Where To? - Part 2

When I and a group of my friends went down to visit Emily in St. Augustine this Spring little did I realize I would be moving there in a matter of months! God works in mysterious ways and never ceases to surprise me. At least half a dozen locations had been discussed and prayed about, but I didn't ever consider Florida with any serious consideration. Just a few days ago I was waffling between opportunities in both California and Maine. I still have a piece of paper on my table with the listed pro's and con's for both states. However, I did not have complete peace with either option and woke up one morning asking " Dear Lord, If there is a third option I haven't thought of, please, PLEASE lead the way." During that day God made it pretty clear He wants me to go to St. Augustine, Fl for a short time.

I still can't help, but be amazed at how quickly everything has come together. After months of wondering and sometimes agonizing about where I should go there now is a plan and peace. One fun fact: I've always wanted to experience living near an ocean! I'm looking forward to seeing how the Lord is going to work during my upcoming adventure in Florida.

I plan to get 6 months to 1 year of nursing experience and help with the health evangelism Emily heads-up at the small church in the area. An all new adventure to be sure!

photo source: st-augustine-beach.com

Where to?

This picture may appear odd and random at first glance , but it caught my attention nonetheless. I'll come back to the reason why in just a minute. See , I've been experiencing an intense season of decision making. The summer chaplaincy internship is quickly approaching its end and the next step has remained a mystery.

As the time of reckoning has come closer and closer I have become increasingly urgent in my prayers for guidance and the heavenly wisdom promised in James 1:5. Then I waited, and waited...and waited. I had sought to surrender my own will and preferences. Now I waited for a word from God. But what would it look like? How would I know it was Him and not the advice of frail humanity? I believed firmly God would make a way by opening a closing doors according to His will. What remained a mystery was how I was to recognize the opening and closing of these doors of opportunity. For a time there was only silence and a generalized unsettle feeling. There was nothing for me to do but wait.

During this time the Lord clearly led me to read Isaiah 50:10 again, reminding me to trust in the Lord and rely upon my God even when walking in darkness without seeing the next step. Eventually, at the proverbial "eleventh hour," the Lord fulfilled His promise and gave me the long sought after answer along with a profound peace. Even now, it is hard to explain how the answer came. It was a intricate and delicate balance of common sense, advice from friends/family, sense of sacred calling and inner peace. I had many positive, God-honoring options laid before me, but only one felt right. Do we base our lives and ministries off of feeling? No way! It would be like trying to make a roller-coaster car the foundation for a building. But the peace that God imparts goes beyond simple feeling, it is a state of the soul given by God that "surpasses all understanding".

The reason I like the picture is because of its various exits. A staircase up to a door in the wall seems to be the only exit. However, the mirror along that same wall shows a better exit to the room, complete with open doors. To me, this symbolizes the diverse ways the Lord leads in lifes. The choices that seem most obvious to us may not be what God has in mind. Commiting to follow God wherever He may lead sometimes feels scary, but ultimately its the adventure of a lifetime. It reminds me of the song

"God will make a way, where there seems to be no way,
He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide, hold me closly to His side.
With love and strength for each new day, He will make a way!"



photo source: www.sxc.hu

Moment of Peace

There are times I need a moment of peace - a moment when I take my mind off the sadness and put it on the beautiful. When my world becomes too filled with hospital halls and grieving families I go to a lovely place in my mind and seek to be still before God. Here is some music that breathes peace into my soul.

"He restoreth my soul..."

Psalm 23

Out Of The Dust

Dust covers, stifles and chokes. Have you ever felt like you were being suffocated by the dust of the world that swirls all around you? I was lately. God led me to the 52 chapter of Isaiah. It offers such a beautiful picture of redemption from the dust and bondage of sin.

Isaiah 52:1-3

Awake, awake!
Put on your strength O Zion
Put on your beautiful garments,
O' Jerusalem, the holy city!
For the uncircumcised and the unclean
Shall no longer come to you.
Shake yourself from the dust, arise!
Sit down, O Jerusalem!
Loose yourself from the bonds of your neck,
O captive daughter of Zion
For thus says the Lord:
You sold yourselves for nothing
And you shall be redeemed without money.

