I'm Praying for Me

Weekly Word Decades ago, I embraced what I believed to my calling to be an intercessor. Back then there were suggested formats to help focus one’s prayer. Among these were ACTS — adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication, or PRAY which stands for praise, repent, ask, and yield. One of my favorites is definitely PUSH which is not a template but a reminder: pray until something happens. I still do that. The trouble is one can be so schooled into praying for others we forget one important person — ourselves. In fact, we may even think we are doing a great job praying for the needs of the world and then basking in the afterglow of time in God’s presence. Or maybe, praying for ourselves evoke feelings of selfishness because we know there are people with worse problems who have no prayer support. Whatever the reason, we skimp on persistent personal petitions. Using the Psalms as our example, it is safe to say there are more specific and very personal prayers in this portion of scripture than anywhere else in the Bible. Praying for ourselves forces introspection, and by God’s grace, complete honesty. We are given insight into who and where we are, and by the Holy Spirit, are able to pray according to God’s perfect will for our individual lives. Being intercessors does not make us immune to the contaminants of the world. And it is easy to “lose our shine” if we are not taking deliberate steps to submit to the washing of the Word and the gentle counsel of the Lord to us, as we talk with him. The old spiritual “It's me, it's me oh Lord/ Standing in the need of prayer” packs a powerful truth. We will never be as effective as we can be until we stand in the place of prayer, often, on our own behalf and PUSH. It is not selfishness, just good sense to bind up our wounds before we engage in healing the world. When was the last time you prayed a “no holds barred” prayer for you?

Losing it

Weekly Word Conversation flows freely as we are sitting socially distant, scattered around the lunchroom. Inevitably, someone looks at their lunch, either the quantity or the quality, and starts the lament. “I need to lose X number of pounds.” “Me too,” another person answers and usually, this number of pounds to be lost is always a little more than the first. “Well, I know what I’m doing wrong.” Then, the roll call of foods and their matching negative symptoms whether as a chronic disease trigger or weight gain would begin. We are all nurses we know this. Still, many of us have had this same conversation for years along with cycles of good eating patterns, only to fall off the wagon weeks down the road. The issue is not what we know but the will to begin and follow through for our own well-being. The problem is not knowledge but nature. Here is what the Apostle Paul said when he found himself with sinful habits he needed to lose: I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 7:21-25). In the same way that health professionals develop and keep unhealthy habits all while knowing the consequences, you will sometimes do the wrong thing despite having the right resolve. The victory comes when we do not stop doing what is right because we are not able to get it done perfectly every time. Every right deed or thought is a step in the right direction whether we are on the road to health, weight loss, or heaven. Don’t be sabotaged by imperfection. You may fail, correction, WE will fail at times but that does not make us failures. Thanks be to God who causes us to walk in triumphant procession with Christ (despite who we are).

Galatians 5 – Driving a Point Home

I approached the intersection preparing to stop if the U-Haul decided to come through instead of making a right turn. It stopped made the turn, to the sound a two loud bangs as a child-size sports car and a box loaded with “stuff” fell from the truck and into the street. I was on my walk, but I waved frantically hoping by some miracle he would see me and possibly notice he was losing his load. But he kept going. I smiled as I heard myself use the biblical expression, “to what shall I liken this? The more I pondered as I resumed my pace was that’s all of us. We pack things up, store them in our hearts and no one sees what those things are until we hit a bump in the road. Then whatever is inside, comes flying out. The people around us are either left to pick up the pieces or reap the rewards. God says we all speak from the fullness of the storehouses of our hearts. When I am full of the fruit of the Spirit and I hit a bump, love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. On the other hand, no matter how great I look or if I seem to be just cruising along with everything under control but my heart is full of what the world has, this is what happens when I hit a bump. Out comes, sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. Fill up on the spirit! And if you are moving and using a U-Haul, (or any kind of vehicle) make sure it's securely locked so you don’t’ lose your valuables on the way to your destination.

