"So Long, Farewell" Fan Video

An interesting rendition of a classic from the "Sound of Music"

Here's to all my nursing friends! Enjoy!



I have a college break coming up in less than 2 weeks, so I am hoping to post a couple updates.

Until then,

Andrea

John Waller "While I'm Waiting" feat. scenes from FIREPROOF

I know I have been quiet here on my blog. Nursing school is to blame for my quietness :) I am blessed as I see where God is leading in my life.

This song has come to mean a lot to me. I have learned and am learning a lot about waiting on the Lord.

May the Lord bless your day!

Andrea

PS: I will try to do a photo update sometime soon of pictures that I have taken. But I am not making promises :)

Lord, I Need You

Lord I need You, when the sea of life is calm

O Lord I need you when the wind is blowing strong

Whether trials come or cease, keep me always on my knees

Lord I need You, Lord I need You

Sometimes when life seems gentle and blessings flood my way,

I turn my gaze away from you, and soon forget to pray

But when the sky grows darker and courage turns to fear

My anxious voice cries upward with words You long to hear

Lord I need You, when the sea of life is calm

O Lord I need you when the wind is blowing strong

Whether trials come or cease, keep me always on my knees

Lord I need You, Lord I need You

Lord help me to remember, I’m weak but You are strong

I cannot sing apart from You, for Lord You are my song

Although I’m prone to wander and boast in all I do

Lord keep my eyes turned upward, so I depend on You
(Ron Hamilton)

Singing this song many times over in the past 6 months has spoke to me. I realized my constant need for the Lord in my daily life. Not one days goes by that I do not need Him. Recognizing my weakness without Him has drawn to my knees to ask Him to come by side, because I need Him!

Blessings! 

A New Day Dawning

Having recently started working third shift, I soon found there was something that I longed for during each shift. No matter how tough the shift was or how easy it was, there was a moment in the shift that seems to fill me with peace and revive my weary human body. 

"What" you might wonder?

It is the promise of a new day. 

The beauty of each morning as the sun began to top the mountains or peek through the clouds. And you might say that not every day is the sun visible. How true that is, but even though it is hidden from eye, it is still there. As dawn breaks across the horizon, just the promise of a new day fills one with peace and revives deep down. 

So it is with our Christian life. New days dawn in our walk with Christ; some bright and cheery, others damp and dreary. And it is always easy to rejoice when the sun is bright, life is full of joys and blessings. But so often it is even harder to be happy when the skies are filled with clouds of disappointments, trials, hardships. As children of the King, we are reminded of the mercies that are new every day, whether they be something as little as a beautiful sunrise or  something as big as physical healing in the life of a loved one. Even when the day is drear, it is filled with the mercies of the Lord. Just by being alive is indication of His mercy extended toward you or me.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

So whether your day is bright or drear, the Lord has bestowed His mercies upon you. When the way is bright, thank Him for what He has done. And when the way is drear and hard, look for the small things that He has blessed you with.

Look for that new day! Wait patiently for it and dwell in the beauty that the Lord has bestowed in the bright and the drear.

Remember that there is a NEW DAY for all those that seek Him! It could happen any day!

PS. A "new" day has dawned in my life. I am now officially registered for the clinical aspect of Nursing. This has been a long awaited moment of mine, having studied 2.5 years of part-time gen ed studies in preparation for this moment. I am looking forward to seeing where God leads from here.

The Apple Tree

Just yesterday as I listened to some CDs that had been stored away for some time. And I was filled with joy and peace as I heard an old gospel song that has meant so much to me over the years. A song of invitation and reconciliation. A song of surrender to the Lord. A song that the Lord used to speak to me to prompt me to "come home"  and into His arms of love.

Coming home means so much to an individual. Maybe having spent time away on a trip, studying away from home. Coming home has a feeling of comfort and a sense of being. A place where one can be just who they are meant to be. 

In a spiritual sense, coming home is a feeling of joy and peace. A feeling of being completely surrendered to Jesus and His will for my life. No matter what I may have done, He is standing there with open arms, waiting for me. Waiting for you. 

Day after day I would listen to this song and I sensed a feeling of conviction. The Spirit continued to nudge my soul until one Sunday morning, the Lord called and I answered. I came home! Oh, the feeling of peace and joy that flooded my soul that morning, as I recognized the love of God for a soul such as mine. 

