Easter - He Lives

Being that I had to work Easter Sunday - I am a bit late posting this, yet I wanted to follow up my post and video from last Friday...Good Friday.  Where Mary, the disciples and many of Jesus's friends were mourning the loss of their friend and loved one.

For many it would seem like life wouldn't or couldn't go on.

Yet, it did...you see, on Sunday - there was an empty grave as Jesus rose from the dead.

The cross would not have mattered...if Jesus had only died.
But He didn't just die...
He died to save us from our sins.
He died because he loved us.
He defeated death and awaits us in Heaven - as He builds a place for those of us, who call Him Savior,  will one day live.

John 14:3

³  I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

Because He matters, I choose to live my life as if it matters...

Yes, I had to work a full 12 hour shift today.
I had to miss the family meal and the Easter egg hunt and I wasn't able to go to church.
Yet, none of that really matters.
What really matters is Jesus.


(remember to mute my playlist down below)

Debbie

Good Friday

Good Friday.
Have you ever wondered why it is called "Good" Friday?  How could the death of Jesus, the King of Israel, be "Good".
I guess if you stopped at His death...then it isn't a good thing...

I'm sure that on that Friday, so many years ago, there were many hurting hearts.
An innocent man had been killed.
Mary's son was dead.
The disciples had lost a very good friend.
How were they to go to sleep that night?
How were they to get up the next day and face what was to come?
How were they to go on when their hearts were so heavy?

I can only imagine what it must have been like for the people left behind.
We know the end of the story ~ but put yourself in their shoes and wonder what it must have felt like to know that Jesus was dead....



Be sure to turn off my playlist below to watch the video...
And remember - His death is just part of the story.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but will have eternal life"  John 3:16

Debbie

                

Caring while in Church

I was listening to our pastor preach today.
He was just starting to say something about the sanctity of human life...
When out of the corner of my eye I saw an elderly gentlemen on the other side of church, stand up and start to head to the back of the church.
The man behind him also stood up with him.

The nurse in me saw that something wasn't right and he looked as if he wasn't feeling well....so I headed his way.  As I got to him he was headed down so we assisted him to the floor at the back of the church.  (we never made it out of the church)

I assessed him, and another nurse as well as a police office joined me.
He never did loose consciousness though he was faint, pale, and his skin was cool and clammy.

I didn't really do a whole lot, just reassured him until paramedics arrived, checked his pulse and kept him as comfortable as I could.
 Oh and I took off my sweater to make him a pillow (that was probably the biggest nursing thing I did for him!)

Our pastor finished up his sermon - though I didn't hear another word he said for I was in a different place even though I was still in the same room.  I needed to concentrate on what was at hand and make a plan if I needed to react or provide any type of advanced care.  Could I do CPR if I needed to?  Would I know what to do to keep him safe?  I deliver babies...but 80 year old men are a different type of patient....could I care for him?

I was surprised how the nurse in me just kicks in.  I wasn't nervous...I'd say I was focused and just cared for him as I needed to.

Things remained calm and help arrived.

It was good for me to see our emergency supply kit...to know where it is and to know that we have an airway and AED if I were to need it.

I was just glad I was there at the right time...
My pastor thanked me as did the elderly gentleman's wife.  But, like I said...I didn't really do much.  Guess it just reassures people to know that someone could help if that help were needed.  It was an interesting morning.  Never thought I'd be providing care while in church ~
Debbie

Phil Wickham - At Your Name (Yahweh Yahweh)

I heard this song last weekend up at Hume Lake and we have sung it again this weekend...it is quickly becoming one of my favorite songs...

At Your name
The mountains shake and crumble
At Your name
The oceans roar and tumble
At Your name
Angels will bow
The earth will rejoice
Your people cry out

[Chorus:]
Lord of all the earth
We shout Your name, shout Your name
Filling up the skies
With endless praise, endless praise
Yahweh, Yahweh
We love to shout Your name, oh Lord

At Your name
The morning breaks in Glory
At Your name
Creation sings Your story
At Your name
Angels will bow
The earth will rejoice
Your people cry out

[Chorus]

There is no one like our God
We will praise you, praise you
There is no one like our God
We will sing, we will sing [x3]

[Chorus x2]

Debbie

Women's Retreat

I decided to go ahead and attend my church women's retreat.

It has been many,many years since I have gone to a women's retreat...I was busy raising children as a single mom and taking the time to join my friends was just too hard.  And most of the previous retreats were held in November and I chose to attend cross country meets instead of go on the church retreat.
This year the dates were changed and the retreat was held locally so I decided to go. 
Talitha Cumi....'maiden, arise' in Arabic, is the theme.  The scripture we are focusing on for the weekend is Mark 5:21-24.  The passage talk about a young girl that had died and Jesus healed her and raised her from the dead.  Our speaker actually had a daughter that was a near-drowning victim so she is tying that all in together.  Actually, she shared last night and it was very insightful.

The one thing that I walked away with was ~ "does my problem or plight define how big my God is?...or do I focus more on how big God is , then let that define my problem?"  Do I look at the issues first and wonder how God is going to fix them?  OR do I focus on God and trust that He is going to carry me through what ever it is that I might be going through.  Two very different ways of looking at the same problem. Two very different ways of approaching life.  Definitely food for thought....

I'm looking forward to hearing more today.  Even more so, I think I was ready for time away from the pressures of home.  There is something really fun about staying in a room with three other women.  They are all friends that I already knew so it is totally relaxing and fun.  The only bad part is that we stayed up laughing way too long last night and now we are all up early trying to do our morning routine so we can get to breakfast. 

Later today I'm going to lunch with a couple of other girls, then I am getting a massage.  Our retreat is being held at a spa type hotel so I am treating myself   :).
Fun times!
Debbie