Just Give it up... Perhaps like me, you find it easy to walk into Walgreen’s (or your favorite store) with the intention of getting a single item and walk out an hour later with a bag full of stuff. Not too long ago I made one of those fateful trips. I grabbed a basket while resolving to stick to buying only the few items on my list. As I wandered the aisles, I came upon a lady with both arms overflowing. As one item dropped and she bent to scoop it up another would fall. After the second or third round I said, “Here, you can have my basket.” A huge grin of relief lit up her face as she said thanks and emptied her arms. Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28-29 immediately came to mind: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Life gets busy and we keep picking up things we must have, must do, or must attend to. Pretty soon our arms get too full and items start falling by the wayside. We try to get them back under our control, but something else falls and before long, we become stressed and frustrated. All while Jesus is standing there with open arms (like an empty basket) saying, “Here, just dump everything in here.” Burdens are inevitable but God’s help is always available. Right where you are in the aisle of life with stuff falling from your arms just as fast as you try to pick them up, do this instead. Give the whole scattering mass of confusion to Jesus. 1 Peter 5:7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC).

Daniels's answer

Daniel’s answer If you are like I am, there is probably something you have been praying for almost daily for some time without seeing the answer you expect. It gets hard. Sometimes I find myself asking, how long? I get impatient because I just know if this one thing would happen … and I fill in the blanks about how much better life would be. Thing is, I can’t stop praying. For one, if I stop praying, who will? I am the watchman on the wall with the task of not being quiet as long as there is a threat of danger. It doesn’t matter who else is praying, or if the person I am praying for is conscious of a need for God’s intervention, or if I am just agreeing with them in prayer. I must do my part. Persevere. Press. Even when it seems all I fear is already happening. I must continue to pray. That’s what Daniel did and he discovered after twenty-one days, persistence pays. Just as he remained diligent in his faith and sealed it with fasting, let us also resolve not to stop praying. Maybe we have been crying out for way longer than twenty-one days. It may even be closer to twenty-one years. Still don’t stop. God will send an angel with your answer.

Daniel's prayer

Daniel's prayer The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him" Daniel 9:14. "...yet we have not obeyed him." This is the crux of the matter. In spite of all the turmoil, in spite of all the distress, in spite of all the favor we received where punishment was our due, yet we have not obeyed. I reference a recent post I saw where Charlie Brown is having a conversation with Snoopy. To paraphrase, it says we are waiting for God to heal our land while he is still waiting for us to humble ourselves and turn … Disaster is a signal all is not well and should act as a prompt for us to seek God. Remember, God is our "parent" we are taught to approach him as Father whenever we pray. We don't reward our children for disobedience or celebrate them when they do things detrimental to both themselves and our family. In fact, even if as parents we would choose to turn a blind eye, actions bring their own consequences. Though God loves us with all his being, he cannot excuse sin. But there is hope. Look at the time Daniel started his 21 days of fasting and prayer. It was already a year into what would be 70 years of exile. He did not think to himself, oh well we are already Nebuchadnezzar's captives, Jerusalem is ruined, what's the point? No. He lived his faith, he fasted, and he prayed sincerely to the one God whom he knew was still able to help. What a great reminder to us that it is never too late for God to move. Next week as we continue, we will just how God answered Daniel. Photo credit Dee Kamp .

Daniel's prayer

Daniel's prayer continued... Daniel 9:5 Before we look at the stark simplicity of this verse, I want us to be aware, sin's effect is both immediate and cumulative. Immediate because it puts us outside of the will of God and cumulative because we reap what we sow. Israel's Babylonian captivity did not happen because of any one, great sin. Rather, disobedience to God and walking away from the covenant had become a lifestyle. Prophets warned repeatedly, the priests were carrying out their functions, but the people wouldn't change, would not repent. Finally, God had enough. The covering of blessings lifted and the promised judgement fell. Babylon swooped in and decimated the nation. A free, vibrant, prosperous, and proud people found themselves enslaved to a foreign nation. It all started when God's people turned their backs on him. So, In the 1st year of captivity, Daniel prayed: "We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws..." No excuses. No rationalizing. Can we be as honest and just call our present dilemma what it is when we pray?

