Nurses Christian Fellowship - Canada
Atlantic NCF Link: January 2008
Contents |
Letter from the Editor
Betty Hitchcock
Dear Friends,
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I trust you had a joyous and peaceful Christmas season. The gift of God's Son is the most special gift that we will ever receive and will sustain us throughout our days. The time leading up to Christmas was particularly hard for me this year. In mid October, we lost our son and then in early December, my husband, George, died. Two of the people that were closest to me were gone. I know they are with the Lord in a much better place - but the physical loss is still great. I thank God daily for the 21 wonderful years I had with George and for the gift of His Son that has held me throughout and will continue to do so. As I prepared a study on "Stillness" for our January retreat, I realized anew the great comfort and love of our most wonderful God. He is with us now and will never leave us. Thanks be to God.
Betty Hitchcock
Be still, my soul, the Lord is on thy side, Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: the best, thy heavenly Friend thro thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on , when we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone. Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past, All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
STILLNESS
The following study on "STILLNESS" was part of our January retreat in Saint John.
Psalm 46:10 says "Be still and know that I am God"
This has been a favorite verse of mine and today I would like us to really consider what it means
- let us examine what God is saying to us in this verse.
"Be still…" is not a suggestion it is a command!
What does this stillness mean to us?
-we need to be still in our body - stop doing all those activities that fill up our day
-we also need to be still in our mind - remove other thoughts, concerns, anxieties
Think about what real stillness means for you.
What prevents us from being still before God?
Let us look at the example of Jesus - who being one with God still felt it
necessary to get apart and be still before the Father - read Mark 6: 35
"and in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went
out, and departed into a solitary place and there prayed."
Picture what was happening here - when did it happen? What do you think is meant by "a great while before day"?, what had happened the day before? What did Jesus do? Where did he go? Why? How did He spend that time? What do you think happened?
Compare this to our time with God- When? Where? How?
Let us remember the first coming of Christ - it was in the stillness of the night - and Jesus will come to each of our hearts in the stillness today.
How can we achieve that stillness? Look at Mark 4: 35 to 41. This is the familiar passage of Jesus stilling the storm. Picture what was happening - the storm, the anxiety, the commotion, What did He say to the wind? "Peace, Be still." And what happened? - there was a great calm. Can we relate this to our lives? Do we ever hear Jesus saying to us - "Peace, Be still." ? Try allowing Him to calm the storms in our life. What can we do when we are burdened with anxiety? 1Peter 5:7 tells us "cast all your care on Him because He cares for you." ALL of it, give it to Him. Allow Him to calm you.
Then what will happen? - "Know that I am God"
Think about the significance of the word "know" - this is not a tentative word - it isn't ‘perhaps' or ‘maybe' but a strong verb "know" - without a shadow of a doubt. Be utterly convinced - sure of it- no question. Know what? That He is God. God the almighty, the everlasting, the great I AM, creator of all, the great redeemer, the one who gave His son for us, the one that wants us to be with Him, the sustainer, that longs to give each of us the precious gifts He has for us today. God is with us always, He is in charge, I need not worry. I just need to give myself to Him. As I wait in stillness before Him, He will reveal Himself to me and will give me the most precious of gifts day by day. He will order my days and walk them with me. He will go ahead, beside and will carry me when necessary. Try it today - in the stillness of your heart.
DESSERT POT LUCK IN SAINT JOHN
There will be an NCF dessert pot luck at Stone Church on Thursday April 17 at 7 pm for anyone in the Saint John or surrounding area.
PEACE IN KENYA FOR THE NEW YEAR
Bernadine Steeves, a Registered Nurse in New Brunswick, spent two years in Kenya with her family doing mission work. [2005-2007] Bernadine and her husband Mike served at Rift Valley Academy, a boarding school for missionary children. The Steeves also had many great opportunities to be involved in local outreach. They returned to Canada last July.
The year of 2007 finished with heavy hearts as stories of violence and hostility in Kenya flooded the media and many pleas for prayer rushed in by email from our missionary friends in Kenya. How could this beautiful African country known for its great stability be in such a desperate state so quickly? My husband and I were both in shock!
On December 27th, Kenya had a presidential election where serious voting irregularities were observed. What started as an election between reformers and establishment became a conflict between the two largest tribes, the Kikuyu and the Luo. An estimated 700 people have been killed and 255,000 people have been displaced. The country's economy has suffered greatly. It will take many years for Kenya to regain some level of normalcy.
Knowing that thousands of Kenyans have lost everything and have escaped with their lives is very disheartening. Life isn't easy for them in the best of times as many struggle daily with poverty, disease, and losing loved ones on a continual basis. Seeing video clips of Kenyan men fighting in the streets of Nairobi and looting department stores was quite disturbing to me as the people and the places shown in the clips were all too familiar. The number of dead and displaces continues to be repeated in the media. These people are not just statistics but are people who have a face, heart, hopes, and dreams.
