Growing Into the Gift of Discernment

I have always desired the spiritual gifts, especially the gift of discernment. After many years of praying for this particular gift, I am finally seeing it develop. I have yet to physically see anything in the spiritual realm but I have definitely felt things. Sometimes God just points out a spirit to me. I am growing into this gift and am getting used to differentiating between my own perception and the Holy Ghost’s radar.

A couple weeks ago I started my mental health nursing clinical. My experiences have been less than exceptional and perhaps it is not a far stretch to say the supernatural may have something to do with it. My first day of clinical was not good. I felt frustrated and found myself complaining the entire time. I went home realizing I had not even considered covering myself in prayer for this clinical experience.

The following week I came back to the clinical sight hoping for a better experience and I was more aware of the territory I was entering. I found myself feeling very frustrated again. I did not express my emotions and did not share them with my nursing peers but I could feel the frustration and irritability burning on the inside. I felt like I was swirling in a sea of negativity and no one else seemed to be experiencing it. I even found myself resenting one of my peers for no reason. I quickly realized that a spirit of anxiety was trailing me. I tried to pray against it while at the mental hospital where my clinical was taking place but I felt too weak mentally. I felt so desperate I even texted my family and asked for prayer. The enemy’s arsenal was coming at me hard. The spirit ended up following me home but thankfully I recognized it’s presence on my home and found the strength to pray against it. I also had the prayers of my family supporting me.

This week I went to clinical fully alert and ready for the spiritual activity that was going to surround me once I set foot in the hospital. I was in a fairly good mood for most of the 6 hours I was there. However, towards the end, as I sat with my peers and listened to them reflect on their experiences, it hit me. A wave of depression rushed over me and suddenly I felt like crying. I felt so heavy and fatigued as if someone had thrown a sopping wet blanket over my head. The Holy Ghost discerned the situation and I began to pray in my mind and sing a worship song. I recognized the spirit of depression. It was the first spirit God showed me. Thankfully He showed me in a dream and not real life. As I prayed the feeling of sadness lifted. The heaviness did not go away completely until I left the hospital.

As I walked out of the hospital God reminded me to brush off the dust, and so, I literally did just that. I walked to my car with my heavy school bag and brushed off both my shoulders and my head and I said out loud, “Spirits, you cannot come home with me or come into my car in Jesus’ name”. I pulled out of the parking lot that night feeling relieved.

 God has been teaching me to be more sensitive and has been helping me recognize spirits everywhere I go. It is very interesting but also very serious. I know I must be prayed up and fasted up and carry my shield of faith wherever I go. This is a very dark world we live in and the spiritual battle is at large. Sleeping soldiers cannot stand.

Sewing Made Easy

I am not one for making New Year's resolutions, but for 2014 I did take a moment to consider what I would like to do this year. I decided that learning how to sew would be a good goal for the year. So many times I need to make alterations on my clothes so I send my repairs to grandma but I don't get them back for at least a month since she's so busy and lives over an hour away. It only seems logical that I learn to sew so I can repair my own clothes at my convenience and even make myself new things.

There are only three people close to me who can teach me but none of them can. My grandma is too far away, my one friend is too busy, and my other friend is sick of sewing.  And to my dismay, the fabric store offers sewing classes when I am not available. So I am out on this limb alone. I decided the only thing I can do is just pick up some fabric and sew.

I was able to borrow my friend's sewing machine and  get a brief lesson from her on how to use the machine.
Now where to start. I made my way to Walmart (probably the worst place to get fabric. In fact, I am sure it is an abomination to the professional seamstress) to look for some cheap fabric and a simple pattern.

Note: My style of learning is hands-on and visual. I am not the kind of person who can learn by reading directions. I have to be shown and then I have to practice with someone guiding me. However, since my options were limited, the only thing I could do was by the dreaded pattern and try to sew my way through that.

There was a rack of patterns that seemed to be well-priced but they were ugly. I looked for the simplest thing I could find.

Ah ha! I found a pattern for a cute apron. I wear aprons around the house, so a cute apron would be a fun, seemingly simple thing to make. The headline on the package said "Sewing Made Easy" and that it was only 99 cents. I thought, "Is it really that easy?" There was only one way to find out.

I rushed home with my discount fabric and my cheap pattern.
I was all excited as I laid out my fabric and began to prepare for this new endeavor. I opened up the directions thinking, "This can't be so bad", but as I perused through the instruction catalog, trying to find the English instructions--not the French or Spanish--I realized this was going to be a big headache.

Yet, I tried matching the pattern to the fabric and I just started cutting away. After I finished cutting, I realized this pattern was not very accurate for one-sided fabric. It turned out that in order for the pattern to work, some of my pieces would need to be cut from the back side.

