I know my last post was on death and dying too...however this subject has been on my mind a lot in the last week or two.
Have you ever taken time to think of what death is all about? This subject has hit close to home with some of my patients this week...one in particular that shook me quite a bit. Yes I have thought a lot about death...a few years ago I had thought about it so much that I decided to plan out some of my funeral and document it in my journal. I knew it was a reality...I worked with so many people who died. It is a part of life...however this week I have learned to see it in a more real and vivid way.
It was one of my patients that brought me to a greater realization of what death is about. As I saw the scared look in this patients eyes...even though this patient knew the Lord and was a believer...that scared look was still there. It is a look I will never forget. I thought about how life seems to be so unfair at times....why is it that the young die? Why is it the ones that have beautiful families...that have such a promising out look on life? Death is a horrible thing.
Yet there is also a beauty to those who die in the Lord. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life...he who believes in me though he were dead yet shall he live". There is hope...there is life after death...because Jesus paid the price.
It is the crossing over the Jordan that can be soo hard and painful...but there is so much joy when we walk through the gates of heaven. Thankfully we have our Lord Jesus who will walk beside us "through the valley of the shadow of death". It is Christ that will carry us Home. Thank you Father!
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Heaven
I had to come up with something to write....so I thought...and thought...and even thought. So many different things have been happening in my life that my brain is full of many random thoughts.
It has been busy at work lately. All this business has made me think a lot about death and dying. My heart goes out to the people who are scared to die...I wonder what I will be like when I get to that point in my journey? I know I have the hope and promise of eternal life and going Home to my Heavenly Father which shall be sooo joyful! Yet what is it like to actually die on this earth? What does it feel like physically? Is it the thoughts of what is left behind that can be so tormenting? Is it the thoughts of work left unfinished?
And yet thinking of all those questions ... continues to bring to mind the joy of what Heaven is all about! I would be with the Lord! Wow! You know I really can't wait for that day! I can just imagine how exciting it must have been for the apostle John in writing Revelation talking all about the New Jerusalem. I think of my Grandmother who has crossed the Jordan almost twelve years ago and is now with our Lord...she must be having such an AWESOME time in Heaven! To be with the Lord Jesus, singing with the angels...I cant think of anything more exciting then that! Talk about having something to look forward to!
So is death really that scary? Physically I have no idea...spiritually, I really can't wait!
It brings to mind a song I love to sing "Jerusalem the Golden"! If you have t ime read the lyrics..it will get you excited about the joy of going Home!
It has been busy at work lately. All this business has made me think a lot about death and dying. My heart goes out to the people who are scared to die...I wonder what I will be like when I get to that point in my journey? I know I have the hope and promise of eternal life and going Home to my Heavenly Father which shall be sooo joyful! Yet what is it like to actually die on this earth? What does it feel like physically? Is it the thoughts of what is left behind that can be so tormenting? Is it the thoughts of work left unfinished?
And yet thinking of all those questions ... continues to bring to mind the joy of what Heaven is all about! I would be with the Lord! Wow! You know I really can't wait for that day! I can just imagine how exciting it must have been for the apostle John in writing Revelation talking all about the New Jerusalem. I think of my Grandmother who has crossed the Jordan almost twelve years ago and is now with our Lord...she must be having such an AWESOME time in Heaven! To be with the Lord Jesus, singing with the angels...I cant think of anything more exciting then that! Talk about having something to look forward to!
So is death really that scary? Physically I have no idea...spiritually, I really can't wait!
It brings to mind a song I love to sing "Jerusalem the Golden"! If you have t ime read the lyrics..it will get you excited about the joy of going Home!
Friday, September 21, 2007
In Christ alone....
Do you realize that every day gone by is one day closer to eternity? Are we ready to face our Maker for all that we have done on this earth? You know the Lord speaks through us in many different ways...many times trying to get our attention.
One of the ways the Lord speaks to me is through songs. I love singing and I love music. Often if I feel down and discouraged I put on Worship songs, or I put on a Gaither DVD...and its like the Lord quiets my soul and prepares me to listen to what He has to say to me. Often in our busy world we don't take the time to quietly listen for the voice of God because we are "just too busy"...however that excuse will not work when we meet our Maker. We need to start listening now..."draw near to God and He will draw near to you". "Be still and know that I am God..." Ps 46...yes we need to be still and listen for God is speaking to us.