Even though we received news that all our missionary friends were physically safe, it was unsettling to know that the country's infrastructure was crumbling underneath them. For several days, all stores and banks were closed and people were encouraged to stay home to avoid potential violence. When the stores did re-open, the shelves of the stores were emptying quickly and the country was running out of fuel. I know that thoughts of possible evacuation preoccupied the minds of some of the missionaries during the first dark days of the new year. Our hearts and minds were with them during these bleak hours of uncertainty. Fortunately, Kenya has resumed some of its services to make it possible for the missionaries to remain in the country.
Among all the trials and tribulations Kenya and its people have endured, the Kenyan Christians and foreign missionaries have lived up to their name in Christ. Thousands of people are being helped in practical ways by the Christians in Kenya along with humanitarian aid organizations. I am told that churches are being filled by people of many tribes and messages of peace and reconciliation are being heard.
Tensions are still high in Kenya and many political decisions still need to take place. The battle is not over. Please pray for Kenya!
He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among nations. I will be exalted in the earth.
Psalm 46: 9-10.
NCF Fredericton: New Beginnings
Nurses Christian Fellowship in Fredericton has been an amazing journey. I had been praying about an NCF group in Fredericton for a few years, but God's timing isn't ours. Then, this past summer I received messages from two nurses interested in Nurses Christian Fellowship. We had a preliminary meeting in August 2007 and our first official NCF group meeting in September. We have decided to meet on a monthly basis for Bible study, reflection and fellowship. Our group includes RNs, LPNs and nursing students. We are also in the process of trying to increase involvement with the UNB nursing students. It is exciting to be able to learn and grow with people who have both Christ and nursing in common. I eagerly anticipate where God will be leading this group because I truly feel NCF has the potential for great things in Fredericton.
If you or someone you know lives in the Fredericton area and are looking for an NCF group, please come check us out. We meet every second Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm, usually in the UNB Nursing Faculty Building (McLaggan Hall). For more information contact mozart_1631 {at} yahoo {dot} com. You can also be put on our mailing list for future meetings and events in the Fredericton area.
Karen Chase - NCF Fredericton
THE ATLANTIC NCF COMMITTEE
The Atlantic NCF committee will meet in Moncton in April . The committee asks that
you pray about what God might have you do to support the work of NCF in your local
area. If you could like more information, please contact the chair person - Marg
Winchester at 506 8482112, or email margwinchester {at} rogers {dot} com
Marg would be happy to hear from you.
OUT OF THE MOUTHES OF BABES
Submitted by Jan Lockett
A nurse on the pediatric ward, before listening to the little ones chests, would plug the stethoscope into their ears and let them listen to their own hearts. Their eyes would always light up with awe, but she never got a response equal to four-year old David's comment.
Gently she tucked the stethoscope into his ears and placed the disk over his heart. "Listen", she said... "What do you suppose that is?" He drew his eyebrows together in a puzzled line and looked up as if lost in the mystery of the strange tap - tap - tapping deep in his chest. Then his face broke out in a wondrous grin and he asked, "Is that Jesus knocking?"
University of New Brunswick Saint John NCF Meeting
I felt privileged to meet with 4 first and second year nursing students, Dr. Tracy Carr, a UNBSJ professor and Sarah Wanamaker, UNBSJ student advisor, on October 10th at 3:30pm. This was our second meeting this fall and we all found it to be very inspirational. The students had responded to an e-mail inviting Christian nursing students to attend an NCF meeting on campus. The students introduced themselves and told the group how they were called to a career in nursing. One student noted that she wanted to make the most out of opportunities such as adolescence, birth and death. She noted that she was flexible regarding Christianity and emphasized the importance of accepting others as they are. Finding the "joy" in life is necessary and sometimes this means being vulnerable. Many nursing students have expressed interest in joining the NCF group however are held back. Why? The group noted that there may be stigma attached where people may think that group members are better than others. Students are also stressed with time restrictions of studying and other responsibilities therefore can’t find the time to come to the meetings.
One student noted that one thing that she loved about God was that "He notices when others don’t notice". The group discussed the significance of integrating spirituality in nursing practice. Patients notice both verbal and nonverbal communications. A "reverence" can be displayed when performing tasks which demonstrate true caring and concern for patient wellbeing and safety. Nurses can be rushed and governed by time constraints however can show a Christian approach to nursing care.
Another student emphasized the importance of celebrating life because God gave us this life. An experience as a patient shaped her life and she remembered a particular nurse who "shone". The students talked about beginning nursing practice and nervousness with new skills. It was noted that patients usually appreciate students who take particular care to do things right and will become quite protective of them.
How can a student NCF group help and support students? Students would like to be able to call upon one another for support. They may not be "buddies" however could rely upon one another when needed. The need for prayer is important and the group would like to learn about how to integrate spirituality in nursing practice. The next meeting will focus on areas of distress and how we can manage through reflection, prayer and other practical interventions.
This is a new beginning for a small, yet powerful group of Christian nursing students on the UNBSJ campus! Our prayers are being answered and may we continue to pray that more students take an interest in being part of our NCF group.
Marg Winchester, NCF Atlantic Committee
Submissions for The Link You are invited to submit articles, letters, poems, etc. to be included in future issues of the Link. Please send submissions to Betty Hitchcock, 29 Bedell Ave. Saint John, NB, E2K 2C1 or email to betty {dot} hitchcock {at} rogers {dot} com