He Will Rescue You

'…he will certainly rescue you from the snare of the hunter and from the destructive plague.' (Psalm 91:3)    
     
Have you ever been caught off guard or surprised? Maybe it was a sudden accident? Notice of losing your job? Unfortunately many of life’s painful events come to us suddenly and without warning. Whether it is a threat to our personal or family’s well being; a loss of job; or a natural disaster that destroys are home and community—shock is the element. As occupants on this earth we are vulnerable to the unknown and sudden tragedies that await us like a trap for a rabbit.

If the unknown does not frighten you, what about the microscopic? As health care providers we are all too aware of the destruction of diseases and illness. A virus or bacteria can wreck havoc to an unsuspecting victim. Whether in the water we drink, the food we eat, or the air we breathe we are vulnerable to the unsuspecting destruction of the smallest organisms on the planet. In the 21st Century, an epidemic is still one of our greatest threats to human health.
         
These two scenarios found in Psalm 91:3 are enough to cause fear and panic.  And, once again we are reminded where our security rests. In our Rescuer--Jesus Christ!  We are protected in his hand. Not immune to disasters, but secure in his ever present providence (Hebrews 13:5; 2 Corinthians 2:10). Even though we are vulnerable to the tragedies of this world, we have a secured eternal place with him.

Blessings,

Carrie 

p.s. I mentioned last time about connecting truth contained in our minds to our heart. A great way to have truth easily accessible to our heart is to memorize scripture. As we walk verse-by-verse through Psalm 91, I encourage you to memorize it with me.

NCFI Cares: My God in whom I trust

A military wall or high strong fence is a means of protection. It prevents enemies or vicious animals from coming inside the protected area. Those inside the protected area are secure from whatever is on the other side of the wall or fence. If the wall or fence has holes or is weak, the people inside the protected area are vulnerable. We know in our minds that the Lord is a refuge and fortress. Yet at times we have doubt or we allow fear to break into our fortress. One way we can remind ourselves of the strength of the Lord, is to say it out loud. “I will say to the Lord, my refuge and my fortress…” (Psalm 91:2)

There is strength and guidance when we speak to the Lord and recognise his protection. It is not as if the Lord provides a sudden barrier, like in the action movies. Nor, is it found in our nursing knowledge or skills. The writer of the psalm or song used 4 different titles for the Lord: Most High, Almighty, the Lord, and God--these names represent the power of our Creator God and the endearing Love of our Covenant God. God’s name and character is the fortress.

Through our spoken words, our heart grabs onto that which our mind already knows—The Almighty, the Most High is our sanctuary. When our heart and mind recognise this priceless truth we can say with confidence…"My God in whom I trust” 

The Shelter of the Most High

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” 

Psalm 91:1

            Psalm 91 is a song of trust and hope that guides us in understanding our God and the protection he provides. It is not a guarantee that nothing bad will happen to us. Instead it is, as one bible scholar states “no fear and no fall”. This spiritual covering is a protection from elements outside the Lord’s hand. We do not have to be afraid of what comes our way in this life.

            Our God is the Almighty, the Supreme Being and Ruler of everything on earth and in heaven (1 Chronicles 29:11-13). And we have a choice to dwell with Him. Not just a onetime choice at salvation, but a daily surrender to the Most High. This choice brings the assurance of abiding with the Lord (1 John 4:15).Yes, pain and suffering may befall us, but we rest in the confidence that our Lord is in control and we can rest in the shadow of his presence.

            During recent personal events, the Lord opened my heart to the wisdom and blessing of His protection with Psalm 91. As the Lord continues to encourage me, I will encourage you with the strength and assurance each verse provides. My prayer is that His blessing will spill over to your colleagues, patients and family; for truly our cup runs over (Psalm 23:5).

Blessings,

Carrie

Moved with Compassion

As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, ‘Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David ‘ The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’ And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ They said to Him, ‘Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.’ Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.

Matt 20:29-43 (NASB)

There is a lot of talk in this country about ‘compassion’ at the moment –particularly in relation to nursing, and why people perceive that there is a lack of compassion in the profession. But what does compassion really mean?

