Ouch (Letter 11)

[SisterKristal]

Ouch (Letter 11)

When we go to church, what happens? Do we become a different person for a little while, or do we remain as the same loving person we are? Do we give our hands out as an offering of love and friendship or do we walk on by? How many times have you been the one to reach out your hand to shake someone else's you do not know? Is your heart in the gray or black of love? Let us work right now to cure this if it is so.

First, how about a prayer?

"Lord, please opne my heart to Your love. Let me not see people as all evil, but Lord, let me see the love in them. Let me also be able to examine my own heart and see the wrongs of my life. Help me Lord to be a better loving person who dwells with real truth in my heart. Lord, let me be like You. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.

Now then let me tell you about truth because truth will set you free. I do not, in any of the scriptures, see where Jesus wore a false face. His love for all of us was revealed in His actions. By the casting of demons, to the healing of the sick. His hands reached out to all in need and also to those whom needed a hearts touch.

Jesus was also touched by others in the crowd. Yet, He knew when the power of His love for others left Him, through the form of healing, by the one who touched Him. This was in the story of the woman who had the suject of bleeding. Jesus did not have to focus His love on anyone. It was there for the taking and people as they are, took. So will your life become if you desire the true feelings of love in which the Lord gives to us freely.

There will be days in your life when you do not feel like being nice or friendly, but do not fret, they are short lived as long as you stay close to Him. Your love and friendship will be consumed by a hungry nation of people, but you will stand. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. . Strength with prayer, and fellowship with God, becomes strength and love for mankind. No matter how wickedly you are treated, the love given to you by God, will consume their hatred and wickedness towards you. Matthew 17:20 tells us about our faith in the Lord and if our faith was just the size of a mustard seed nothing will be impossible for us. But the faith talked about here is to remove demons. It talks about doing so with prayer and fasting.

The weaknesses we feel are not long lived. Because as we pray and fast, we are strengthened through the power of God. So the times we feel like being a scrooge towards others should not even exist unless we allow it.

Our power over sin is with the power we possess through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are not weakened by the power of others but by our own weariness from the lack of time spent with the Lord. For all of those who believe they have the power, sorry. What you have is only through the grace of the Lord God. And as far as you may know, it could be dead tomorrow if you do not use it to glorify the Lord. I have often wondered why God allows situations of unreasonable effects happen to the lowly of the earth. Then through the chastisement of the Holy Spirit to these ponderings of mine, I find God is strengthening His children through trial and error to become His power on earth. As we face the hard times and feel like we are all alone, never fear. JESUS IS ALWAYS WITH HERE!

[hughpatterson]

Thank You!

I know I go on and on about walking the walk and people practicing what they preach in daily life, but I see a lot of people not being a loving person outside of church. I mean, I try to have love and compassion everyday, but sometimes I don't give 100% of myself. However, I try my best. I am not a perfect person and I get mad, but I try to walk the right path. Thanks again for the post.

[forestdipzinski]

I really like this posting. A false face is actually hypocrisy, it's where the term hypocrite comes from. It refers to the mask actors used to wear on stage, which were false faces.

Let me tell you a problem I have. I care about people, I really do. Sometimes, though, I feel I lack compassion. I've been in health care for almost 30 years. The first 20 were spent for the most part in ICU/ER/Trauma. I've literally seen hundreds of deaths in that time. Accidents, shootings, stabbings, suicides, young, old, and everthing in between. I've been involved in so many "Code Blues", I've lost count. I cannot allow my emotions to get the bet of me for if I do, the patient's chances of survival plummet. I have to be at my best in all aspects to give the persn their best chance. I have learned to "shut it out" over this time. Have you ever seen a baby die? You never get used to it, thank God. Yet sometimes I feel almost emotionless because i've learned to suppress my feelings. If I didn't, I'd go insane.

Reading what Pastor Kristal said was eye opeing. My coping skills in this area really are tied to my relationship with God. I can see the need to draw closer so I can genuinely show the compassion I have but am afraid to feel. Thank you for this post.

His servant,

Forest

[johnorth]

Forest,
There is a difference in what you do and what most people do. This is my opinion, pray, and pray alot. Don't be afraid to feel, know that what you do is doing everything that is hunamly possible to save lives. I do want to tell you the yes I have seen a baby die, my own. Charlie died in my wifes arms at 17 day's old. I was not able to even hold him when he was alive. I know how hard that can be for a parent, so it must be even harder to do it for a profession. Now there are many things that the Lord has said that will help you here in this situation but here is what I think He would have me to tell you today-- fear not for I am with you alway's. Do you remember that He said that to those who came before us. Many of them, to Joshua, only be strong and of good courage. I will never leave you nor forsake you. We married Him when we were saved. We as sometimes odd as that may sound are His bride. That means that like any good husband, He is gonna take very good care of us. Only He is not like an earthly husband, He don't quit or give up when things get tough. He is there to lead and guide and comfort those who are in need. We are the ones who are to represent Him while He is preparing a place for us.
Now I want you to think about this. I think God has been dealing with you along time about this particular issue. I also think that He wants you to feel so that you may be able to do both of your jobs more effectively. Does that make sense. I want you to pray about that and if need be get back to me.