'Tis the Reason

Weekly Word Hope you had a lovely Christmas and here's my wish for a Happy and Prosperous New Year. I know some of you are alone and the holidays rather than cheer, makes your home feel emptier. While I cannot deny the joy having company brings, its still not the reason for the season. Christmas is about Jesus. If our houses are filled to the rafters with people and all the trappings of the holidays and we miss the Baby in the manger as the focal point, we have nothing. Married, single, in or out of love, divorced, widowed, grieving or recovering - whatever state we are in, Jesus came to be our salvation. That makes it Christmas. That makes the season worth celebrating. So today I pray for those who are lonely. Be encouraged you are not forgotten or forsaken. And you have as much reason to be joyful because Jesus came for you. Let him fill your empty spaces with peace - He is the Prince of Peace. Thanks to those who faithfully follow Weekly Word. Please continue to share and let's spread the Good News together. Talk with you in 2021

More than Gifts, Sparkles, and Lights

By this time next week, Christmas will have come and gone and we will be looking ahead to the celebrations welcoming a new year. But while we are yet in the season, let us be careful to remember the lights, the presents, and nostalgic songs is not what Christmas is all about. It’s more than finding true love, or returning to our roots, or even receiving special miracles. Christmas is the greatest story ever told, the most unbelievable drama enacted since Genesis. It’s about a God who laid aside his unapproachable glory to become a helpless baby. He did it so everyone could have access to him. But that’s not all. The birth in the manger was only the opening of the way to the cross. There, this Gentle Jesus would sacrifice his own life as the perfect Lamb, to save all who would believe in him. Christmas is so much more than lights, and sparkles, and gifts. The lights are symbols of the true Light of the World The gold and silver tinsel are tiny reminders of the splendors of heaven The gifts commemorate the greatest gift of all – Jesus The carols are reminders of the worship of angels and shepherds on the night Jesus was born And all the love stories are but faint echoes of the Greatest Love of all – God giving His Son Let’s not forget whether we say Merry Christmas, have a good winter break, or happy holidays, it is only possible because Jesus came. Yes, He is truly the reason for the season; let’s keep his name in His birthday celebration. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, and a bright and prosperous New Year.

Reset

Weekly Word This morning as I got ready for work, I strapped on my watch, a Fitbit, that also tracks the number of steps I take each day. It occurred to me that it had cleared everything from yesterday and was now reset to zero. Immediately the Scripture filled my mind: It is because of the Lord’s loving kindnesses (mercy) that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness Lamentations 3: 22-23. This is what I realized. Sometime between yesterday and today’s dawn, God did a reset on my life. He cleared all the mercies/ loving-kindnesses he provided, those I accessed and those I did not, and he loaded a fresh store just for today. I have a fear not, a be strong, an I am with you, and innumerable other Words, spoken and implied, just waiting to be used. You simply cannot imagine how happy I am right now! But I can’t gloat or feel too special because God did the same for you. That’s right. You God a reset too because GOD DAILY LOADS US with BENEFITS! Hope this thought fuels your day.

Weekly Word: The Secret Place

 The Secret Place

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under
the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge
and my fortress; my God in him will I trust." Psalm 91:1-2
Where is this place the Bible speaks of? Rather than a brick and
mortar fortress, I  believe the secret place of the Lord denotes a
spiritual rest made possible by our relationship with him. We are
saved. We are walking with God daily and becoming more like him
through the power of the Word. And by so doing, we become dwellers of
the secret place. From this place of refuge comes the bold faith
affirmation even in the midst of perils. "He is my refuge and my
fortress. My God, in Him will I trust.