Four years later as I dealt with issues and struggles in my personal life, inwardly I slipped away from serving God and being completely surrendered to Him. At a meeting, the Lord used the song leader to lead this invitational song at the close of revivals, calling me back to Him.

And just as He saved my soul that first day, He was waiting for me with open arms, willing me back to Him. And He is waiting with arms outstretched for you! He loves you with an immeasurable love! 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Just like Ma and Pa were waiting for their son with open arms, Jesus is waiting for you. His arms are wide open, calling you home to Him, fully surrendered to Him, filled with peace and joy that only He can give.

Daily seek Him! Daily surrender your life to Him! Lord, I'm coming home to the peace and joy that only you can give!

Come home my child, come home! Find rest in the arms of Jesus. He is waiting for you!

Finding rest. Part of a series of "Finding Spiritual Whitespace Blog Tour." Find more out here.

Finding Spiritual Whitespace - A Book Review

Several months ago, I came across an email invitation to be part of a book launch team. The name of the book was what really caught my attention - Finding Spiritual Whitespace: awakening your soul to rest. I accepted the invitation to be part of this exclusive group and embark on this journey of rest. 

To be honest, I really wasn't sure what to expect as I opened the book. Not even past the introduction, I was struck by the vulnerability that Bonnie Gray expressed. In allowing her vulnerable moments to be penned out and shared publicly, she expressed her need for rest and gently coaxed others on this journey with her. Each story gave yet another glimpse into a soul seeking rest, followed by thought-provoking questions that opened the reader to find rest. 

The more I spent time using her experiences as a guide to rest, I identified with questions that she penned. Bonnie Gray, also known as the Faith Barista took life experiences, creating "whitespaces" and applied them to a simple, yet complex concept known as rest. 

Bonnie is not asking us to do something extraordinary; no, not at all. Rather she is prompting us to do something that even our Lord and Savior, in all His perfectness, yet fleshly body, needed to do as He walked this earth - REST! 

"And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into

a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening had come,

he was there alone." Matt 14:23 KJV

If Christ as a Supreme Being needed to rest, how much more do we as sinful creatures, saved by grace, need to step apart and find rest?

I encourage you to join us on this journey of finding spiritual whitespace, seeking rest!

Reviewed by 

I Love to Steal Awhile Away

As I have shared this Spiritual Whitespace journey with many individuals, one of my favorite songs of calling me to rest is the following song:

Just to steal awhile away, amidst the hustle and bustle of life to seek rest and spend time with the Master of rest - we all need such moments. Take time today, how little or how big to just steal away and rest!

Join us on this journey!

A Trip to Malpaisillo

The long-awaited day arrived on May 28th. The day had come for my sister and I to travel back to Nicaragua - it had been 2.5 years since I had seen many of these dear people. At 5:30am began the long day of travel for us, but we were excited and looking forward to the final destination. We flew out of Harrisburg at 10:38am, flying to Washington-Dulles, then to Houston, with the final destination being Managua, Nicaragua at approximately 9:30pm (CST). 

It was so great to see these familiar faces after a long day of travel. We headed to Malpaisillo, located about 1 hr 45 minutes. We arrived shortly after 12am, tired from a long day, but excited to finally be there. The next day started off with a bang. 

A Mother's Day party was planned for the mothers of the students who attended Colegio Cristiano Ezperanza Viva. A neighbor lady made a big pot of Arroz Relleno and the VS girls prepared a cake for everyone. Games were planned for the start of the party and  the fun was topped of with a piñata. 

The mothers and their students.

At the current time, there are four Nicaraguan students, as well 3 American students(children of the pastor serving in Nicaragua). The mothers all had a great time seeing the environment that surrounds their children 5 days a week, as well as relating to the other mothers there. For me, it was great to be there and meet the new people that are involved with the mission and church there.

Friday evening the local youth-age young people came to the church for an evening of soccer. They played several games as it thundered in the distance. The lightning was so bright and was flashing all around. After the games were over, we all gathered around for a time of singing, before passing out sandwiches, snack, and a drink. After eating, they played for a little longer before heading to their respective homes.  

Saturday morning the VS girls and all of the visiting girls headed to Leon. After dropping Virginia off at Richard's, the rest of us headed to Poneloya for a morning on the beach. It was great to walk along the shore and spend some time in the water. We headed back just before lunch, stopping at San Juan Market to buy fruit for smoothies. 

