Answered Prayer...What's Next?

Life’s tough decisions are not only dependent upon our experiences, knowledge, and wisdom, but weighs heavily, first and foremost on prayers and our communion with God--just as how Ezra and Nehemiah have displayed in their lives. Nehemiah prayed at any time, even while he was talking with others. He knew that God is always in charge, is always present, and hears and answers every prayer. And, through his in-depth prayers, he established an intimate relationship with God. 

Ezra was the same way when it came to prayers. He knew God's promises to protect his people, but he did not take them for granted. He also knew that God's blessings are appropriated through prayer, so Ezra and the people humbled themselves by fasting and praying, "So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer" (Ezra 8:23, NIV).

Too often we pray quickly and superficially. Instead, we should pray seriously requiring forethought and concentration. It puts us in touch with God's will. In doing so, we also open up our hearts to God. Though He has promised to search our hearts as stated in Jeremiah 17:4 (NIV), "I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve"...let's make it easy for Him by communicating with Him our deepest thoughts and concerns. 

I remember when I first became a Christian at 15 years old—my prayers were short and vague. I am sure that God heard my prayers and they may have been answered, but in a vague manner. So, I did not really understand whether they got answered or went unanswered. Who knew? If my prayer was “Lord, help me get this job.” And, I got the job. My next question was then, “Hmmm! Did you really want for me to be here, God?” I wouldn’t know that either. And, to answer that question—I am sure He wanted for me to be there. And, that was my first job at KFC. The job that led me to one of the strongest Christian women I have met in my life, thus far. Linda Lemmons. I still speak and think of her dearly along with the influences and impact she had on my life at that time. She empowered me. At just 16 years of age, she asked me if I wanted to be a training manager after having worked for her for only 8 months, part-time hours because along with a job, I had to focus in school. It was even more challenging because I was in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program requiring much more study time. But, Linda had every Sunday off. And, that time was the time she set aside to worship God and involve in fellowship at her church. She was oh so inspiring to me!! There’s more about this Linda that I will continue to mention here and there in my blog entries.

Speaking of jobs…recently, I have made the decision that it was time for me to move on from my current job. Mainly for the purposes of growth and the opportunity to work in a bigger hospital that has the status of being a Level 2 Trauma medical center. What this means to me is that I will be trained in the operating room to scrub and circulate as a nurse in neurology and trauma cases after major accidents and so forth. I will also be involved in other surgical cases, of course. But, this is what I would love to learn. God knows the desires of my heart because I have shared them with Him.

I applied to the position and received a phone call to arrange a phone interview with the OR manager. The phone interview took place. I shared with Ty my job experiences and a little bit about me in regards to my professional goals, desires, and so forth. At the end of the phone interview, Ty asked, “Seda, I am interested in moving this process forward, are you still interested in us?” My answer was, “Of course, I had been pursuing a job with your hospital for two years now.” In my heart, I really asked, “Who would ask me that? If I am still interested? Of course, I am. Of course.” That question he had for me just shows how much respect had been given to the kind of experiences that I have and to the person he was getting to know. It was also a boost of confidence for me because it was a gentle acknowledgement of... "Just-so-you-know, you have something valuable to offer to the company." Such a great feeling!

The next morning, another manager, Carol called me—someone I had been communicating with for the past 2 years about obtaining a position in her department.  A panel interview was arranged. She said it will happen on her day off but she is going to come in anyway because she’d really like to meet me in person especially after two years of corresponding with each other.

Prior to the panel interview, I prayed a very specific prayer to God. It went something like this:

Heavenly Father, You are omnipotent and omnipresent. I rely heavily on You to guide me and point me in the right direction. You know what is best for me. And, if John Muir is better for me and You have plans for me to be there as an employee, then please show me by making this interviewing process and obtaining this job as easy as it can be. If it isn’t the place You desire for me to be, then throw in obstacles! Make me work hard to get this job. Create heavy traffic on my way to the interview and make me late for it because You know that that is possible especially on that freeway. Give me a sign, God! I desire to make decisions according to Your will. I long to hear from You, I long to hear Your voice, and I long to see You someday in Heaven. Thank You for Your unfailing love. I love You!

--In Jesus’ name and for Your Glory, I pray—Amen!

So, the interview happened. It seemed so unreal! I got to meet a few people in the lounge prior to the interview. They were kind and supportive. Friendly and warm. The interview went absolutely well. It was easy for me to open up my heart to the managers and staff nurse who were there. I felt like I have known these people for quite sometime because they understood my humor. Thereafter, Carol, the manager whom I had been connecting with from two years ago walked me to Human Resources. On our way there, we talked and laughed. Then she said, “There is another person I would like for you to meet and be interviewed by, her name is Jill.” She sent me off and told me she would contact me by the end of next week or the following Monday. 