Heavenly Father, you are our shield from the soul-destroying hurt and
harm this world gives. You are our sanity when life swirls around us
faster and faster, sucking us into a storm of conflicting ideas,
offering no peace. You are our confidence when we feel inadequate
because your strength surpasses all our weaknesses. We trust the
protection of your secret place. Amen.

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Weekly Word: Thanksgiving

 Weekly Word...

Thanksgiving 

    The Pilgrims were not the first people to have a thanksgiving celebration. Wampanoag Indians marked 6 thanksgiving festivals per year.

The first Christian thanksgiving was held in Texas on May 23rd, 1541 when Spanish Explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado found food, water, and pasture in the Panhandle.

August 9th, 1607 English settlers led by Capt. George Popham joined Abnaki Indians in Maine for a feast and prayer meeting.

December 4th, 1619 a group of 38 English settlers arrived at Berkeley Plantation in Charles City, Virginia. The group’s leader Capt. John Woodleaf declared a day of thanksgiving

      1620 marked the pilgrims of Plymouth Rock’s first winter. 1-3 people died every day in that first year until only 46 of the 102 that

landed remained. Squanto, an English-speaking member of the Wampanoag nation intervened by teaching the settlers everything he knew about survival. As a result, 1621 yielded the biggest harvest anyone had ever seen. The first thanksgiving of Native Americans and settlers was held to celebrate the “goodness of God” and to “after a special manner rejoice together.”

      This feast was not repeated yearly and it was not until December 18, 1777, that all of the then 13 colonies celebrated thanksgiving

together. October 3rd, 1863 marked the declaration of Thanksgiving Day as the 3rd Thursday in November by President Lincoln.

         In President Lincoln’s words of 1883. Let us truly :

“…Set apart and observe the last Thursday of November…as a day of

thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the

Heavens. And I recommend…that while offering up ascriptions justly due

to Him…they do also humble penitence for our national perverseness and

disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become

widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in this lamentable (war) in

which we are …engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the

Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as

soon as may be consistent with his Divine purposes to the full

enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and Union.”

Thanksgiving is not about the turkey or the feast; it’s always was, and always will be about God. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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 Weekly Word

        As we approach the most traveled season of the year, there is still much concern about the reported spike in the number of COVID-19 cases. Don’t forget, the function of the news media is to report the news; whatever they consider new or novel gets reported. It is not their job (unfortunately) to always report things in a balanced or impartial manner. So, what we do with the information we receive is entirely dependent on how much we are willing to believe without evidence. Before we panic, expecting a return of March 2020, let us look at what the CDC is saying.

        Yesterday November 13^th, Florida data reported to the Agency for Health Care Administration brought great news. Namely, the number of hospitalized COVID-19 positive patients is down more than 70 percent since July. This means there are currently 3,100 persons hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19 and statewide, the positivity rate for new cases is 7.95 percent. The crux of the matter is, per the Department of Health “there has been a steady decline in the number of reported Florida resident deaths who were previously diagnosed with COVID-19. The second week of August compared to the second week of September shows a 74 percent decrease in the average number of reported COVID-19 related deaths.”

As of November 13, 870,552 individuals have tested positive for COVID-19 in Florida.

      As a health care professional, I am going to trust the reports from the CDC and the DOH far and above those of pundits and overall “talkers”, we see popping up all over the media. While the report is undoubtedly good news, we cannot drop our guard. The measures that have gotten us to these numbers must remain in place if we are to see a continued return to normalcy.  Social distancing, handwashing, wearing of protective equipment, and MASKS for every day outside interactions, are to be respected and stringently practiced. I can’t see taking measures to ensures one’s own health and safety (if not that of others) as an infringement on freedom or self-determination. Not from where I sit in the place where death by COVID is a grim reality.