Saturday evening we had another youth event, this time with the church youth and the single staff. Christine made a large pot of rice and sweet-n-sour chicken & vegetables. Wendy and I agreed to take care of the dessert/snack. We decided to attempt to make kettle corn, which actually went pretty good once we got the propane heat adjusted properly and the youth seemed to enjoy it.

The church sign

Sunday there was two church services. In the morning service, Wendy & I taught the children's Sunday School class, which I enjoyed thoroughly. In  the evening, we had a song service. It was so wonderful to be singing in Spanish again, united with other church people.

When we arrived in Nicaragua, it was very dry. Dark clouds would form from time to time, but often times it would not rain. However, there was a few heavy thunderstorms before our trip ended. The one storm we managed to capture the beauty of a rainbow as we watched the approaching storm - a reminder of how God promised to not destroy the earth with a flood again. 

Not only do the humans appreciate the appearance of rain, but also the animals gladly receive the rain. This little pig was running back and forth on the road, enjoying the pouring rain that was refreshing the earth and making a mud puddle for him. 

Tuesday afternoon was yet another afternoon of classes. This time it was children's classes. There were little ones and big ones all around. I agreed to teach the little children's class, which was great fun to be with the little ones who had tons of energy.

Wednesday morning, Wendy & I helped Christine make a batch of doughnuts before walking to Terminal to do some final shopping. Christine walks around Malpaisillo selling her donuts one morning a week and meeting new people each time. She walks around calling "las donuts, lleva las donuts." She found it to be a great opportunity to spend with other ladies.

Thursday morning at 3am, we headed to Managua to board a plane to bring us back to United States. Our time in Nicaragua had flown by, but I was challenged and blessed as I saw the work of God continuing there in Nicaragua. Seeing the potential of the many individuals that they relate to from day to day has challenged me again to let me light shine bright as I serve here in PA

The sun setting over Chicago

Blessings to you as you serve where God has called you. I will leave you with a parting reminder. A favorite song in Spanish. The translation is below:

The Apple of My Eye by Daniel Calveti

You saw me when nobody saw me

You loved me, I love

You saw me when nobody saw me

You loved me when nobody loved me

And you gave me a name

I am your child

Apple of your eye

Because you loved me

And gave me a name

I am your child

The apple of your eye

Because you loved me

You loved me

I love you more than my life

And you gave me a name

I am your child

The apple of your eye because you love me

And you gave me a name

I am your child

The Apple of your eye

Because you loved me

You loved me

You Are Mine!

As I sat, seeking rest, waiting, an empty page. Longing for soul rest, a song came to mind - a song I have sung many times since January. A song that the youth chorus sings and today that song ministered to me. A whisper that this was for me.

You Are Mine - David Haas

I will come to you in the silence
I will lift you from all your fear
You will hear My voice
I claim you as My choice
Be still, and know I am near

I am hope for all who are hopeless
I am eyes for all who long to see
In the shadows of the night,
I will be your light
Come and rest in Me

Chorus:
Do not be afraid, I am with you
I have called you each by name
Come and follow Me
I will bring you home
I love you and you are mine

I am strength for all the despairing
Healing for the ones who dwell in shame
All the blind will see, the lame will all run free
And all will know My name

Chorus:
Do not be afraid, I am with you
I have called you each by name
Come and follow Me
I will bring you home
I love you and you are mine

I am the Word that leads all to freedom
I am the peace the world cannot give
I will call your name, embracing all your pain
Stand up, now, walk, and live

Chorus:
Do not be afraid, I am with you
I have called you each by name
Come and follow Me
I will bring you home
I love you and you are mine

Finding soul rest today!

Participating in "Whitespace" community by Faith Barista!

Compiled List of Nicaraguan Updates

Many of you who I have met since returning from Nicaragua have asked about the work that was done there and the time that I spent there. I have recently added all my emails, that were sent during my time there, to my blog to allow you see what was done at the missions there. I also decided to create one post with the links to all the posts to give make it easier accessible for those who would like to read more about it. If at anytime you have questions about anything, feel free to ask and I will do my best to answer them. 

Nicaraguan Updates

#1: September 21, 2009 - First Two Weeks of Language School

#2: October 21, 2009 - 3rd and 4th Weeks of Language School

#3: November 5, 2009 - Completion of Language School

#4: November 14, 2009 - Amidst rain, birthdays, and visitors...

#5: Novmeber 27, 2009 - For thy mercy is great above the heavens...

