I just realized that it has been several months since I have posted anything on my blog. The picture above is on the day of my hard earned nursing graduation. I love this picture cause we both look so happy! Nursing is a profession that is perceived as kind and caring but a few days ago at the nursing home to my surprise my job became that of a"bouncer." Another nurse and I were responsible for breaking up fight between two elderly gentlemen with dementia. So my journeys as a nurse begins.

Scripture to ponder

Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven."

Luke 18: 18-27
A ruler questioned Jesus, saying "Good teacher, what shall we do to inherit eternal life? "And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments ' Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour you father and mother.'" And he said, "All these things I have kept from my youth" When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come follow me." But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. And Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. They who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" But he said, "The things that are impossible with people are possible with God."

God is so good to me!

Thankfulness... definitely a WORD of the day ( as word bird would say it on Sesame Street) or week. The Lord has been impressing on my heart this very word. It is my heart's desire to become a woman of thankfulness... there is so very much to be thankful for. Number one is my relationship with Jesus Christ.

Let me encourage you with some scripture from Colossians.
Colossians 2: 6-7
"Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, so walk in him, having been firmly established in your faith just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude."

Colossians 3:16
"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

After reading these scriptures it just makes me realize that Christ allows us to be overflowing with gratitude. Gratitude brings forth joy. Some of the things that I am grateful for are my husband, nursing education, clothes, many friends, family, joy, God's word, my sponsored child, etc, etc. God is so good to me!

The sick need a physician... the Great Physician

These past few weeks have been relatively busy with at least 8hr days and sometimes 10 or more. I am doing my surgery clinical right now and Darren is doing snow removal. So when you walk into our cozy 1 bedroom basement suite it reflects that of the movie home alone... laundry unfolded... dishes waiting to be washed... unsorted scrap paper... unvaccumed floors... ETC, ETC. And frankly I don't really care right now... we'll deal with that as needed. And well for supper some nights we have Cheerios. I am definitely looking forward to being finished this clinical, after this one its only two more to go until THE END.
Even in the busy times there is teaching to be learned especially spiritual teaching. Nursing has really opened up my eyes to see the character of God as a healer. There are so many portions of scripture where our Lord is described as the great physician. As I look at the patients with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, pneumonia, fractured bones, etc, etc I really see God's love for them and his desire to heal these people physically but more importantly spiritually. We live in a world with so many people who are sick and are in need of the great physician. Hopefully the people I work with, the patients and other people I encounter will witness the power of Christ in me. My goal in life is to draw people to our great physician.

Can you believe it...

... I have been married nearly six months (on Jan 26 it will be six months). Its been such a joy! Its funny as time flies by you realize the things that characterize me as me and Darren as Darren. For example just recently Darren has discovered that I love smoothies even in the middle of winter... go figure... And I have recently discovered that Darren talks in his sleep in foreign languages. I recently received a keyboard for Christmas and I was playing one of the songs that I learnt as a child "Oh be careful little eyes what you see..." and as I was playing Darren started singing "If your happy and you know it clap your hands..." Its funny too as Darren walks in the door after work greets me with a kiss and then starts singing "Sweet Carolyn..." but he only remembers the one line. These are the things that surprise us as we grow in relationship with one another. Surprise, Surprise and that's what makes me love Darren more and more.

A Praying Wife

This is an excerpt from the Secret Believers website calling people to pray for Butros, Nadira & family. Reading this really compelled me & moved my heart toward prayer. I will be Darren's wife in 23 days and I really hope that I will be a diligent praying wife like Nadira.

Urgent prayer request from Nadira a concerned wife
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Please pray for Butros and myself and the family. Pray for our home. We are tired and so in need of a break. It never ends. We are aware of God doing something in the heavenlies because we are coming under such major attack. Butros has been travelling so much and I worry for him. I woke up last night and he was so restless in his sleep. Please pray for us. Everything seems to be going wrong. When there are so many who need our shoulders to cry on, who need teaching and counsel and training- then one does not want to be tied up with things in the house breaking and going wrong - windows, pipes, plumbing - everything and then to boot the cost of living has sky rocketted. Butros is a good husband, he takes so much care of us but I do not like to see him struggle with the burden of all these things on his shoulders. Will you please pray for us for protection and for hope and for clarity of vision. Pray that in all this we be strengthened. I reached out and tried to wipe the deep furrows away, but his brow was the same when I awoke this morning and saw him sitting on the sofa by the window looking at the pictures of our brothers in hiding, praying for them and asking God to keep them safe. Pray for our son that no harm may come to him and in the days and years ahead he would continue to love Jesus and grow as His son and be safe. Thank you for praying for us always we need it no end.

Yours in Christ
A Concerned Wife
Nadira

Pray for Uzbekistan

Key Facts WWL Ranking: 9 Leader: President Islam Karimov Population: 27.4 million (1% Christian) Majority Religion: Islam Type of Government: Authoritarian

The Church in Uzbekistan

Before 1991 when Uzbekistan became an independent state there were only a handful of Uzbek believers. The Russian church had to function in secret and most of them did not have a vision to share the Gospel with the local population. However, in the beginning of the 90s Uzbek people started to come to the Lord. Gradually an indigenous Uzbek Church began to form, using indigenous Uzbek ways to worship and to share the Gospel. Music, poetry recital, story telling and other expressions of Uzbek culture are used in outreach.

Often church growth takes place through families. Relatives see the impact of the Gospel on a family member and come to faith as well. Even though open proselytizing is forbidden in the country, the number of Christians has increased rapidly over the last years.

Because it is almost impossible to get official registration with the government, most of the protestant groups have to work unofficially. They face fines, threats, beatings, prison, loss of jobs, confiscation of literature and many other things as many local authorities are very much against the presence of a Christian Uzbek Church. The pressure is particularly heavy in the Karakalpakstan autonomous region of North West Uzbekistan, but has spread over the country over the past year. People have become more cautious in asking about Christianity for fear of negative consequences from authorities.



Sources of Oppression and Persecution

1. Government control of the Uzbek Church through the SNB (former KGB) is very strong. All religious communities have to be registered, but for the Protestant church to obtain registration is a long, tiresome and almost impossible process. Often registration is refused or after it has been granted it is withdrawn again. There is no Uzbek indigenous church with registration. Pray that one day the Church in Uzbekistan will be recognized by the government.

2. Indigenous church leaders and those who are active in outreach to the Uzbek population are regularly ‘invited’ to the police station for questioning; believers are intimidated, threatened, fined, expelled from their place of work and/or residence and frequently imprisoned for several days, a few weeks or several years. Pray for these leaders that they may stand strong in their faith throughout their persecution.

3. Literature import and in country printing is strictly monitored and censured. National and local authorities regularly confiscate Christian literature in the Uzbek language and other indigenous languages. Serious fines are handed out to those who are involved in the distribution of Christian literature. Pray the Lord provides ways in which this literature can safely reach those who desire to know more.

4. Pressure from the Muslim family members can be very strong on new believers. Pray for these men and women that they may stand strong against these pressures, and in turn may be able to share Christ with their family members.

5. Local community leaders put pressure on Christians by cutting off water supplies and/or electricity, etc. to force them out of the village or to make them renounce Christianity. Pray that despite their persecution, these believers’ physical needs will be met.