Most Bible translations use the English ‘compassion’ (literally meaning, ‘to suffer alongside’) to translate several different words in the Bible – none of which has so simple a meaning.

In this passage, the Greek word translated ‘moved with compassion’ is splagchnizomai, literally meaning ‘to be moved in one’s innards’ – either the bowels or the organs within the rib-cage.  It is an expression of the most visceral, physical response to the needs and suffering of others. When Jesus hears the plea of the blind men to have their sight restored, he is moved to his guts.

But when we see Jesus profoundly moved here, he does not stop with feelings. He acts, decisively and firmly to address the need that he sees, and heals both men there and then. Compassion in the Bible is a verb, not a noun – like love, it only means anything if it leads to decisive action.

In our nursing, we are often told to keep a professional distance, not to get involved. But to be truly compassionate, we need to be open to the pain and suffering and need of our patients, at any level, and be willing and able to be truly moved and to respond decisively – whether that is sorting out displaced pillows to make someone comfortable, or ensuring that appropriate analgesia is provided on schedule, or simply being present with a person in the most profound and inexpressible distress.  If we cannot be moved and spurred to action by our patient’s need, how can we be truly compassionate?

Compassion – thoughts along the way!

Something to make your heart sing

The Call the Midwife series has touched many viewers’ hearts. One reason is that there have been beautiful precious moments where someone with compassion has reached into a another's life and met them at their point of need. One such time was when Sister Julienne, the head nun draws alongside a nun who is confused and suffering from Alzheimer’s. This nun, Sister Monica Joan, has made an error which could have proved fatal for a pregnant lady. Now in the chapel she asks the Lord to forgive her and protect everyone from the ‘demons’. And here comes the heart –touching scene. For Sister Juliene draws alongside her and gently says ‘ there are no demons, your mind gets tired that is all. When your mind gets forgets – we will remember.’

When I am old and losing it, this is the kind of person I want drawing alongside me. Don’t we all want someone who will reach into our lives when we are helpless and say ‘we are with you, we will walk the walk with you’ and where possible, even more ‘we will make things better!’ And there is more - don’t we want someone to do this because they want to do it? That they almost feel compelled to do it! This is what compassion is. It is when someone has a desire to reach in and help someone who is helpless and- unable to help themselves. To reach in at their point of need. Com  = with, passion = suffering. It’s about being open armed, not holding back but reaching out to help. Rather like a mother dropping her shopping and open armed – rushes over to pick up her child who has fallen over. But it’s not just about the initial reaching out, but that in her response there is a commitment to give on-going compassion, love and care , just as to Sister Monica Joan promises when she says ’when you forget – we will remember’”.

When we see this happening in films and more preciously in real life– it makes our hearts sing!

No singing here!

In contrast, many of us have read or heard stories from the Francis Report. Here the lack of compassion that many patients experienced has caused shock waves and disbelief across the country. It would seem that once too often there was no nurse available to step in, no one to help those who needed help – and as a consequence, patients were left in their faeces, patients were left dying of thirst, and patients were just left!    No hearts singing now, just questions and lots of them.

Maybe a question to ask is – where does compassion come from?

The short answer is that our ability to be compassionate comes from God. The Bible teaches that all human beings are capable of being compassionate because all human beings are made in the image of God – in other words we are made to be like God, to reflect him. And to be like God is to be compassionate, because God is described as the God of all compassion.

And so when we see others being compassionate, in big ways –  or little ways, maybe a kind smile, or a squeeze of an arm, just indicating that they are with someone who is sad or distressed, we shouldn’t think how amazing they are – but rather we should thank God for them. For in that small or bigger way, they are reflecting God’s image in their lives and others are benefitting.

That is all very well, but what about the times when there is lack of compassion shown in our own lives and in the lives of others.  What has happened then?  The answer is – The Fall.  The Fall marked the time when sin entered the world. It’s the time when mankind decided we wanted to rule God’s world. We wanted to decide what is right and what is wrong.

As a result, God judged mankind by sending them away from his presence, never to be able to return by their own efforts. No more close fellowship with God, no more perfect relationships with each other, no more perfect living in God’s world, all to end in death and a fearful future beyond.