So again I want to share with you a favorite song of mine...a song where the Lord often speaks to me...In Christ Alone
In Christ alone my hope is found;He is my light, my strength, my song;This cornerstone, this solid ground,Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.What heights of love, what depths of peace,When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!My comforter, my all in all—Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,Fullness of God in helpless babe!This gift of love and righteousness,Scorned by the ones He came to save.Till on that cross as Jesus died,The wrath of God was satisfied;For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay,Light of the world by darkness slain;Then bursting forth in glorious day,Up from the grave He rose again!And as He stands in victory,Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;For I am His and He is mine—Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death—This is the pow'r of Christ in me;From life's first cry to final breath,Jesus commands my destiny.No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,Can ever pluck me from His hand;Till He returns or calls me home—Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.
Praise the Lord for our risen Saviour!
One of the ways the Lord speaks to me is through songs. I love singing and I love music. Often if I feel down and discouraged I put on Worship songs, or I put on a Gaither DVD...and its like the Lord quiets my soul and prepares me to listen to what He has to say to me. Often in our busy world we don't take the time to quietly listen for the voice of God because we are "just too busy"...however that excuse will not work when we meet our Maker. We need to start listening now..."draw near to God and He will draw near to you". "Be still and know that I am God..." Ps 46...yes we need to be still and listen for God is speaking to us.
So again I want to share with you a favorite song of mine...a song where the Lord often speaks to me...In Christ Alone
In Christ alone my hope is found;He is my light, my strength, my song;This cornerstone, this solid ground,Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.What heights of love, what depths of peace,When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!My comforter, my all in all—Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,Fullness of God in helpless babe!This gift of love and righteousness,Scorned by the ones He came to save.Till on that cross as Jesus died,The wrath of God was satisfied;For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay,Light of the world by darkness slain;Then bursting forth in glorious day,Up from the grave He rose again!And as He stands in victory,Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;For I am His and He is mine—Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death—This is the pow'r of Christ in me;From life's first cry to final breath,Jesus commands my destiny.No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,Can ever pluck me from His hand;Till He returns or calls me home—Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.
Praise the Lord for our risen Saviour!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Hallelujah!
Have you ever thought about what the resurrection means to you? Have you ever wondered where we would be today if Jesus had not risen from the dead? I was listening to a concert of the Gaithers that was taped in Jerusalem...and one of the songs they sang was "Bethlehem, Galilee, Gethsemane". What an awesome song! Here are the lyrics below...
Bethlehem, He was born there, I believe, I believe
Galilee, Jesus walked there, I believe, I believe
Gethsemane, my Savior prayed there, on Calvary, He died alone
But the tomb, He left there, I believe, I believe, I believe, I believe
Bethlehem, He was born there. There was nothing sacred about that manger in Bethlehem, Jesus could have been born in the best hotel room in the city, if it had been left open for Him. But He wasn't pushy, He still isn't. He moves only into the places we vacate for Him. There was room, that night, only in the stable, so, that's where He was born.
Galilee, Jesus walked there, I believe, I believe
Jesus walked with common men, but there was nothing common about His words, they upset every comfortable ethic. He upset judicial systems when He said, "Love those who hate you." He upset patterns of religion, by declaring that real temples of worship, were in the hearts of believers. He refused to discuss laws and rules governing people's actions, but zeroed in on their thoughts and attitudes instead. If Christ had been a philosopher, they could have debated Him. If He had been a warrior they could have fought Him. Had He been a religionist, they could have ignored Him, as an eccentric, but Christ was love,
what do you do with that?
Gethsemane, my Savior prayed there, on Calvary, He died alone
Gethsemane was agony for Christ. In those dark hours, He cried in desperation, "Father, if it be Your will, let this cup pass from me.", but it wasn't Gods will and Jesus died alone
But the tomb, Jesus left there, I believe, I believe
God could have had Jesus resurrected right from the cross, when no one was around, instead, He arranged a full burial, with grave clothes, a tomb, and even a roman seal, but after three days, conquering death, Jesus walked out free, leaving for all to see, the massive stone rolled away, and the empty tomb
And now, He lives and reigns forever, I believe, I believe
And He prays for us in Heaven, I believe, I believe
And with the ones who've gone before me, I will praise the Prince of Peace!
Hallelujah, hallelujah, I believe, I believe, I believe, I believe!
