Archive

February 2020

Browsing

Nurse Irene

Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
John 13:34-35 (NIV)
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

1 John 3:18 (NIV)
18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Nurse Irene   

Years ago when I went into the hospital to give birth to my first and only child, I was blessed with not only a great physician, but an absolutely wonderful nurse. She was the most precious lady, with a very gentle and loving spirit. It was very evident that she loved her job and that she loved people.

After my baby was born, I had what some would refer to as “spinal headaches”.  The medical staff that attended to me prior to me having my C-section, did not inform me that I was supposed to lay flat for several hours after having an epidural, to avoid severe headaches. As a result I suffered for days with the worst headaches. I am telling you that these headaches were absolutely excruciating!  

Because my headaches were so severe, I was not dismissed from the hospital for five to six days after my baby was born.  I guess the doctor knew that I couldn’t possibly take care of my new little baby, when I was in so much discomfort.

He Soothes My Soul

Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT)
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Psalm 62
I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him.
Psalm 29:11 (NLT)
11 The Lord gives his people strength.  The Lord blesses them with peace.
Isaiah 26:3-4 (AMP)
“You will keep in [a]perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both [b]inclination and character],
Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].
“Trust [confidently] in the Lord forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner], For the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].
Psalm 63:3-5 (AMP)
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.
So will I bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My [a]soul [my life, my very self] is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises [to You] with joyful lips.

He Soothes My Soul

As I have grown older, I have developed a deeper and richer appreciation for my time alone with God.   He is truly my place of refuge.  Whether I spend fifteen minutes, or an hour with Him, I always leave better than I came. I can go to Him exhausted and stressed and somehow, I miraculously leave encouraged and refreshed.

I can go to Him confused about His will for my life, and though I may not receive an answer at that moment, being in His presence gives me a calm reassurance that His timing is perfect, and that He has not forgotten me.  I leave His throne with my inner thoughts more at peace than before we met.

There are days that I just don’t feel well physically.  On those days when I spend time with God, though I may still have to endure the pain that I am feeling, knowing that he will never leave or forsake me, gives me the strength to endure what I must endure for that day. Trusting that in His time, I will be healed.

He restores me.  He refreshes my soul.  He guides me, and He strengthens me. He protects me, and He heals my spirit when it is crushed from the toils of life.  He is my Waymaker.

I see my time alone with Him as a gift. The joy of sitting at the feet of my King far surpasses anything that this world has to offer me.  To study His word is to drink deep from a cup that quenches my spiritual thirst. To pray and to praise Him is to share my heart with Him.  In those moments I am connecting with the Creator of all, the only one who already knows before I ask.   He alone is worthy of my praise.

When I write to Him, it is the gift that I give to myself.  To be able to pour my heart out to Him on paper helps me to relinquish my burdens to someone that I know I can trust.  I know that beyond a shadow of a doubt, He will still love me unconditionally, even though He knows all of my weaknesses and frailties.  I must say that this is truly amazing to me.   I trust God because He knows me like no other, and yet He has never refused me, His love.

He is solid and I can depend on Him. He is always there for me.

There are days when I just want to spend the day sitting at His feet, but when the cares of this cruel world call and I must get up and go, but boy is my journey made better, and my burdens made lighter because of the time that I spent with Him.

Ladies, if your day is spent rushed and hurried from one thing to the next, take a moment and breathe, and just sit at His feet for a few minutes. He is a Soul Soother.  He will calm your anxieties and quiet the noise in your life, and give you a dose of inner peace.  He will also redirect your priorities if they need to be shifted, and He will help you gain a better perspective on what is really important for your life.  I challenge you to try this, it has worked for me for the past forty-four years, and I know personally that because of it, I have been strengthened.

May God bless you as you seek His face each day.   May you bask in His love and comfort as he restores and refreshes your soul.  And may you trust, that whatever He allows coming into your life is designed to make you stronger and to draw you close to His throne.

Psalm 46:10 (AMP)
10 “Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 32:8 (AMP)
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with My eye upon you.
Psalm 91:1 (AMP)
91 He who [a]dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand].

Performing At A Level Of Excellence

Performing At A Level Of Excellence

Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV)
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

Proverbs 16:3 Ne (NIV)
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

Last Sunday my husband and I went to church and enjoyed a great worship service.   Afterward, we went out to one of our favorite restaurants and enjoyed a great meal.  Walking back to our car,  I remember thinking Wow!, what a beautiful day we were having!  Life is good!

When we got home, my day immediately took a turn.  While scrolling through Facebook I read that Legendary Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others were tragically killed when a helicopter he was traveling in crashed.  I had feelings of disbelief and shock as did the rest of the world.  I shed tears for Kobe’s wife and daughters and for the family members of the others that accompanied him on his flight. 

The day that was so beautiful as I walked out of the restaurant, was still the same beautiful day, but boy had the circumstances shifted drastically.   Sadness had clouded its beauty.   I spent the rest of the day, needless to say, watching sports channels and the news as many did, I am sure.