But in God’s kindness, he didn’t remove his image from us completely. We still reflect something of God, but our image is distorted. Rather like when I look into a cracked mirror.  There is some thing about the image looking back at me that is me! But at the same time my image looks all wrong too.

And it is the ‘cracked mirror image’ that helps us understand why all human beings have a desire to reach into some ones’ life and meet them at their point of need – to be compassionate.

It helps us understand that when we reach in with compassion, the compassion we give, might not always be the best for those we seek to help, whether behind closed doors in families or in society generally.

Furthermore, it helps us understand that when societies start crying out for compassion, for example in the euthanasia debate and their cry is not rooted in a desire to reflect God’s image –then whole societies can find themselves going down a dark and dangerous road.

It also helps us understand why there are times when compassion is sadly lacking in our lives and the lives of others. It helps us understand why we can be so horribly cruel to each other, why we can walk past someone who is crying and not be stirred at all.

How unlike God we are when we are like this and sadly our behaviour confirms God’s judgment on us - that we all deserve a fearful judgement.

Something to make our hearts sing forever!

But again, God in his kindness had a plan to restore people like you and me back to himself for EVER! His plan exposes the very heart of who he is – a beautiful God of love and compassion.

As God looked out at mankind – his heart broke. For he saw our ruined image, once so beautiful as we reflected (and brought glory to) our maker. He saw Satan the great deceiver, influencing our very being and, as John Owen writes:

‘knowing that eternal distress was at everyone’s door, this aroused a desire in him to reach in and meet us at our greatest need…….”Come forth from your vain shelter, your hiding-place I will put myself into your condition. I will undergo and bear that burden of guilt and punishment which would sink you eternally into the bottom of hell. I will pay that which I never took; and be made temporally a curse for you, that you may attain to eternal blessedness”’.

And this truth is the key to any Christian as they consider what it is to be compassionate.

Come to Jesus first

That first, we need to come ‘forth’ as John Owen would say to Jesus. recognising in ourselves our terrible condition before God and knowing that Jesus and Jesus alone can help. Rather like leper’s encounter with Jesus in Mark 1:40-45:  He knew his need, he was desperate to be healed, and he came to Jesus, knowing that ‘if he was willing he could make him well’.

Come to him with humility. Because in coming to Jesus, we are recognising how far we have got things wrong and that we are dependent on Jesus stepping in and helping us.

And know the compassion of Jesus.

Jesus response to the leper’s request is immediate. He is filled with compassion, stretches out his hand and heals him. And so it is with us. As we sinners, turn and repent, so Jesus through his spirit rushes out to greet us and brings us into a relationship with his Father in heaven starting in this life and will go on forever!  And not only that, daily as we continue to acknowledge our dependence on Jesus, as we come to him in daily repentance in humility, so in little ways and big ways, he continues to reach into our lives with all compassion. Furthermore, with God’s spirit in us, we can start being renewed in the knowledge in the image of our creator (Col 3:10), knowing that one day, in the future we will fully reflect the image of our creator for ever!

As we are being renewed in this way daily, so we will start to feel the compassion that God feels, we will begin to be compassionate as Jesus is compassionate!

Coming to Jesus is the key to reaching out to others with compassion

Christian compassion means no more discrimination; Knowing this kind of love and compassion in our own lives will help us, even more, free us to reach into others’ lives with the compassion of Jesus. After all, we know that there was nothing about us that led Jesus to show us compassion. But he was! The cross proves it. And so, as we look out at others, we should not discriminate either.

A friend recently told me how she had been frustrated and angered by a patient who was both demanding and difficult. One morning she prayed to Jesus and asked for his forgiveness for not loving this patient. She then prayed that Jesus would give her his compassion. The result was that she now gets on much better with her patient and is developing a real love for her! Something of the image of God is shining through her! And what is more, other colleagues are noticing and are amazed! 

But even as I write these words, I am aware that I often lack compassion. There are times when I ignore others cries for help. It is true that I am still a work in progress, but my lack of compassion may be due to not grasping a key component to Christian compassion – that Christian compassion always includes sacrifice.  

