussion point with nurses, students, and even Christians on Energy Therapies. I would like to hear from YOU!
–What is or has been your experience(s) with energy therapies? 
Check out the article in the Journal of Christian Nursing: Christian Nursing 101

NCFI Cares: A Red Letter Moment

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Psalm 91:14 The Lord says,
“Because he is devoted to me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because
he is loyal (know) to me.

In previous
sections of Psalm 91 the teacher or psalmist instructed and encouraged us using
his teaching points. Our lesson plan included comparing the protection of the
Lord to a mother bird and the Lord’s security to a fortress. We were recently
reminded that the Lord will even send his angels to our aid. Now at verse 14,
we see a change in the narration with the use of “I” or the phrase “Lord says”.
It is as if our teacher has stepped aside to invite the Lord to continue our
lesson. And like a classroom filled with restless students that suddenly quiet
when the principal walks in, the reader is beckoned to pay attention.

            This sudden
introduction of the Master and Scholar has personally come to emphasize our lesson.
Like the red letter print used to signify the words of Jesus in the New
Testament, these are the words of Yahweh. As students, our teaching lesson has
changed from a group discourse to an intimate moment from the One who reaches
out to us individually in love and patience to emphasize his truth. A quick
reader can miss this interruption. So let’s take time and wait to see what our
Master has to say. 

Blessings

NCFI Cares: Strengthened by Angels

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Psalm 91:11-13 For he will order his angels to protect you in all you do. They will lift you up in their hands, so you will not slip and fall on a stone. You will subdue a lion and a snake; you will trample underfoot a young lion and a serpent.

            We have explored the many dangers we can experience and the Lord’s promise of protection and strength. One way the Lord miraculously can choose to intervene with us is through angels. The foremost witness of the work of the angels is seen in the life and ministry of Jesus. From conception, through childhood, emerging during his temptation and then reappearing during his suffering and resurrection we see angels appearing in Jesus’ life to assist in the unfolding plan of God. The Lord also sent angels to assist Peter in prison in Acts 12:7-10, protect Paul during his ship wreck in Acts 27:23 and to guide Cornelius to salvation in Acts 10:7.

            As believers, the Lord can send angels to protect, strengthen and guide us (Hebrews 1:14). Our faith rests securely in the Lord God Almighty who governs all created beings in heaven and earth. And intimately sends heavenly beings to encourage our journey.

            At times we may be tempted to inquire about “Did angels do this?” or “Was that a miracle?” Our response to the Lord’s hand in our lives is to praise and thank him while leaving the details up to him (Revelation 22:7-8). 

NCFI Cares: My Shelter, the Sovereign One

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Psalm 91:9-10 For you have taken refuge in the Lord, my shelter, the sovereign One. No
harm will overtake you; no illness will come near your home.

 Our testimony is more than a way to bring the lost into the saving grace of Christ.
It is also more than our “salvation” story. It is a constantly changing
expression of how the Lord is working in our lives. Our testimony is a continuous
narrative of our faith journey filled with valleys of sadness and peaks of joys.
These times can be Godly intercessions for us personally and professionally,
and may also include family, colleagues and/or patients. Whether our family is
protected from an accident, our patients are healed from an illness and/or a
colleague finds cancer in the early stages. The Lord’s will intersecting in our
day-to-day events is opportunities to share. When we tell others the mighty
deeds of the Almighty we build up their faith and encourage their spiritual
growth (Psalm 145:4; 1 Cor. 1:4).
I encourage you to take time and reflect on a recent time the Lord has strengthened and/or encouraged you as a Christian nurse. Pray for the opportunity to share with a colleague how
“my shelter, the Sovereign One” worked in your nursing practice. Like the
writer of the 91st Psalm, we can use our life journey of living in
the refuge of the Lord as a teaching tool for our patients and colleagues.        

Hipster Christianity

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I am book worm! I love to read and I go to the public library and peruse the books. One book I had to get was “Hipster Christianity”. I had no idea what I was getting into, but I do enjoy reading about faith, society and what is going on. Besides, my public library had the book–surprise #1 and they had it on a center display for “summer reading”–surprise #2. I am trying to drive “interest” for my public library to choose books.
I recommend finding this book if you are curious about what is happening to the Christian church in America. This is a big burning question, especially if you attend a non-denominational church. Brett McCracken teaches about the history and advent of hipster. I had never even thought about it before and then brings us to the 21st Century. Brett really delves into the impact culture has had and continues to have on the American Christian Church, which includes you and me.
I have written articles on postmodernism impact to Christian nursing and Brett dives into how this phenomenon is shaping our faith. He discusses worship, sermons, biblical knowledge, church history, service and others. Read the book, learn about what is happening and then pray for ourselves and one another. For no matter what church we attend, all of us need a solid ground in the world.
Video

Passion and Purpose in Ministry Video

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About 2 years ago I taught a workshop at a Christian Writers Conference entitled “Passion & Purpose in Ministry” It encouraged and guided Christians in exploring their passion and purpose in ministry.  Check out the video!