(Sung by Russ Taff)
When you hear this song sung...it brings forth the power of the cross! This is OUR Saviour, OUR Lord, OUR Creator, OUR King, OUR Father...wow! Do we truly believe?
Bethlehem, He was born there, I believe, I believe
Galilee, Jesus walked there, I believe, I believe
Gethsemane, my Savior prayed there, on Calvary, He died alone
But the tomb, He left there, I believe, I believe, I believe, I believe
Bethlehem, He was born there. There was nothing sacred about that manger in Bethlehem, Jesus could have been born in the best hotel room in the city, if it had been left open for Him. But He wasn't pushy, He still isn't. He moves only into the places we vacate for Him. There was room, that night, only in the stable, so, that's where He was born.
Galilee, Jesus walked there, I believe, I believe
Jesus walked with common men, but there was nothing common about His words, they upset every comfortable ethic. He upset judicial systems when He said, "Love those who hate you." He upset patterns of religion, by declaring that real temples of worship, were in the hearts of believers. He refused to discuss laws and rules governing people's actions, but zeroed in on their thoughts and attitudes instead. If Christ had been a philosopher, they could have debated Him. If He had been a warrior they could have fought Him. Had He been a religionist, they could have ignored Him, as an eccentric, but Christ was love,
what do you do with that?
Gethsemane, my Savior prayed there, on Calvary, He died alone
Gethsemane was agony for Christ. In those dark hours, He cried in desperation, "Father, if it be Your will, let this cup pass from me.", but it wasn't Gods will and Jesus died alone
But the tomb, Jesus left there, I believe, I believe
God could have had Jesus resurrected right from the cross, when no one was around, instead, He arranged a full burial, with grave clothes, a tomb, and even a roman seal, but after three days, conquering death, Jesus walked out free, leaving for all to see, the massive stone rolled away, and the empty tomb
And now, He lives and reigns forever, I believe, I believe
And He prays for us in Heaven, I believe, I believe
And with the ones who've gone before me, I will praise the Prince of Peace!
Hallelujah, hallelujah, I believe, I believe, I believe, I believe!
(Sung by Russ Taff)
When you hear this song sung...it brings forth the power of the cross! This is OUR Saviour, OUR Lord, OUR Creator, OUR King, OUR Father...wow! Do we truly believe?
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Safer Health Care Now
I never really new that this campaign, Safer Health Care Now, existed before even though as a nurse I have used the interventions that are part of this campaign.
This campaign was started in April 2005 as a result of a similar campaign that was started in the States. The goal of the campaign was to reduce the number of patient injuries and deaths that were a result of adverse events. It is composed of participants such as hospitals and partnerships such as health care organizations who support the campaign. The campaign is composed of six interventions to improve patient safety including, AMI, CLI, Med rec, RRT, SSI, and VAP.
The part of this campaign that I personally find fascinating and very useful is the RRT (Rapis Response Team). This team is available to health care professionals on the unit as a valuable resource and tool. When a nurse feels that a patient is taken a turn for the worse they contact the RRT who then come and assess the patient and decide what needs to be done next. Having this kind of team available to the nurses help to save lives.
I encourage you to take some time and look up the website and read about this awesome campaign. It is really very fascinating!
This campaign was started in April 2005 as a result of a similar campaign that was started in the States. The goal of the campaign was to reduce the number of patient injuries and deaths that were a result of adverse events. It is composed of participants such as hospitals and partnerships such as health care organizations who support the campaign. The campaign is composed of six interventions to improve patient safety including, AMI, CLI, Med rec, RRT, SSI, and VAP.
The part of this campaign that I personally find fascinating and very useful is the RRT (Rapis Response Team). This team is available to health care professionals on the unit as a valuable resource and tool. When a nurse feels that a patient is taken a turn for the worse they contact the RRT who then come and assess the patient and decide what needs to be done next. Having this kind of team available to the nurses help to save lives.
I encourage you to take some time and look up the website and read about this awesome campaign. It is really very fascinating!
Monday, September 10, 2007
I love being a nurse!
So I have been told that people can't understand my blog cause its in French...so I will refrain from writing in French for a short time!
I want to write a quick note about the nursing profession. This week again I was reminded about the fulfillment that nursing brings. There is great joy being able to help people whose very life lays in the balance. Yes I agree that being a nurse is a very complicated, back breaking job. But the ability to be a part of someones life in that way overcomes the hardness of the job.