Christian compassion always includes sacrifice

Returning to the encounter of the leper with Jesus. We read that Jesus commands him to ‘show himself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for his cleansing as a testimony to them.  You see, before the leper could enter back into society, before he could join others to worship in the temple, the law had to be fulfilled by a sacrifice being offered.

And so it is with the sacrifice of Jesus for us. In living the perfect life, Jesus fulfilled God’s law perfectly. And the law stated that a perfect lamb was the sacrifice for our sins. Jesus was that lamb, the lamb of God – who came to take away our sins – once and for all.

Here is the connection with compassion. The only way that Jesus could reach in and help us, was through his painful death on the cross. There was no other way!

Furthermore, if we are to be compassionate as Jesus is compassionate, then it will cost us too. When we wrestle with our lack of compassion toward others behind closed doors; when we are prepared to be spent for others. It will cost us in the way we spend our time as we put others needs before our own. It will cost us in the way we speak to others, with kindness and generosity. It may even cost our health.

Living like this will make our hearts sing, as we experience something of God’s power working in us changing us to become like his Son Jesus. It will make God’s heart sing as he works in us for this to happen. Others’ hearts might sing as they experience something of God’s compassion. Furthermore, for some, their experience will cause them to ask where it comes from, leading them to respond to the gospel! And that leads to a party heaven and – not wanting to overstate things – this will be good for our nation. 

To finish! A personal note for Mr Francis. If I were to write to you Mr Francis, I would like to recommend that gospel compassion (people hearing and responding to the gospel) will go a long way to answer our challenges within the NHS!

Salt and Light after the Francis Report: What Does it Mean for Christian Nurses?

The horror stories that emerged from the evidence gathered in the series of enquiries into the failure of care at Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust have shaken the long held national belief and trust in the NHS. Horror stories of patients left in soiled bedclothes because nurses were too busy to take them to the toilet, people being triaged by A&E receptionists, others being left unable to reach food or drink and literally dehydrating and starving to death.  The catalogue of neglect makes for horrific reading.  Hundreds, if not thousands of patients, are thought to have died and suffered unnecessarily as a result of poor care at just one hospital.  At the time of writing, thirteen more NHS Trusts are under investigation after patients and staff raised
concerns about care standard.

The second Francis Report published in February sought to address the reasons for wider, systemic failure to police the care standards at Mid Staffs and across the NHS.  The Trust management are castigated for a blind focus on targets and cost savings at the expense of frontline staffing and quality of patient care. The professional bodies (most notably the Royal College of Nursing) are attacked for a failure to
support or take seriously whistle-blowers.  Other regulatory bodies, professional bodies, educational institutions, the NHS Executive and the Department of Health all come in for criticism.

Francis makes 290 recommendations – it is not a short or easy read, even for a public inquiry, which means, sadly, that few if any of them will ever be taken up.  Central to his recommendations is that transparency becomes a legal duty for NHS trusts and professional bodies – a ‘duty of candour’ should be legally enforced on all NHS staff, requiring honesty about mistakes.  Furthermore, gagging orders to stop disclosure of ‘unpleasant’ stories in the media should be made illegal, and professional bodies must be more
proactive in supporting whistle blowers reporting on failures of care.

The other central theme is that there needs to be an overall culture change in the NHS that puts patients and their needs at the centre of the system. This seems so fundamental that the inquiry’s need to state it explicitly and in detail suggests how far NHS structures and institutions have drifted away from their original purpose.
Significantly, while good leadership is vital to this, Francis makes it clear that the culture change is the responsibility of every NHS employee, from ‘porters and cleaners to the Secretary of State’.  It is a bottom up change, not further top down restructuring that the inquiry advocates.

Sadly, the government’s response seems to have missed the boat on this last theme, focusing instead on the exact opposite – more top down regulation with yet more new sets of quality targets, a new inspectorate for hospitals, and a proposal that nursing students be required to spend a year before training working as care assistants.  Legal measures to stop NHS managers responsible for failing trusts being re-employed in the health service and a legal duty of candour on health professionals and institutions finish off the main responses from government.