NCFI Cares: Protecting Our Redemption

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Psalm 91:7-8 Though a thousand may fall
beside you, and a multitude on your right side, it will not
reach you. Certainly you will
see it with your very own eyes –you will see the wicked paid back.
The Psalmist continues
his description of the immeasurable protection of our Magnificent Lord. The use
of “thousand, ten thousand or multitude” implies an infinite number of ways the
Lord intercedes for us. Our greatest danger is from Satan, who prowls around
seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Our salvation and faithfulness is of
supreme importance to the Lord. In Luke 22:31-32, Jesus prays specifically for
Peter to return to his faith after being sifted like wheat. Also, in John
17:15, Jesus prays to the Father to keep the disciples and us from the evil
one.
Working in tandem with the evil of Satan is the Lord’s judgment. How this
occurs is more than we can fathom; for God’s judgments and conduct is beyond
our understanding (Romans 11:33-34/Isaiah 55:9). It also is part of the
redemptive plan (Revelation).
W.A. VanGermeren, Professor of Old Testament writes, “Seeing God’s salvation
with the eye of faith will further encourage the godly, whom the Lord has
promised his protection and blessing. The godly will witness the righteousness,
justice, and fidelity of the Lord as well as the punishment of the wicked. No
power in heaven or earth is greater than that of Yahweh, the Divine
Warrior!” 
So in the middle of a song of praise and protection, we are
encouraged that redemption from the Lord is faithful to secure us while
condemning the wicked.

Update…Our Faithful Journey In Nursing

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Our Faithful Journey in Nursing: A teaching on Faith, Compassion, Prayer and Excellence in Christian Nursing is available as an eBook at Amazon/Kindle for $1.99 USD. Also available via international markets.

This book truly has a God story!
It started as a 4 articles with bible studies published in a Norwegian nursing journal…then compiled into one book with globish revisions…distributed by Tove to Sierra Leone nurses. Now published as an eBook…and now distributing hard copies to Denmark for nursing/medical students.
Don’t you love it when God is amazing!
Wow! If it could earn mileage then it would have a free trip somewhere–LOL
stay tuned…

NCFI Cares: 24/7 Protection

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91:5-6 “You need not fear the terrors
of the night, the arrow that flies by day, the plague that comes in the
darkness,or the disease that comes at noon.”

            We have
been discovering strength found in the Lord’s names, Most High and Almighty. We
also have seen how the Lord demonstrates security as a fortress, rescuer and as
our wise guardian. Our verses this week reveal what the Lord protects us from.
The goal in delving into these verses is not to be specific and think of only
plagues or disease as part of our protection. The psalmist used symbolic
language to define the vastness of dread and destruction that can come into our
lives. The writer understood that we live on a planet with chaos and death. We
are helpless against dangerous volcanoes, vicious earthquakes, and damaging
tsunamis. We share communities with evil men and women who purposefully cause
us pain and suffering. And these are just a few of the terrors and dread that
encompasses our life.

            Yet…and
thankfully, yet we have the Lord’s 24/7 protection with an eternal, around the
clock vigilance. While reading these specific phrases “terrors of night”,
“diseases at noon” we see the magnitude of protection in the seen and unseen,
the natural and unnatural. A reminder of God’s care is found in Exodus.  Where we see the Lord use extraordinary
measures to protect and guide the Israelites through much fear and calamity; their testimony encourages our faith and trust. 

 

NCFI Cares: Rest in Truth

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Psalm 91:4 “He will shelter you with his wings; you will find safety under his wings. His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall.”

          Have you ever seen an adult bird tuck a baby bird under
their wings? The adult bird has the strength of being larger and mature; has
acquired life-learning wisdom; and is alert to the surrounding dangers. The
baby chick rests securely, for it is weak and vulnerable depending on its
parent for sustenance, and has no knowledge of anything beyond the warmth and
security of the parent. I always think that is true protection.

            In the
simple, yet intimate life of a bird, we are given another source of God’s
protection—his faithfulness. Some bibles use “truth” meaning stability,
firmness and reliability.  At first we
may be confused to think that the word “truth” is interchangeable with the word
“faithfulness.” Yet, isn’t that where the strength and security of our Lord
comes from, is truth. The divine instruction of the Bible and the authenticity
of Jesus Christ are truth and define the faithfulness of God.

            Romans 3:3
reminds us of the indescribable law at work with God’s faithfulness—it isn’t
dependent upon the believer. For whether we believe or not, God’s faithfulness
does not change. We are to be the baby bird. The difference for us is how we
rest…are we secure and content like a baby bird under its mother’s wings? Or
are we panicking constantly peeking between the feathers to make sure all is
okay?