I got to meet and talk with Jill for another hour. She told me that this rarely happens. Usually, after the panel interview, that is it for the candidate. There is no meeting or interviewing with anyone from HR. We chatted and got to know each other. We even got to talk about our 10-year-old daughters and the life-changes that are happening.  Oh boy! The things we have to look forward to. With Jill, I also shared the rewarding experiences I have had working as an operating room nurse. One of which includes the few times when I was asked by my patients while interviewing them if I can pray for them before going into the operating room. Sidebar: I was more than happy to and so we prayed. I felt like I played a big part in helping my patients to experience peace, protection, and love from our God during their surgeries. Back to Jill: she smiled and we got to chat some more. The interview came to an end after 2.5 hours or so spent at John Muir Medical Center!

The following week, on Tuesday morning, I received a voice message from Jill while at work requesting for my permission to run a background check and for a list of professional references. Wow! I thought. That was fast and easy! I was told that I would hear back by the end of the week or the following Monday. But, it’s only Tuesday!

Since then, I have been struggling with this decision as to whether or not I should leave San Ramon Regional Medical Center and go work for John Muir Medical Center. And, I keep hearing that still, small voice saying, “Seda, you asked, you have received. Now accept it with both hands.” "Don't be afraid," he said. "Take courage! I am here!" (Mark 6:50, NIV) It is such a tough decision to make because since the possibility of me leaving San Ramon Regional was made public, I have been offered another chance for the hospital to make it right for me. A few conversations and meetings with surgeons, director of perioperative services, and manager later, I am now left in this state of contemplation.

What I do know is that after my meeting with God, having my prayers answered through that still small voice, Beth Moore’s Bible Study session this past Wednesday with some of the women from my church, prayers from girlfriends whom I have met for the first time at the California Women’s Retreat in San Ramon, the godly counsel of my girlfriend Linda (not the other Linda who was my former manager at KFC) this past Tuesday, and the daily devotions that I have received in my email inbox…is that God wants for me to take up the job offer from John Muir Medical Center. I do know that I will gain further knowledge and skills among other factors, but I do know also that God has greater plans for me. And, I have yet to find those out.

I am overwhelmed by God’s love and blessings (in a great way)—all that I can say is, “From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another” (John 1:16, NIV).

Thank You God for your blessings! So, girlfriends…open up your hearts to His counsel whether it is through prayers, godly girlfriends, the Bible, daily devotions, or worship songs. Pray to Him and ask Him for wisdom especially when it comes to making huge and drastic decisions. And most importantly, listen to that still, small voice of His truth--for when you trust and believe in Him and the plans that He has for you…those blessings shall continue to come, one after another! Yet, the greatest blessing that I look forward to is that one day...I will be spending eternal life in heaven with Him with Jesus sitting at His right hand…Oh, how I long for that day!

I would like to close this entry with a scripture I received from Susan Hasekamp, Pastor Ken's wife in our prayer together...

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God." --Philippians 1:9-11, NIV

Blessings!
Love, Seda

To be continued…

(Courtesy of imgkid.com)

Let's take a look at the wonderful weekend I had at California Women's Retreat (CWR) 2015:

This is Linda and I. She is THE Woman who invited me to CWR. Next year, we will be part of the Hospitality Team! Wahoo!!

Julie, Joy, and Nell. I had the honor of sitting with them during the retreat. They attend Trinity Baptist Church of Livermore, CA with Linda. Amazing women! Julie flew all the way over to the area from Alabama. She does this every year! Praise God! 

Our dining setup for lunch on Saturday, February 28th. Iced tea, coffee, and a whole lot of worshiping our Lord preparing some of us for water aerobics that afternoon--so much fun!

The flower basket I won from California Women's Retreat. The purple tag says 'Courage'. My 'Key to Courage Basket'...4 weeks later. Still beautiful. :)

Say cheese! :D A selfie of my crazy family in Columbia, CA...a week after the retreat. Thanks for keeping it all together while I was away for the weekend--as I knew you would. You guys rock! Love you so! ♥

The Deep Joys of Peace & Rest

When disturbing circumstances and situations happen in our lives, they can easily steer us, leading us to the wrong paths--paths of distraction and frustration taking away our focus from God. We become so consumed by the issue going over it again and again in our heads as to what might have gone wrong, what led for the person to treat us in such a way that could not be understood. There are a variety of reasons, but do they really matter? Maybe they do if it really had something to do with us.

I tend to be so focused on the broken pieces of the situation. I want things done right, right away, and right now. I want to fix the issue and move on already. Lately, I have had a struggle with this one person in my life. When we have her and her family over, she tends to avoid me and avoid any deep conversations that would allow for her to get to know me better and vice versa. I do my best anyway to open up to her and just follow her like chicks following their hen. Maybe that is overbearing for her. Maybe her desire is to be left alone by me and gain the attention from others. Who knows? These are all assumptions. And then, when our family gets invited to her home…I am treated the same way. I get neglected. But, I didn’t want to just keep following her like a little chick. I find that annoying myself. I am the guest to her home. Anyhow, that’s the general picture of it in a nutshell lacking further details. My point is situations like these create unsettling feelings in my heart. I realize that I waste so much energy, heart-felt emotions that are deep within me when I am hurt by her and people like that. It seriously takes a week or so for me to get over it. I talk to my husband about it and try to figure out the whys and what-the-hecks. I’ve called him once while on my morning break from work and he was so kind enough to hear me out to discuss the matter (that’s what husbands are suppose to do anyway, right?). But, this call was pretty urgent—in my mind, anyway. It was as if a light bulb had turned on miraculously. My wonder at that time was…why do I often get treated like that by some of the women in my life? Did it have anything to do with me, with the way I act, or look, or talk? Hmmmmm…! And, really, we didn’t have answers to all of that. But, my husband assured me that I just needed to continue to be the same and be myself. To be loving, open, caring, honest, and simple. No worries, he said.