#6: December 31, 2009 - Harvest Truly is Great...

#7: January 7, 2010 - New Life

#8: January 17, 2010 - An Upward Call
#9: February 4, 2010 - Changes, happenings, blessings....

#10 February 18, 2010 - Dust, insects...but God is faithful!

#11: March 10, 2010 - Time...how it flies

#12: March 25, 2010 - Smoke, dust....the list goes on...

#13: April 7, 2010 - Rain Showers, Beautiful Sunsets, Naughty Children

#14: April 22, 2010 - Truck problems, Climbing Cerro Negro, Piglets, and much more....

#15: May 6, 2010 - LP Vaccination Day, Birthday Party, Staff Trip....

#16: May 17, 2010 - Girls' Class, Sunday Night Church...

#17: June 3, 2010 - Rain, Mother's Day, Planting

#18: June 29, 2010 - Class time, cutting grass...

#19: July 19, 2010 - Fear Ye Not...

#20: August 5, 2010 - Falling Rock, Truck Problems, Nature Lessons...

#21: August 23, 2010 - Girls' Day, Planting, Feliz cumpleaños

#22: September 9, 2010 - Fresh Corn, Good-bye, New Animals
#23: September 23, 2010 - New Places, New People, Birthdays, and Visitors
#24: October 7, 2010 - Rain, Making Rugs, and Parties...
#25: October 21, 2010 - Birthdays, Ladies' Day, and a Death
#26: November 4, 2010 - Filling Silo, Perfect Attendance, Fellowship Meal
#27: November 18, 2010 - New Experiences, Reminders, Birthdays

#28: December 6, 2010 - Harvest, Visitors, Graduations, and many other things....

#29: December 16, 2010 - Christmas Blessings and Happy New Year

#30: December 23, 2010 - New Faces

#31: January 6, 2011: A New Year...new opportunities...

#32: January 27, 2011 - God's Blessings

#33: February 24, 2011: Lord, Let Me See the People

#34: March 10, 2011 - A Spiritual Birth

#35: March 24, 2011 - Between Here and Sunset

#36: April 14, 2011 - Wherever You Are

#37: May 12, 2011 - Rain

#38: May 26, 2011 - Moving Day, Zoo

#39: June 9, 2011 - Birthdays, Street Ministry

#40: July 2, 2011 - Giggles, Tall Brothers, and Girls' Class

#41: August 4, 2011 - Time is Flying By

#42: August 25, 2011 - When Life Gives You Mud Puddles

#43: September 13, 2011 - ¡Adiós! El Terrero

The reason to put all these updates up is in no way to bring glory to myself, but rather to show you the work of God that was done in Nicaragua - a work that would have not been possible had it not been for the love that God extended to all of us by first sending His Son for you and I. This love that  was shown to us was given to us when we accepted Christ and took on this form of love in our hearts following our spiritual re-birth. This love allows us to serve Him and portray His love to those around us. 

May God receive all the glory!

A Mother's Touch

The temperature of the day seemed to be 110 degrees in the shade. Animals could be found under the trees and the people of the town did not stray far from the comfort of their shaded hammocks. But the heat of the day did not stop us from driving through the little town of La Palmerita to spend time with our Nicaraguan friends and hold a few Bible studies....

I wrote a post this week on Jewels of Jesus. Read more here...

The Beauty of Whitespace

Whitespace - a term I had heard only a few times before. What was it? 

This week I began a journey in learning of Spiritual Whitespace as I started reading a book by Bonnie Gray - the author of Faith Barista. 

So what is whitespace? Untouched, unmarked space, but not blank. It has beauty! A canvas longing for quiet, beauty, rest. We have been instructed to rest.

[Earnestly] remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy (withdrawn from common employment and dedicated to God). Six days you shall labor and do all your work, But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, your daughter, your manservant, your maidservant, your domestic animals, or the sojourner within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it [set it apart for His purposes]. Exodus 20:8-11 AMP

Even God in all His holiness rested after He created the earth. He, who was all-knowing, all-powerful, Supreme, needed to rest. How much more do we as fallen creatures saved by grace need to rest? We even find Jesus, amidst His calling here on earth, stepping away from His task at hand and retreating to the mountains for some time alone. He, who came to earth as an individual to die for our sins when He himself was sinless, recognized the need to step back and find that spiritual whitespace - that place of beautiful rest.