So, my Weekly Word this week is simply Safety. Safety first, safety always.

 https://www.floridadisaster.org/news-media/news/20201112-florida-department-of-health-issues-daily-update-on-covid-192/

 

 

 

The Unraveling

 

The Unraveling

It had taken years to do that rug. The pattern was intricate and
unlike anything, Camille had every crocheted. No one thought it would
ever be finished. For one, it ate up thread like it devoured time and
still managed to remain much smaller than expected. Every few weeks
saw Camille trekking to the store to restock her basket. She did not
want to even think about how much money she had spent on what had fast
morphed into a lifelong project. If there was any consolation, the rug
became less like a craft and more like a work of art. Its status
continued to rise and almost every artsy-craftsy person in Silver
Springs boasted of having seen it in person, at least once. It was
indeed the talk of the community, the one piece of work causing so
many to strive harder to excel at their creative efforts.

Chances are, the rug would have been finished and much bigger than the
final product eventually turned out to be, except, Camille became an
expert. That’s right, an expert. Apparently, since she was peerless in
her artistry with a pattern, thread, and a crochet needle, the town of
Silver Springs decided she must be good at everything else. And so, it
went from crochet to knitting and from knitting to domestic affairs.
Camille had become almost indispensable. Finally, she called a halt
buckled down to complete her project while everyone waited with bated
breath for the final unveiling.

I won’t mention how many more years it took (no one would believe me
anyway) before the rug was completed. But finished it was and a true
marvel to behold! The day is was displayed at the Silver Springs Craft
fair, it created a traffic jam as everyone stopped to gawk and ooh and
aah. Words like “masterpiece” and “incredible” were the order of the
day. But as with everything else, the showing was finally over and a
glowing Camille folded her precious rug and made her way home. Of
course, such a treasure was destined for greatness, not the floor but
a place of honor on the wall visible as one first entered the home.

When it was being mounted, one single thread slipped its perfect loop.
No bother. Camille just tucked it underneath, no need to go through
the hassle of getting the crochet needle and tying it off. After all,
it was not as if the rug would be handled. No harm could come to it as
it hung on the wall. Was it the wind or the few times a year the rug
was moved for dusting? Who knows? Whatever the reason, that thread
skipped loops and worked its way down a good two inches. Proud of its
freedom, it dangled, out of mischief, for now, resting on the wall.
This happy state of affairs lasted for many years but as you might
guess, it was not destined to last forever.

One fateful day a man came in wearing a shaggy, itchy jacket. It was
not much to look at but because it kept him warm, he was even willing
to overlook the jacket’s habit of snagging or getting caught on almost
everything it touched. On his way out he passed so close to the rug.
In fact, he brushed right up on the tardy two or four inches dangling
free of its loops. The shaggy jacket grabbed and held fast even as the
man-made his way out the door. Jacket and thread held fast as the man
got into his beaten-up work truck and chugged and sputtered all the
way down the empty street. Block after very long block. Finally, the
truck turned a corner and the thread snapped. The jacket still clung
contentedly to the length it had, unaware of the damage it had
created.

At home, on the floor, against the wall where splendor once reigned,
lay a heap of crinkled thread. Above the crinkled threads, a brilliant
border bravely spilled colors ⸻     all that remained of the
masterpiece, the rug that once graced the wall. Feather duster in
hand, Camille hummed as she made her way into the foyer. Just a few
more minutes and she could move on to more enjoyable chores. She
stopped aghast as her eyes fell on the crinkled mass on the floor.
With a cry, she knelt as her tears fell thick and fast. She touched
the threads asking, “Why, why, how could this have happened?” She
turned around and traced the thread, the tell-tale line of disaster
leading outside. In disbelief, she followed as it kept a straight line
as if on a mission, block after block before becoming snarled in the
mire on the ground. Shattered, Camille retraced her steps home praying
this was another of her too vivid dreams and all would be well when
she opened the door. She opened the door and hope deflated and fell on
top of the crinkled threads. Her treasure, her masterpiece was lost
forever. Camille told one person, and that person told another two or
three until pretty soon all of Silver Springs knew of the unraveling.
They whispered and muttered and hugged Camille. They wondered how.
They wondered why until Camille told them it started with one loose
thread.