This is the purpose of the Satan. It is to distract our minds away from the God Almighty, dividing or destroying our oneness and wholeness with the Lord. So, before we let ourselves go there—to that state of confusion and frustration, we must pray and talk to God on how situations like those should be handled because our ultimate weapon to attack such circumstances is the Word of God. He will give us spiritual peace in times of chaos—even in our emotional and mental state. God gave us the beauty of prayers—pray to Him; praise Him in everything you do and for all that you have. The power of prayers is far more overwhelming than we give it credit. And, when prayers are done during alone time and collaboratively with groups and with your pastors, the situation will feel like it has been alleviated enormously as if a giant burden has been lifted off your shoulders.

My daily focus is to pray, pray, and pray…for I know, what great medicine it is for me and my closeness to the Lord grows stronger and deeper reminding me that I am safe with Him for He is the Light of the world, the expert of all of my worries, and the omnipotent and omnipresent God.

My Prayer Today: Our Heavenly Father, on Earth and in Heaven, thank You for Your open arms, Your listening ears, and Your unending and unfailing love for us, I come to You today in prayer bowing down before You asking for forgiveness for those times when I have failed to come to You for anything at all, for tough situations and tough people who hurt my feelings deeply, so. I need You more than I realize. Continue to remind me and allow for me to come to You always for praises and prayers. And, remind me that through You, I can operate power-packed emotionally for You have the wisdom I am seeking on how to react to situations like those. 

In Jesus’ Name and for Your glory,

Amen

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life." --Psalm 143:8 NIV

A Reflective Winter Break

Ahhhh (sigh)…finally, a break from school! This is the time when I don’t feel too bad or too guilty about working on my writing and reading the Bible and devotions that enlighten me. Don’t get me wrong, I am always enlightened with my nursing classes and the different topics that we go over and discuss including ethical nursing care, leadership, management, and so forth. However, it is a requirement, nonetheless. For whatever reason, requirements seem to be more dreadful than other things we voluntarily do--things that interest us and feed our souls, things that shape us into who we are and who we have yet to become, things that we read about and through it we learn some valuable information about ourselves. With that said, I am going to spend my pastime during this winter break to indulge in what I love doing—and that is reading what I want to read and writing my thoughts down.

With Christmas behind us, and the crazy hectic schedule in our past now, we have something to look forward to. 2014 is knocking at our front door, are we ready for it? We just had a full year behind us. Do we ever get a chance to evaluate and analyze all the happenings and our growth this past year? Or should we just ready ourselves for this next year without reflection of the past year?

Personally, I like to look back at my year before this year ends and go over my accomplishments, failures, lessons, obstacles, and how those different things intertwined and shaped me into who I am today. Most importantly, in God’s eyes, did I have my act together? Maybe He is saying, “Hmmm. Not shaping like I’d hoped.” And, if that is the case, God is a forgiving God! His love never fails, never gives up, and never runs out on me. I will continue to allow the Lord to shape me into His image and watch as He turns the situations in my life around.

And, as I sit here and think about my past year, I think of those Tuesday evenings spent with my wonderful friend, Linda Bible studying and talking about our week. We share our stories and find resolutions to the problems in our lives with the guidance of Our God. How much I have grown through the counsel of a godly friend like Linda and I am forever thankful for her friendship.

I also think of the obstacles I overcame. There were definitely challenging moments…moments that left me on my knees praying to God, asking for His direction because He promises to “make our paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6, NIV). He is always at work in our lives, even during the most challenging and stress-filled moments. When we hand over everything we are and everything we have to God, when we rest upon his Truth instead of our own understanding and choose to walk in obedience, we can count on God for direction. And this is what I will continue to do into my new year. Yes, I am excited about the New Year, a fresh start, a brand new set of days filled with new dreams and unmarked possibilities, but I also know that I will be faced with new challenges. Challenges that I will perhaps question and may not understand fully why they happen the way they do, but I know that God will be with me every step of the way. With that said, I would like to end with a verse from the Bible reflecting on our New Year and what is to come:

“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:30-34, NIV).

Planning for tomorrow is time well spent; worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. Careful planning is going over goals, steps, and schedules, and trusting in God’s guidance. Worry, in contrast, is consumed by fear and makes it difficult for us to trust God. And when we trust God with our plans, we need not to worry about a thing!

May you have a wonderful New Year filled with love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control for these are the gifts to a starving world (Galatians 5:22-23). 

God Bless,

Seda

This is my daughter's creation of Mr. Fruit of the Spirit from Bible Class. How sweet! :)