It is hard to be in nursing in the UK at the moment, as it seems everyone is blaming us for the systemic failure of the health service.  But it cannot be laid at the door of a single profession or single set of values or government policies.  It is institutional sin at its worst – a culture within institutions and professions that promotes the needs of the providers over the needs of patients.

Paul reminds us that ‘our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms’ (Ephesians 6:12).  There is a spiritual side to this – something of the enemy that blinds even the best of us to the truth at times.  So first and foremost we need to pray – for our professions, our workplaces, our managers, and our political leaders.

But most of us go into nursing because we are compassionate people. As Christians we also have the strong motivation to do as Jesus taught us – to do for the least of those in need what we would do for Jesus himself.  So we also have a prophetic responsibility to speak truth, to be whistle-blowers, to care in a different spirit when those around us seem to have lost compassion, and to encourage, commend and work alongside those who are caring to the highest and most compassionate standards (Isaiah 1:17, Psalm 82:2-4 and Proverbs 31:8-9).

We need to be salt and light in the NHS more than ever, and to win back trust from the public.  It will take prayer, it will take faithfulness and courage and it will take leadership. Above all, it will take time. This may seem impossible, but with God, nothing is impossible (Matthew 19:26).

What can you do? Start with prayer. Start everything with prayer.  If you can, find one or two others who will pray with you—and pray for others who will also join you to pray, who will act with integrity and courage and compassion.  Pray for your workplace, your colleagues, your leaders, your patients.  Let God transform your workplace one person, one prayer at a time.  Ask God to show you the way—at whatever level you work, from student to Charge Nurse, from Director of Nursing to Staff Nurse.  It doesn't matter that you feel you cannot make a difference—God can, and he uses those who doubt their own influence and voice to speak, if they will just trust him to speak.

And, above all, do not despair, but trust God and seek to honour him wherever you work.  This is a golden moment for God to work in our health system.

Steve Fouch

No Fear

Many of us know the story of Paul, who was Saul. The person instrumental to Paul’s conversion is Ananias, “a disciple of the Lord.”  The Lord comes to him in a vision and directs Ananias to go and present the gospel to Saul. Remember, Saul had been violently persecuting Christians. So when Ananias receives this personal directive from God, he argues and says, “Excuse me Lord, do you know who this Paul is?” Ananias is trembling with fear and not sure if the Lord is really saying, “Go”.

Fear is a powerful deterrent to our obedience to God. Many of us may not be asked to go someplace fearful, but we may be asked to talk with someone who frightens us. Or we may be asked by God take on an unfamiliar role in nursing, or provide care for patients different from ourselves. The Lord will ask you to do something that is uncomfortable. It is also important to note that, what is fearful for me, may not be fearful for you.

The Lord responds to Ananias' fear by saying, “Go, because this man (Saul) is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel”(Acts 9:15). So, Ananias follows the Lord’s instructions and meets with Saul to baptize him. Saul receives the first hand of love and forgiveness through Ananias.

The Lord will call on us and we will have fears. But, the Lord will guide us, strengthen us, and most importantly work through us for His glory.

Global Fellowship

If you were recently at the NCFI international conference in Chile or a regional/national conference, you probably connected with nurses from another country or region. During these conferences we not only enjoy beautiful scenes, explore new cultures, and gain nursing knowledge; we also open our eyes and hearts to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

             

Our connection with nurses outside our area helps us see how nursing is different, yet the same around the world. We may have different jobs in nursing, yet we share the bond of caring for patients. We learn of the various hardships in nursing. Some nurses lack supplies, some lack enough nurses, while others lack money.

            

We also share our personal struggles with one another. Some nurses face persecution for their Christian faith. While others may be experiencing health and/or family concerns. In fact, global fellowship is one of the many exciting things about NCFI. For through our connection with a large multi-member international organisation, we can build relationships founded on Christ. Take time this month to pray for each region. 

“Be on alert with all perseverance and petition for all saints” (Ephesians 6:18). Praise God for his work across the globe in nursing and lift up those who experience hardships. 

Blessings,

Carrie Dameron

NCFI Cares - A meditation on the Cross

With Good Friday tomorrow, I wanted encourage you to meditate on Isaiah 53 using "The Message" translation. "The Message" is a Bible that uses more figurative and paraphrases then actual words translated from the original Hebrew and Greek.