Joshua was a master weaver. He had a machine and had been producing
flawless creations for years.  Camille knew about him and longed to
see if he could help. But then she thought of all the hours she had
labored, how good it felt to have this masterpiece created by her own
hands. If she went to Joshua and even if he restored the pattern
exactly as it was before it would not be the same. Now she would have
nothing to feel special about, the rug would no longer reflect her.
She looked at the mound of crinkled threads as tears fell endlessly.
Hours, days, months, and finally years slipped by. By now the threads
were even more snarled, stuffed together with the breathtaking border
in a bag at the back of a closet, almost forgotten.

Another cleaning day came and Camille stumbled onto the bag in the
closet. Immediately the pain and loss crept into her spirit. They did
not come alone. With them came questions, and conflict, and the
struggle of whether to take the shambles of the once beautiful rug to
Joshua. She absently wiped the tears she had not realized were on her
cheeks and yanked the bag free. Not bothering to change she headed for
the door and head down as if afraid someone would stop her if they
knew where she was headed. Camille headed for Joshua’s shop.

He greeted her with such joy. Bit by bit she told him of the years of
labor and he knew all about the town’s celebration when the rug was
completed. He listened and comforted and never asked why she had not
come to him before. He shook out the gnarled and tangled threads,
lovingly straightened the brave border and walked toward his loom.
Joshua hummed a tune and his eyes sparkled with assurance as if he
knew exactly what he would do.  He gently stretched what seemed like
an impossible tangle on the loom and patiently coaxed the fragile
threads into the position he desired. Then he added threads ⸻     some
similar and others different from the original colors. His gentle
hands trimmed and snipped as he hummed and several hours later, he
started to weave.

The shuttle clicked and clacked as it moved across the loom and the
workshop seemed to take on new energy as the first clue of the pattern
emerged. On and on the weaving continued and Joshua sang. The rug
captured his peace, the shape of the notes of his song, and the color
of the harmony. The pattern became far more intricate, the colors more
vivid, and the stitches embraced the strength of eternity. Finally, it
was finished and it was time to call Camille. She came hesitantly,
full of a thousand questions. Would it be worth it? What if she did
not like the pattern? And what about the cost?

Camille stared in awe unable to speak as she gazed at the rug. There
was her pattern as plain as ever but was it really? The master weaver
seemed to have reached beyond her efforts to a level of perfection she
was not able to achieve even with the years of diligent labor. Yes,
the rug was hers but as superior as the real is to the shadow. She had
given Joshua a snarled, tangled, remnant of what she treasured as
beautiful. And he in its place, he gave her an object of unsurpassed
beauty all for the cost of telling others about what the weaver could
do.

Our lives are as snarled and tangled as the rug as it lost its the
place of honor to be  stuffed in a bag at the back of the closet. But
we are not without hope because there is Jesus, and he not only
restores but makes of us a masterpiece much more beautiful than we
could have done on our own. There is no cost because the cross covers
it all. We need only bring the mess to him and ask him to save us and
make us into the person he wants us to be. He will rejoice over us
with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).



⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻

     Lauren E. Myers is the author of several books aimed at helping
others to know Jesus in a personal way and to grow in him. She writes
devotionals and leadership material and incorporates her over 25 years
of nursing in promoting the practice of holistic health and wellness.
A former pastor with her husband J. Edsil Myers, Lauren speaks at
conferences, teaches workshops, and does short term mission trips to
various places including Mexico, India, the Philippines, and Africa.
She may be contacted by email at laurenmyers339@gmail.com

© January 2020

Walk On...

I have said before I love walking because it is such a perfect metaphor for life. 