In my frustration I tossed the pattern aside and decided to create my own  apron sans pattern. The cuttings I had made would be a mess to salvage, but I had run out of fabric and there was nothing I could do, other than scrap the whole project--which was not something I would care to do.

After much brainstorming, pinning, and running back and forth between the iron and the sewing machine, I came up with an apron. I even managed to create ruffles--a real delight for someone who has knows nothing about sewing.

The apron was nowhere near perfect. It was a little too short, but it seemed to be pretty decent for my first time sewing from scratch.

I managed to salvage my fabric, but never again to I plan on buy a pattern, no matter how "Easy" it is.

Compassionate Jesus: A Book Review

Being a nursing student, I am fascinated by medical science, which is why I have chosen to review Compassionate Jesus, by Christopher Bogosh, for Cross Focused Reviews. The book is very interesting. Anyone who loves science, wants to learn about the history of healthcare, or is interested in reading about the controversy of medical science versus supernatural healing, this is the book for you. Bogosh shares healthcare history, scripture, and  personal experiences about his career as a nurse and the death of his sister, making this book not only informative, but personal. Bogosh addresses how we too easily get caught up in trying to prolong our life by using extreme measures instead of allowing God to receive the glory in our weakness. Too often we seek medical attention first and save Jesus for the last resort. This book will inform you and give you clarity. This is a book every Christian needs to read.

Amberly

A Book Review of The Button Legacy

The Button Legacy, written by Ginger Marcinkowski, is a short fiction novel about how a mysterious box of buttons plays a significant role in a family, teaching them about the most important things in life; faith, family, and love. The story takes place in Plaster Rock, New Brunswick in 1956 where the button box is first introduced. The box, which contains hundreds of buttons that each tell a story, is an old family relic passed down from generation to generation. Throughout the novel, each owner of the button box learns about the importance of family and the depth of God's grace and forgiveness. You will laugh and you will cry as you read and share in the stories of the buttons. Perhaps you will start your own button box. 

Amberly Zimmerman
Cross Focused Reviews

Mom: A Mother's Day Poem

Mom
So short a name for
So profound a woman

Always giving
Always reaching

Mom

The encourager of the family
The nurturer of the heart

Always praying
Always seeking

Mom

Clothed with strength,
Humility and love
Heaven's gift to children,
An angel of the greatest love,
Mom


By: Amberly Zimmerman
(5.12.13)

What About the Nine

A friend of mine found this poem and shared it on her page. It really struck a note with me so I want to share it with all of you.

What About The Nine

"Ten future missionaries heard God's call divine;

One married wrongly, that left only nine....

Nine future missionaries- they could hardly wait;

Mother needed one,though, that left only eight.

Eight future missionaries bound for God and Heaven;

One got to making money, that left only seven.

Seven future missionaries -if only each one sticks;

One lost out completely, that left only six.

Six future missionaries for the Lord alive;

One preferred the homeland, that left only five.

Five future missionaries wait an open door;

One grew tired of waiting, that left only four.

Four future missionaries bound for eternity;

One no longer willing, that left only three.

Three future missionaries -for the need- how few!

One the board rejected, that left only two.

Two future missionaries, a daughter and a son;

One developed ulcers, that left only one.

One future missionary--Thank the Lord for Him;

He refused to ever let the vision dim.

Body, soul and spirit, he to God did yield;

Now for years he's labored on the foreign field.

God in Heaven rejoices, "Blessed child of mine,

You have done MY will-BUT WHAT ABOUT THE NINE?"

~Everek R. Storms.

Review of The Romance of Grace by Jim McNeely III

Written by pastor Jim McNeely III of Dakota Creek Christian Center in Washington, The Romance of Grace is about the relationship between the Creator and his creation which is based on divine love and grace. The book helps to put God's grace in a perspective we can more easily grasp. McNeely explains how the romantic relationship between Christ and his bride should be by sharing the parable of the kingdom of God found in Matthew 13:44-46.  The reader learns the kingdom of God is like a treasure and those who want to be a part of the kingdom should be totally sold out for it and give their all for it. Such people should be driven by desire. The reader also learns that God values us like mankind values a precious pearl. Jesus gave all He had for us and was driven by divine love and grace. The law condemns, but His grace saves. As people in a relationship with God, we should not be driven by fear to obey the law. We must be driven by love. Coercion to obey the law is not true obedience. As sinners we are drawn to sin, but by God's grace we can overcome sin and choose to obey. Some people become so legalistic and focus so much on the law that they forget the most important part of a relationship with God: Love. "Virtue is the fruit not the root" (p. 18). The root of a relationship with Jesus is love. We are not good all by ourselves. It's God's love for us that saves us and our love for Him that causes us to bear fruit. McNeely's book is eyeopening and very encouraging. You will be reminded you of how much God really loves you and values you.