Thankful

I am thankful for the lessons I have learned this past year. I am stronger and know where my hope lies. My hope has always been in the Lord, but after being reminded daily that it is He that I should seek and not anyone or anything else, I've had a different outlook on life. I know that God is preparing me for a wonderful journey in the ministry. I know I need to get plugged back in at Church, so I will. My career prevented me from being involved at Church weekly, but I've been a servant and a disciple at work daily. I love what I do. Not many people can say that about their career they have chosen, but I truly do! Today after Church someone said to me as i was on my way to the car, "Are you going to work?" I replied sure am, with a quick turn and a huge smile. He said, "Well you don't have to be so happy about it." with a smile. On my days off I am totally lost. I need something to do on my days off. Like volunteer to read at a school, or visit sick kids in the hospital. Something! I love children and the wonder and amazement in their eyes when they have experienced something new. Well, all in good time. I still have to work weekends as well as Wednesdays, but there is always an opportunity to minister elsewhere!

Do you know Him?

At work we had a deadly injury come in from an ATV accident. Things were not looking good for him at all. I bet his day started off pretty well. Breakfast, then lunch and maybe a football game on TV. And then the thought of riding that 4 wheeler sitting out in the garage. The weather outside is cold and wet, not ideal for a ride, but some might like that. The next thing you know your day has just gone south and your life will be changed forever. You are wondering if you are going to make it. You can hear help coming from a distance. Hurry! You are freezing and can't stop shaking. Breathing hurts. Help is here at last! The doctor's and nurses are cutting your clothes off and sticking you with needles and asking a lot of questions. Still shaking! Breathing is more painful and getting harder. Do you have anybody we can call?, someone asked. Between shivering and chattering teeth came out the words "my wife" and ten precious numbers. Helicopters are not flying, the weather is too bad. Waiting on hospital's with a trauma center to accept, ground transportation will take almost an hour. Pt's vitals are stable, but dropping, give more fluids, blood is on the way. You are laying on the table, what is going through your mind? Am I going to die? What is taking so long? Where is my wife? I'm so cold! Stop shivering! Why did this have to happen to me? I don't want to die! Do you have to wait until something tragic happens to come to know Jesus? No that's the cool part, Jesus is there when we aren't looking for Him, and He is there when we should be looking for Him, and He is there when we are desperate for Him. Call upon Him today, don't wait until something tragic happens, there might not be a next time.

Finding Peace

As I started to work yesterday afternoon. I just knew I would be late. I left the house late and was leaving and traveling at the same time school would be letting out. It usually takes me 45 minutes to make the ride, but today it seemed to be a shorter ride and no school traffic at all. Did I luck out or what! My day initially was a slow beginning, with a few pt's here and there. It was a dreadful, foggy, rainy afternoon and the evening wasn't looking any better. I heard the nurses talking to one of the doctor's saying we have a MVC; they are bringing her to us to stabilize her and then we need to transport her to a trauma center. She has a hot belly. Not knowing anything else about this pt I called the trauma center to make sure they had ICU beds and made them aware that we were getting one that we might be sending up to them. A few minutes later they roll in with the pt. She is young, shivering, and scared. The team jumped into action and assessed her injuries, getting her to CT. They started organizing her transport to Children's. Then a second one came in from the same accident and with a third. Two more children. Another CT and another transport would be needed on the youngest one who is a toddler. The oldest had minor injuries and would not need transport to another facility. And then the news that no one ever wants to here came. There were others involved, 1 fatality, and 3 others transported to two other hospitals. These are all children that I'm speaking of. I could hardly hold myself together. I wanted to pray, but every time I began, I started to lose it. So, it took me several minutes before I could close my eyes and say a prayer. I know that God knew my heart and already knew what I was going to pray for and answered my prayers before I even said the words, because at that moment a woman and man came running in to the ER calling out one of the children's names. She was upset, but keeping it together. I on the other hand knowing everything and about the fatality; almost lost it again. Soon the ER was filled with 30 people supporting this very large family. They were filled with such compassion. They were organizing who would go to the other hospitals to be with the other children, and who would stay with the two children we were stabilizing for transport and who would take care of the oldest when he was released. I have never seen a family deal with what they were dealing with and keep themselves composed as they did. My eyes had big tears welling up ready to fall at any moment. I wiped them away. I think their strength helped me to get through the night. A person wonders why a car full of children would be doing out a foggy rainy night as this. They were on their way to church to rehearse for the Christmas program. My prayer was that these children and their families knew Jesus as their savior and called upon Him for peace. Like I said earlier, God already knew what my prayer would be and gave them the peace they needed to deal with this horrible tragedy. I don't understand why this had to happen. But I am so glad that God knows what we need before we know and that he is there waiting to supply our every need. He gives eternal life to everyone who receives Him. John 1: 12. And, Peace that passes all understanding. Philipians 4: 6,7. For this Christmas and every Christmas to come.

Drizzle.... Cold

I got off of work this morning after a 12 hour shift that seemed to last twice as long. We had another teenager come in with traumatic head injury last night. Praying that she will pull through. It seems like every weekend we have a teenager or young adult involved in a MVC with severe head trauma. Lately, there hasn't been any survivors. I laid on my couch for an hour or so and then went to church. I have been thinking about what the preacher might say this Sunday regarding Hope in the Holidays. Upon arrival as always I was greeted with smiles and warm faces, I chose a seat down front, cause I'm blind as a bat. As I was looking around I found my friends sitting elsewhere. I quickly got up and sat beside them. Praise and Worship made me think of all of the people in this world who have not heard about Jesus, and I told God that my wish for Christmas this year would be that all could hear about Jesus and accept His Salvation, and pay it forward. I drew closer to God as I worshiped. Then I heard my friend crying, actually sobbing. I thought that she was being touched as I had. As we finished the last verse and sat down she was still crying. I patted her on the leg and smiled her way. Her husband reassurring her it would be okay as he handed her another tissue. The preacher brought a message today titled "White Christmas"; meaning the pure love of Christ. explaining to us how we need to slow down and see others hurting and stop to help; to open our ears and be better listeners, sometimes that is all people need; to share with compassion, giving to others; and lending aid to those who are in need while others pass by. All of these can be done daily if we just slow down and open our eyes and our ears. Don't miss out on another blessing! Treat others the way you would want to be treated. Don't become callus to life. After church I spoke with my friend and she shared with me her troubles and let me in on why she was crying. I gave her some encouraging words and I hope they helped. She is special and needed to hear that all was not doomed. That God would provide a way. Back to Hope in the Holidays; I pray for the families that have lost their children, fathers, mothers, husbands, or wives this year and pray they can find peace in their times of suffering. I feel their sorrow...