This morning the skies were a heavy dark grey, with only lacy edgings of light where the sunrise should have been. 45 minutes into my walk a heavy drizzle started and I ran for shelter at a gas station.  After the shower ended, I noticed the sky was lightening way up ahead in the general direction of where I intended to go.

I  set off again thinking it will only be cooler but there would be no reason not to complete my walk. No sooner than I completed the thought than the clouds tipped over, drenching me in seconds. Resolve forgotten I turned around and headed back toward home. As you may imagine, fierce as that downpour started, it ended almost as quickly. The sun came out, there puffy white clouds and patches of blue, and before long, a rainbow. 

No one, that I know of at any rate, sets out hoping it will rain on their "walk." But life happens and problems can unexpectedly arise. Trust the spirit inside you saying it will be okay, and walk on. You will get wet but you won't melt; maybe even a tad uncomfortable but home is not far away. Walk on, go the the distance and Sonshine will overtake you.

Have a safe weekend,  blessed Sabbath, and wonderful Lord's day tomorrow.

Above All...

For the first time in our generation, we face a crisis simultaneously affecting the entire world. COVID-19 has managed to leave no one unscathed, directly or indirectly. Loss of jobs have become commonplace as have unscheduled time-off and protracted furloughs. In recognition of these financial shifts, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) is demonstrating its motto “Above all, committed to the care and improvement of human life” by continuing to provide care to whomever, regardless of ability to pay. Yes, hospitals are mandated to provide services to anyone walking through their doors, but one can hardly say every hospital is willing to put that in writing and actually invite people to call, if they are in need of help.

“Millions of people have lost their jobs and their health insurance coverage as a result of the economic impact caused by the coronavirus. In many cases, this causes people to feel hesitant about going to the hospital when experiencing symptoms of medical emergencies, such as strokes or heart attacks. As always, we are here to ensure you receive the care you need today, for a healthier tomorrow no matter your financial situation. Our family of hospitals is uniquely positioned to help—so that’s exactly what we’re doing. We have opened a hotline for anyone whose insurance coverage has been impacted by a life-changing event, such as job loss or reduced income. Our advisors are ready to assist,” says HCA (https://hcahealthcare.com/covid-19/health-coverage-hotline.dot).

On the local front, Poinciana Medical center has numerous job openings across various career paths. We are blessed to have experienced no lay-offs or furloughs during this crisis and continue to maintain a strong, caring presence in the community. As a RN case manager at this facility, I join with my colleagues in encouraging you to remain vigilant in helping to end the spread of this virus. Do the sensible thing. Wear your masks, sanitize hands and frequently touched objects, practice social distancing and guard against undue exposure.  Updates on Florida’s COVID-19 numbers are available at https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/

Today we honor those who fought in our behalf and especially to those who paid the ultimate price. They and their families deserve our love, our prayers and utmost respect. “Greater love has no man than this; that a man would lay down his life for his friends.”

Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!

Lauren E. Myers, MS, BSN,CCM

Case Manager | Poinciana Medical Center 

Together in Hope

 Looking at the Covid-19 trend from around mid-July until today, August 29th,  the graft gives a lot of reason for hope. The curve has not just flattened, but in fact shows a decrease in the number of new cases. Granted, this could easily change when we hit the two weeks mark following the reopening of schools and places of business.

While the dread of the infection seems to be going in the right direction,  not so the strife and bitterness toward each other. It's even more pronounced as the respective political parties make their bid for this nation's future.

May I suggest we truly open our eyes? Pull the manifestos or the platforms on which these candidates and incumbents are running from the internet, line it up beside what the Bible says, and determine what you are willing to sacrifice. Neither one will be 100% for Christian values but we should be able to determine which is the lesser evil. This is my simplified definition of voting your faith. 

We need each other; the infighting must stop. A house, any house, divided against itself, falls. It may not look like it but God has not given up his position; there is no need for him to seek re-election. We do not have to destroy ourselves in order to solve our problems.  Let us seek God with all our hearts. He is, and forever will be, in complete control.