Reading Isaiah 53 in this translation will be a more personal and heart wrenching portrayal of Jesus' sacrifice.

Carrie Dameron 

Isaiah 53  [The Message]

1Who believes what we’ve heard and seen?
Who would have thought God’s saving power would look like this?

2-6The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling, a scrubby plant in a parched field.
There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look.
He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.
One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.
We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures.
But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!
He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed.
We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost. We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way.
And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on him, on him.

7-9He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn’t say a word.
Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared, he took it all in silence.
Justice miscarried, and he was led off—and did anyone really know what was happening?
He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of my people.
They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man,
Even though he’d never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn’t true.

10 Still, it’s what God had in mind all along, to crush him with pain.
The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he’d see life come from it—life, life, and more life.
And God’s plan will deeply prosper through him.

11-12 Out of that terrible travail of soul, he’ll see that it’s worth it and be glad he did it.
Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant, will make many “righteous ones,”
as he himself carries the burden of their sins.
Therefore I’ll reward him extravagantly—the best of everything, the highest honors—
Because, he looked death in the face and didn’t flinch, because he embraced the company of the lowest.
He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many, he took up the cause of all the black sheep.

A Nurses Prayer...

A prayer from Mother Teresa and used by her Sisters of Charity in their care for the sick, poor, and dying:

Dearest Lord, may I see you today and every day in the person of your sick, and, whilst nursing them, minister unto you.

Though you hide yourself behind the unattractive disguise of the irritable, the exacting, the unreasonable, may I still recognize you, and say: "Jesus, my patient, how sweet it is to serve you."  

Lord, give me this seeing faith, then my work will never be monotonous. I will ever find joy in humoring the fancies and gratifying the wishes of all poor sufferers.

O beloved sick, how doubly dear you are to me, when you personify Christ; and what a privilege is mine to be allowed to tend you.

Sweetest Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity of my high vocation, and its many responsibilities. Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way to coldness, unkindness, or impatience.

And O God, while you are Jesus, my patient, deign also to be to me a patient Jesus, bearing with my faults, looking only to my intention, which is to love and serve you in the person of each of your sick.

Lord, increase my faith, bless my efforts and work, now and forevermore. Amen.

Beautiful, Beautiful

Sometimes we need reminders of the personal intimacy of our God.

 I was listening to a Christian radio station, when a simple, powerful song came on.

 “Like sunlight burning at midnight, Making my life something so. Beautiful, beautiful”

 These simple words of the chorus truly burned into my moment. I was struck by the simplicity, yet complexity of God’s grace as compared to the bright shining sun into a dark night. God’s grace is just like that…sunlight burning into our life, such contrast to our earthly life of midnight.

God brightens our work in nursing, radiates our hearts in professional and personal relationships. He especially provides warmth to our intimacy with Jesus Christ. God’s grace even after salvation makes our life “beautiful, beautiful”. No matter where you are on your journey of faith…baby Christian, stumbling adolescent, or mature adult. God always brings the warm bright light of grace into our lives and makes everything beautiful, beautiful! (1 Peter 1:3-4)

Here is the link for a video of the song… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbCfyZHSQbE

Blessings,

Carrie Dameron

Stop, Look and Listen

Nurses Christian Fellowship International

In Matthew 17:1-4, Jesus is meeting with Elijah and Moses. Peter interrupts Jesus to suggest building a tabernacle for all three of them. Suddenly, a bright cloud surrounds them. A voice from heaven declares “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Matthew 17:5).  As I read this passage, I was reminded of the simple instructions to children  “Stop, Look, and Listen.” We teach children to use these 3 steps when crossing the street, “Stop walking, look for cars, and listen to instructions.”  

         

The Lord is just as simple with us. When I am going in the wrong direction, confused by different messages, or too busy, God says “Stop.” He then will direct me to Jesus through a worship song, sermon teaching, or bible verse.  Now, that I have stopped and am focusing on Jesus, I am ready to listen to what God has for me. A further exploration found in prayer and scripture, brings clarity, instructional wisdom and/or personal encouragement from the Father.  