I found precious promises of hope in these verses. How easily the dust and grim of the world infiltrates my air and threatens to choke my spiritual life. Sometimes my eyes are opened to realize I am a "captive daughter" in tatter clothes. Here, there is a call to shake off the dust, break the bonds and be a daughter (or son) of freedom! There is a sense of triumph and victory in it's words, almost as if epic music should be playing in the background as God's voice thunders "AWAKE, AWAKE"! What a high and holy calling! Who could turn away from such an offer?

Sit, Stay, Heal...

Isn't this a great bench?! It got me thinking. The first 2 weeks of Chaplaincy work and training has been much like a marathon and fireworks show combined : a test of endurance with surprising explosions along the way. Although we , the chaplains, power from room to room and crisis to crisis , we have a very different goal for our patients.

The majority of people we meet are experiencing some kind of anxiety and discomfort. Even though they are in physical pain , the throbbing hip or stinging surgical wound is minor compared to the mental strain they are under. Their minds are in a tail-spin of worry and dread. Our goal as Chaplains is to slow this tail-spin and encourage them to "sit, stay, heal". It is impossible to get to the point of healing without sitting (stopping the frantic race of "what if's") and staying (continuing in rest and trust).

This is for all of us I think. It is important to sit down with Jesus , stay in His presence and receive the healing only He can give. Maybe I need my own bench like this...a place to stop and breath deeply with Jesus.

The Upper Room

Welcome to the Upper Room , my cozy abode for the summer months. At the specific request of a friend I have posted some pictures of my dwelling. I don't know why I started calling it the upper room, except for the obvious fact that it is up 2 flights of stairs and therefore an "upper" room. Despite the short amount of time I am to reside here I went ahead and brought my own decor. Its amazing what a little sprucing up can do for a somber apartment! At least it feels a little bit more like home.
Wasn't my Grandma Haynes a great painter?! I love the bright colors and peaceful scene of blue flowers growing alongside the winding path.



Here you see the dining room, living room, bedroom and library all in one! It's a very efficient living space. I promise you, its bigger than it looks. Between the family quilt, leaning books, zebra sheep skin and smoothie seen on the table it looks quite cozy and eclectic if I do say so myself!

Oh man, now I've got to fill this space somehow because of the way I did the pictures...the key is adding lots of spaces.

Oh! notice the ukelele sitting casually on the living room chair. We've been getting acquainted. Hopefully I will upload proof of our growing relationship on here soon.










A view that better portrays the spacious quality.










Behold the garden! New!-as of today! When you live in an upper room the garden has to be downsized considerably. This indoor herbal garden from Grandma Cloey is just the ticket! It was technically a Christmas present. Hopefully those little seeds will still wake up and come alive even after being terribly neglected for half a year!

New Adventure Discoveries

Kettering Ohio is proving to be a chilly destination at the moment, so I am combating the cold with my green windbreaker and my favorite herbal tea (Orange Ginger Mint = comfort drink). Now that my "upper room" apartment is "cozy-fied" and I've got my hospital badge I'm all set for an adventurous 10 weeks.

My first stop : the local Panera Bread. I predict this will be a popular haunt of mine due to the free internet access and lovely music. Right now they are playing what sounds like a Mozart string quartet. Between the tea , music and warm orange/maroon hues it is a very therapeutic environment.
Less than 24 hours into my summer in Ohio and I am more than a tad lonely , as Mother can attest to from a tearful call home. However , I'm already seeing good lessons coming down the pike. God has reasons why He so clearly led me to this unique experience and I looking forward to finding out what they are!

Aspirations: (in no particular order...)

1) Find the park with the Fountains

2) Make lots of new friends

3) Learn to be a Hospital Chaplain

4) Use my free time to draw

5) Learn how to play my ukelele

6) Encourage and make someone smile every day

7) Post this blog before my computer dies!

Happy Sabbath Everyone!