Nursing is THE job!
I want to write a quick note about the nursing profession. This week again I was reminded about the fulfillment that nursing brings. There is great joy being able to help people whose very life lays in the balance. Yes I agree that being a nurse is a very complicated, back breaking job. But the ability to be a part of someones life in that way overcomes the hardness of the job.
Nursing is THE job!
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Another try at French!
Bonjour, aujourd'hui je vais t'écrire tout un blog en français. Je suis censé apprendre comment parler la langue française pendant que j'habite à Ottawa. Le Français est une langue relativement dure à apprendre parce que ses tous dans l'accent. Mais je ferai mon meilleur pour apprendre la langue. Je n'abandonne pas facile et je n'abandonnerai pas sur celui-ci non plus…Plus tard !
Thursday, September 6, 2007
French Bible Story
Aujourd'hui je voudrais parler du Bon Berger. Le Bon Berger est Jesus-Christ. Dans la Bible, nous lisons: "Moi, je suis le bon berger. Le bon berger donne sa vie pour ses brebis". Le Bon Berger aime ses brebis. Dans notre histoire d'aujourd'hui, Jesus mange avec des publicains et des pecheurs. Les hommes d'eglise, les scribes et les Pharisiens, ne sont pas tres contents. Ils ne comprennent pas pourquoi Jesus veut manger avec des publicains et des pecheurs. Puis Jesus raconte la parabole du Bon Berger. Qu'est-ce qui se passe ici? Le pastuer compte ses brebis. Un, Deux, trios, quatre, cinq, six...qautre-vingt-dix-neuf brebis! Tout les brebis sont la....excepte une! Une est perdue! Est-ce qu'une brebis est importante? Il y a quatre-vingt-dix-neuf autres brebis! Oui, une brebis perdue est importante> Le pastuer cherche la brebis. Quand il la trouve, il est tres heureux. Il la met avec joie sur ses epaules. Il rentre chez lui et appelle ses amis. C'est un jour merveilleux! Il y a plus de joie dans le ciel pour un pecheur qui se repent que pour quatre-vingt-dix-neuf justes qui n'ont pas besoin de repentance.
Random thoughts
Bonjour! From the nations capital I would like to say goodmorning! It is September the 6th today which means that we very close to the start of fall. For most people this means back to school. However for me it just means that work continues as it has in the previous months. I miss the going back to school feeling. I am starting a course next week online...but thats not the same. But someone has to work too as not all of us can be in school.
Other news here....my cat is very happy to see me again after being on her own for a couple of days. She is a happy and loveable cat.
In a month my sister and sister in law are coming up for a visit. I am looking forward to it a lot but I still have to come up with a game plan for what we are going to do when they are here. If all else fails we will be watching GG!
Anyway that is all for now...I am still working on my french posting as I plan to compete with some other french post on a certain blog I know!
Have a great day all!
Other news here....my cat is very happy to see me again after being on her own for a couple of days. She is a happy and loveable cat.
In a month my sister and sister in law are coming up for a visit. I am looking forward to it a lot but I still have to come up with a game plan for what we are going to do when they are here. If all else fails we will be watching GG!
Anyway that is all for now...I am still working on my french posting as I plan to compete with some other french post on a certain blog I know!
Have a great day all!
Monday, September 3, 2007
Camping
Yes its all history now...the holiday is over. Camping was sooooo much fun. From spending time cooking at the camp stove (electric frying pan! :) ) to rocking my baby brother till he fell asleep, I had a really good time. I got time to talk with Mom, walk to the beach with Dad, sit at the campfire with all the kids, yes try and play monopoly with my younger sisters...and just enjoy time together as a family.
The nights were cold but we survived. On the Sunday the family came up to my apartment and enjoyed a service at the church I attend here. They really appreciated the welcome they received there!
They left today as we all have to go back to work again tomorrow. Yes I miss them a lot...family is very important to me. I love each and everyone of them! I miss you guys....thank you for such a wonderful time camping!
The nights were cold but we survived. On the Sunday the family came up to my apartment and enjoyed a service at the church I attend here. They really appreciated the welcome they received there!
They left today as we all have to go back to work again tomorrow. Yes I miss them a lot...family is very important to me. I love each and everyone of them! I miss you guys....thank you for such a wonderful time camping!
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