Ok, Ok

My sister has informed that I either need to post, or let my blog die a natural death.

Ok, already! I'll write something!

What I want to say tonight is this: I hate being on call. I hate the feeling that you might, at any time, have to hurry up and get to work. And if you do, you have to take care of a mom in labor. It's not that I don't like doing labors, they are just high stress.

Ok, that's my rant. On the good side, I can do stuff around the house until I do get called like . . . dum-da-dum . . . Laundry! We finally got that washer and dryer, and it sure has been nice.

Tomorrow I'm going to try to post a picture of my new favorite possession . . .

Made It

Well, I made it through seven days!! Had some powerful prayer warriors on my side :)

I also followed my mother's advice about exercising and eating well - thanks Mom!

I've been struggling with how to put what I've been learning about who I am in Jesus into my reality. The past few days I've had patients who where ill, some who thought they were ill, one who thought she was in labor. Some (a lot, actually) just wanted the perscription drugs a doctor can provide. And one was dying. How do I give Jesus into their lives?

Guess I'm still working on hearing what He has to say on that one.

Work

I just got back to work and found out that I inadvertently allowed myself to be scheduled for seven 12-hr shifts in a row.

ouch.

The week I just had was definitely worth it, but it's still going to be tough. How do I keep my joy and focus through such fatigue? I guess I'll have to wait and see . . .

New Music

New song in my heart, new music in my mp3 player :)

Here is some stuff I just got and have been enjoying a lot:

Toby Mac - all three albums, but especially his new one "portable sounds". I've only just realized that this type of music, which I really enjoy, can also be worship. Toby's got great words, a strong beat, and rap that is just right.

P.O.D. - not sure what I think of 'em yet. A hard sound, more than I'm used to. I have the Greatest Hits album, and all I can say for sure is you have to hear the song "Alive". It's my first dance song :). Awesome.

Barlow Girl - always been interested in them, finally got an album. A little girly, but honest. I like it. Plus, its three sisters singing together, which is cool.

So, two people who read this blog, what do you like? Leave a comment and let me know.

freedom

I just looked at my post from yesterday, and it looks like something that would previously have seriously freaked me out if I read it. Maybe that's a good thing!

One thing that has been huge in my life the past few days is the freedom we have in Jesus. I always knew that He could set us free from sin, but what about all the other things He frees us from? I rarely heard it talked about - or maybe I wasn't listening.

So many things keep us in bondage, like fear or doubt. Jesus can free us from that, He can free us from the expectations of others and from our conventions. As for how, I don't really understand it. But I know it's the best thing ever.

Here's my new theme verse:

Galatians 5:1
For freedom Christ has made us free; stand firm, therefore and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

It is both a gift and a choice.

Joy

I just returned from a week in the mountains, a week of prayer and fellowship and study and communion.

I always wondered what it was like for those who became fully abandoned to Jesus, so much so that they appear completely abnormal, weird, freakish to those outside. And yet we other Christians desire what they have.

I expected it to be difficult, I was sure it would be powerful.

What I wasn't ready for was the Love, overpowering and strong. Trust comes with struggle, and pain, and giving up. But it comes with Love.

Then Joy hits you, so strong and sudden. After the hurt, after the brokeness, is Joy that is complete. No words could do this justice. Even the dancing that broke from me for the first time ever couldn't fully show the glory and power that is God.

Only You, Jesus, could do this for me. Only You.

Sometimes the Answer is so Simple

Every had that feeling that something is wrong, and it turns out to be a marvously simple thing?

Like you're hungry?

I love that! This is like that.

Love it!