And He said to them, [[a]As for you] come away by yourselves to a deserted place, and rest a while—for many were [continually] coming and going, and they had not even leisure enough to eat. Mark 6:31 AMP.

I encourage you to find your place of rest - your spiritual whitespace. A place where you can lay aside the daily weight and find God, as He waits for you. As He desires for you to rest in Him.

I have just began my journey through this book. Join us as we take this journey of finding Spiritual Whitespace.


The beauty of whitespace!

WHY? a heart's cry

WHY?

The question continued to tumble through my head this week. Various recent happenings played over and over:

The news of young boy who was snatched from this life unexpected. 

Reading the experience of a young family as they dealt with the father's cancer.

A young expecting mother left behind after her husband passed on.

Two little children taken suddenly in a vehicle accident.

The list went on and on. But as the question continues to tumble, there is a sense of peace that God gives. True peace that this world cannot give. The peace that only one can find in God and God alone. 



Why we ask? We don't understand. We question what happened. We are not at fault for questioning what has happened. We remain at fault when we allow our questions to turn to bitterness. The bitterness is what the devil uses to trip us and have us doubting God and His goodness.

But God is GOOD! We are reminded that these happenings have happened so that God might be glorified. The following Scriptures affirm this:

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. John 9:3

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. John 11:4

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:11

We wonder why? but we see in the verses above that the works happen for the glory of God and that God might be glorified. These experiences and the individuals affected by the experiences display the peace that only God gives. The peace that comes from accepting the circumstances and acknowledging that God is glorified through it all...



Blessings!

Here Am I, Send Me

Today on Jewels of Jesus, the emphasis is placed on the call that we have as Christians. I am sharing some of my personal story and the call that I recieved to serve in Nicaragua.

Read more...

But the Greatest of These is Love!

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned , and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 

4 Charity suffereth long , and is kind ; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself , is not puffed up , 

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly , seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked , thinketh no evil; 

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 

8 Charity never faileth : but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail ; whether there be tongues, they shall cease ; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away . 

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

10 But when that which is perfect is come , then that which is in part shall be done away . 

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly ; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known . 

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 KJV



Blessings to you as you love as Jesus does!

Would We Truly Long for Heaven?

Would We Truly Long for Heaven?

(click for a sound clip)

Would we truly long for heaven 

If this life was perfect here,
If we had no pain or heartache,
If we never shed a tear? 

If we had no disappointments,
And our dreams would all come true,
Could we keep that heav'nly vision
And that deep eternal view?

Would we truly long for Heaven
If we never gave a sigh,
If the old were always taken,
And the young would never die?

If we had no cherished loved ones
Waiting at the eastern gate,
Would we truly long for Heaven
And reunion that awaits?

Would we truly long for Heaven
At the ending of the road,
If our backs were never bleeding
From the burden of the load?

If the sun was always shining,
If we never felt a gale,
Would we long for Heaven’s Harbour
To be safe within the veil?

Would we truly long for Heaven
And the bliss of yonder shore,
If we had no loved ones tugging
On the line at Heaven’s door?

If our precious family circle
Never was broken here below,
Would we truly long for Heaven
Where our loved ones we shall know?

Yes, dear Savior, we are longing
To be safe on Heaven’s shore,
And these trials only make us
Long for Heaven more and more.

And we see that Thou art using
Every trial of each day
As a tug from Heaven’s anchor
Just to pull us Heaven’s way. 
--Elizabeth Drudge

This song really struck a chord this weekend as I listen to the Buffalo Valley Men's Octet at Wilkes-Barre Mennonite Church Sunday morning. If my life was perfect, what would I have to look forward too? If no one ever died, who would I miss? 

Then I thought, do I truly long for heaven with each passing day? Does each day find me longing for the day when I will see my Savior's face? Scriptures reveal the day is fast approaching - 

"18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye 

have heard that antichrist shall come, even 

now are there many antichrists; whereby we 

know that it is the last time.(1 John 2:18)

Many false teachers are in our presence, attempting to teach "new" doctrine and doing away with "old" doctrine. But God's Word is unchanging! He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

My challenge to you is to truly long for heaven. Stay strong in the True faith of God as we are in the last days. Heaven awaits for those who have remained faithful to the calling of God on their lives. some final Scripture for you -

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary

 the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, 

seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8)

5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Revelations 21:5-7)

The joy that awaits us truly outweighs the pleasure and luxury of this world!

Truly longing for heaven!