[forestdipzinski]

John,

As always, thank you for your insight. Ironically, today, I have to remove a baby from life support who has a dead bowel. It came up unexpectedly and in my first day in the NICU in a week, I get this assignment. I felt terrible when I heard of the situation yesterday, and was given this assignment today. I see God's hand in it because I rarely work in the section of the NICU to which I was assigned today. I am feeling it. I met the family today.

I have seen parents go through what you went through. I have embraced them, cried with them and I know I have the feelings for them. I remember one child I helped and his mother brings her by every few months to see me. She was 26 weeks and almost didn't make it. It was a long haul. She recently made me some cookies and on the bag it said: To Forest, my guardian angel. Love (patient's name). That really felt good. Most of our outcomes are good. We do more good than harm and it is rewarding to feel it. I guess I have more feeling than I thought I did-it just is hard sometimes. Ironically, or maybe not, I was praying about all of this on my way in this morning, before I knew of my assignment. The hand of God, as you said, John. Thanks again.

Your brother in Christ,

Forest

[johnorth]

God comforts us in all tribulation so we shall be able to comfort those who are going through the same. I know that this is a paraphrase but keep this in mind always. You are there for a purpose. My wife and I didn't have anyone like you, sure there was compassion from the people who work there and it must have been hard on them, but not one that I know of that was a believer in our Lord. Comfort them my friend with the love that our Father comforts us. Be to them the light in the dark. Jesus said to those who listened to Him so long ago that " you are the light of the world ". Now those who He was speaking to were not saved, they as most of us know were Jews, but none the less unsaved. If they being Jews who were not yet saved, were the light then. Then how much more are we who are "spiritual Israel" covered, washed, saved and redeemed by the Blood of the precious Lamb of God? Comfort those who are in need, tell them the truth though at times it may be hard. God used this same terrible situation ( not that He took my son, I know different, God doesn't cause death but make a way of escape for people), in my life and the life of my dear sweet wife to bring us back to Him. Like many, we both prayed and prayed for God to hear but to no avail, not that God is not faithful, but we didn't know anything really. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge is what He said at one point. The truth be known that was me in a nut hades. My life was a mess and so was the life of my wife. We had a form of godliness but denied the power of the Most High to work in our lives. Knowing the we were both saved but not much else. Knowing that we as best we knew how loved God and thanked Him and prayed. I have said often that if I would have known then what I know now things may have been different. The one thing I know for sure on that account is that the Lord never quit on me, or any of us. He declares " I have loved you with an everlasting LOVE. When He said that He meant it. He turned tradegdy into triumph almost over night with me, it took my wife a while longer than it did me. Be that person that wasn't there for us, Forest. I know the pain that those people are going through, thats what God has appointed you to do. Do it well, run the race and don't quit. Face it knowing that you have been called for such time as this. Thats what He said in His word and thats what He is saying now.

[forestdipzinski]

Thanks again, John. I just told the Chaplain that I was tired of meting her like this. We've worked together on several of these cases and are both glad the other is there. I view this work as my ministry and as you know, ministry can be hard. I know God is there for us. Many a patient and family has expressed relief in knowing that a believer was taking care of them. I have been asked by patients to pray with them upon learning I am a fellow believer. It's a fine line. I can't and won't push my beliefs because undermining a patient's spirituality is unethical. Still, the Lord speaks to my heart on many a case and I know when to speak and even what to say, just as Jesus said I would. I appreciate the words of encouragement, my friend. God bless you!

Forest

[johnorth]

I have more to say on these lines but now is not the time. I will write to you soon and privately to say what I need to. You are doing well my friend, and you are right where you need to be. A broken and contrite heart is what the Lord will use despite our faults and shortcomings that drive us so insidiously nuts, trying to get rid of them by ourselves. LOL. To anyone else who reads this don't say nothing about me trying to do it myself sometimes because you have to. We all have. Paul said to look past those things that are in the past ( our mistakes and shortcomings) and press on. My brother press on. If all of us are to do anything worthy for Him, its to let Jesus live BIG in us. Ever heard the song -- Live Out LOUd. Well, brother live today like it was the last, because it just may be. Live Out Loud for our Lord Jesus, that Name above every Name, Highly exalted and Worthy of all praise. If you read it carefully you can see where in the Gospels Jesus tells us this and in the Book of Acts the disciples and the apostles did to. How do you think so many came to the Lord.