        

Thank you Lord, for interrupting our lives to bring a freshness of your word, 

Amen 

Carrie Dameron

NCFI Cares

Rest in Faith

A boat is traveling across the sea when the wind and waves begin to knock the boat around. Most of the people on the boat are fearful as the waves bring water into the boat. Yet, one passenger is asleep on a soft cushion below the deck of the boat. The storm continues and the boat begins to fill with water. All the passengers are in a panic except for sleeping passenger (Mark 4:35-41).

Our nursing boat is often rocked by a storm. The storm can be a change in funding, challenges to patient care, or not enough staff. We can quickly feel overwhelmed by the winds of change and the rising water of uncertainty. In fact, nursing and health care are always experiencing some type of storm.
         
Just as Jesus rested in confidence on the storm-rocked boat, we can rest in him. Jesus cares about health care, nursing, and our patients. He will continue to guide us and provide for you, me and our patients. So, when we find ourselves in a health care storm, we can rest in faith and God’s promises to provide.

Carrie Dameron

NCF (USA)

Look for NCFI Cares every 2 weeks from Nurses Christian Fellowship International

Francis Report: Some thoughts for Christian Nurses & Midwives

Today’s long-awaited publication of the second Francis Report into Mid-Staffordshire NHS Trust is being hailed by many as a watershed in the National Health Service.  Whereas the four previous inquiries into the failure at Mid-Staffs focussed on the specific failures of the hospital staff and management, this second report from Robert Francis QC focusses on why the many checks and balances in the NHS regulatory system so completely failed to pick on the problems.

The report highlights a massive managerial, cultural and organisational failure not just at the trust, but in commissioning bodies, professional bodies, training institutions, the NHS Executive and the Department of Health.  Somehow or other, every part of the system had a vested interest in ignoring or marginalising reports from staff who were raising concerns about the failures at Mid-Staffs. 

Of particular concern to nurses are the failures highlighted in the Royal College of Nursing in its role as both a professional body and a trade union.  It failed to support whistle blowers, and failed to take seriously the issues its own members were bringing to its attention.

As Christians we are obviously concerned to show the love and compassion of God to our patients – it’s why we went into nursing. But as a report on the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme this morning highlighted, so many nurses and midwives across the NHS even now struggle with staff shortages, target culture and pointless bureaucracy which constantly put pressure on them to spend less time and energy actually caring for their patients’ needs.  One midwife sadly said that while she loved being a midwife, her advice to anyone training today would be to seek as soon as possible to practice anywhere other than within the NHS or the UK!   All those speaking in this report wanted to remain anonymous and had their words spoken by actors – such is the climate of fear many feel in the NHS.  To speak out is to jeopardise your career.

This sounds very dispiriting, and I hear other stories regularly of very good care, and of nurses and midwives loving their work and working environment.  But so many also report their struggles with a system that tries to stop them caring.  Francis challenges this, proposing that openness and a culture of transparency are vital for the professions and institutions in the NHS. Speaking out for the poor and the vulnerable is a core calling for all God’s people, and we should be the first in line to speak out appropriately when things are wrong. 

The report also challenges all NHS staff to change the workplace culture away from protecting the institution and its priorities and towards caring for the patient and their needs.  It seems shocking that this needs to be said in this day and age, but the evidence of the report suggests that too often it is the protection of organisational interests that trumps care for our patients.  

Christians are called to show compassion to all who are in need, and to be salt and light wherever we find ourselves.  How can we be agents for change in our places of work? How do we each day model to our students, our colleagues, our managers and our juniors how to truly care? What values and priorities do we bring to the workplace each day, and how much do they rub off on those with whom we work?  It goes both ways, of course, so we need to be regularly filled with the Spirit and fed on the Word if we are going to come in a different spirit.  For that we need not only our churches to support and pray for us in our work – we need to seek each other out and support and pray for one another.

We will be waiting until March to hear what the government is going to do – how many of the Francis Report’s 290 recommendations it will actually put into practice waits to be seen.  But the report makes one thing clear – it will be bottom up change from ordinary staff that will truly revolutionise our health service, not more top down reforms. That is a challenge to us, to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the NHS and be his agents for change.