ç'est la vie RN

Tag: faith

  • Time flies when you’re having fun

    Time flies when you’re having fun

    Do y’all believe it’s June already?!? The kids are out of school, probably already eating everything in sight and driving up light bills. June 1st was the official start of hurricane season. Temps are already blazing on the gulf coast; Only Lord knows how this is about to play out. I can’t believe it’s almost summer. As far as I’m concerned, we’re a wink from the 4th of July.

    This past weekend I was in San Antonio for the Texas Nurses Association conference. May I just share, there is a caliber of nurses whose calling is simply to inspire other nurses (thank you Rebecca Love and Kellie Bryant). Nurses in general, especially those at the bedside, typically focus on the art of nursing. There is so much more to our profession that makes it complex; For starters, being a huge entity of what sometimes feel like a circus in our healthcare landscape. The challenge is to bring more nursing voices to the places that are not the bedside but ultimately affect what happens at the bedside. This means getting more of us involved in policy (at all levels), in civic/non-profit boards, and becoming elected officials.

    There is also inspiration that comes from non-nurses at these conferences (Sarah DiGregorio). These are probably my most favorite speakers, because they remind me of how the depth of nursing is embedded in everyday life. Every single person will ALWAYS encounter a nurse for multiple occasions throughout their lifetime. I believe I previously shared that there is something I have simmering on a back burner. Sometimes it is difficult to know what we should or should not pursue. In this season of my life, I am being very intentional about asking God to order my steps and send me confirmation if I am moving in the right direction. I received that confirmation during the conference [more than once]. I am learning to trust the journey to the destination. Many times the Lord will show us the destination, keeping the intricate details to Himself. The journey, which can sometimes be treacherous, prepares us for the destination, and if we know the details of the journey, we may possibly opt-out [as God gives us free will]. This will only result in delaying or missing out on our blessing. Are you on a journey requiring you to exercise your faith muscle?

    Stop trying to control the process.

    Submit yourself to the Lord.

    Watch Him bring it all together.

    And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28

  • In the midst of a storm, He’s there

    In the midst of a storm, He’s there

    I was watching footage on the Weather Channel from the tornado in Iowa. There was a video clip of a woman. She was holding her baby in her friend’s basement when the stairs began to collapse on them. She said it was the only time she had ever prayed. She only spoke “Dear Lord”, then it was over.

    I am a strong believer that prophetic words and events often occur so we can receive the message at a time when it is most needed. This past Sunday we reviewed the passages in Mark 6 (45-52) where Jesus walks on water. Dr. Evans opened his teaching with an analogy (he’s good at these). He said a soaked sponge under pressure [when squeezed] will reveal what is on the inside, and sometimes God intentionally allows or causes pressure [trials] in our lives to grow us spiritually and build our faith. Just an observation right quick based on this analogy…if someone doesn’t have a relationship with the Lord but call on Him during their trial, He has to inhabit a space within them for His name to be the first they call when under pressure.

    A couple of things that stood out to me regarding those verses:

    • You can be obedient, operating under the will of God AND still be in a trial – Jesus instructed the disciples to cross the sea. They became stuck in the middle, fighting against the winds.
    • No matter the time, day or night, He sees us in our struggles – Jesus was watching them
    • The Lord can present Himself in unexpected ways. If you limit Him, you may miss Him – The disciples were terrified when they saw Jesus walking on water. They thought He was a ghost.

    I think I was in my late 30’s when I heard someone say that if you continue to experience the exact same trials over and over again, it’s because you’re not learning the lesson God is trying to teach you. My ultimate takeaway is we should be able to absorb God, know what He can do, and stand on that knowledge during our trials so that evidence of Him comes pouring out of us. No matter where you are in life and what you are facing, I pray you take a moment to remember when God clearly revealed Himself in the workings of your life. Bring this to the forefront during your next storm and remember the Lord walks on water!

    …But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” – Mark 6:50 NLT

  • Victory is mine…Maybe?

    Victory is mine…Maybe?

    Dr. Tony Evans has been doing a series called Unbound: Releasing God’s (blank). This morning, the blank was victory. The scripture was 2 Kings 13:15-19. King Joash went to see the prophet Elisha to request divine intervention for victory over Aram. We see in the scripture a transference of power when the prophet places his hands on the king’s hand, sanctifying that first arrow. After, the prophet instructs the king to strike arrows to the ground. The king only struck 3 times. This act would stifle the power of the king’s victory.

    A few things I noted about this sermon:

    • God will place His hand on our problem AFTER we have placed ours, and He sees we have taken responsibility.
    • God will do as much as we are willing to do. We can limit God in our lives…not His abilities, but His decision.
    • How far we are willing to go on on our own before God steps in requires 2 things: trust and obedience.

    I have been reflecting on this word, asking myself if I have truly been “all in” for my work in the things that I seek to claim victory over. How about you? Are you waiting on the Lord for something, only to now understand He is likely waiting on you or only delivering based on the effort you put forth? Do you have full trust in God? Proverbs 3:5 calls for us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not to our own understanding. Have you been disobedient? Growing up, I only considered my actions disobedient when they included some form of outward disrespect. Truth is, when a parent tells their child to go wash up for dinner, and they continue to play on the video game or watch Tik Tok, that is disobedience. What has God called or commanded you to do that you have not fully yielded to? As much as I hate to think I’m the affliction of my own desires, in some areas of my life, I know it to be true. As we head into a new week, I encourage you to obey the Lord and place all your trust in Him, actively living it out, knowing His promises are true.