Let the Voiceless Speak: A story of faith in action

This week I had a heart-warming experience of God's faithfulness and the importance of trusting Him. For the last nine months, I've been invited to speak to various groups to share the story of what God has done in my life. This week I was scheduled to speak to a group of faith community (parish) nurses at a local hospital. The organizer of the event is a lovely woman with whom I connected right away, and I sensed her deep faith instantly. I couldn't wait to be among them to share how God continues to transform my practice of medicine into a ministry.

Two days before the talk, I lost my voice completely. After using all my doctor tricks to heal my vocal cords, I woke up around four in the morning on the day of the talk ... still voiceless. I tested my voice and out came a shriek. So I said to God, "Well, that won't do, will it? How will I share about You with no voice, Lord?"

God replied, "Rest. You will have your voice by then."

So I went back to bed in peace. As the hours passed, my voice slowly strengthened, and I had just enough sound by noon. I gave the talk as planned, and we had a beautiful time together in spite of my husky voice.

Two more things happened that were significant. A flood on the hospital floor where the talk was scheduled forced a sudden location change. So the organizer and others scrambled to find a new location, reorder lunch, and inform the participants by phone of the last-minute change. I was ready for a very small crowd.

It turns out that, as in Genesis 1:2, the Spirit was hovering over those waters, and He was about to do a new thing in me and among us.

I was forced into a two-day silent retreat right before my talk, which deepened the message and moved it in a new direction. For God uses all things for His purposes, and what the enemy means for harm, God uses for good.

So during my two days of silence, feeling like Zechariah (John the baptist's dad), I was led to God's Word. I delved into John 15, where Jesus reminds us of the absolute need for us to abide in Him continually, not just every so often.

As I meditated on this chapter, I remembered something I'd noticed years ago. The word remain appears eleven times in the first eleven verses. Hear the words of Jesus,

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 

“If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love." 

(John 15:1-10)

Let us remain in the Vine, for that is how we can be fruitful, spreading the goodness, love, and hope that will bless a hurting world. As we remain in His love and show it through our obedience, we can expect to see and experience the living waters of His Spirit. And there is nothing better and more needed than that.

Remain!
Dr Mari

Photo by Manuel Díaz Photography. Used with permission. All Rights Reserved.

An Excerpt from Walking with Jesus in Healthcare

This morning, I shared my testimony, the story of my journey meeting and embracing Jesus, with some high school students. While sharing how praying with patients has transformed the way I care for people as a doctor, I read this devotion from my book, Walking with Jesus in Healthcare. The book is a 120-day devotional written to encourage and empower all who care for the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of others. It is based on the Gospel according to Luke, the physician. Here's an excerpt from day 90.

The Glories of God’s Kingdom

Read Luke 17:20-37  

The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you. (v. 20-21)

Every time we open the door to greet another human being in need, we bear a tremendously powerful gift. Jesus said plainly that God’s kingdom is within us. Within us! We must have the courage, willingness, and love to share Him with others, for Jesus Himself sent us out to spread His message of hope, healing, and life (Matthew 28:18-20).

During my second mission trip to Guatemala, I experienced God’s kingdom at work in medicine. As a young mother shared the challenges she’d endured that week, I felt helpless. What were we doing there anyway? Treating chronic conditions for one week would be like adding a drop of water into a sea of needs.

While such thoughts conspired to discourage and paralyze me, the Holy Spirit within urged me to pray with her. So I did.

As I began to pray for her, she began to pray for me in our native Spanish, and the gates of heaven opened. Suddenly, we were before God’s throne interceding for one another, two sisters seeking God’s face together.

God’s kingdom broke through my apprehension and her pain, touching each of us deeply. Our heartfelt prayer transcended her overwhelming needs and my inadequacy to meet them. As our prayer ended, we knew we were in God’s presence, having tasted His living waters.

The kingdom of God does not come with our “careful observation” but with our prayerful surrender. I have learned how to overcome that helpless feeling that sometimes still visits me; when I bring it to God, He is more than sufficient.

God's kingdom is an endless river of mercy, healing, and grace. As I call on Him, He is faithful to reveal the glories of His kingdom.

May we surrender our lives more fully each day and continue to call on Him!
Dr Mari

To find out more about Walking with Jesus in Healthcare, please visit my website. And consider sharing this excerpt with your friends in healthcare! They probably need some encouragement today.

 LOOK INSIDE Walking with Jesus in Healthcare Vol I

Thanksgiving: My New Book is Coming Soon!

12/12 UPDATE: My devotional for healthcare professionals and caregivers is now available! Visit my author website for details! 

To all my faithful followers and encouragers,

I am thrilled to share that I just finished the final round of edits for my devotional, Walking with Jesus in Healthcare. With God's help, it will be in print very soon! My faith has grown and my heart has been transformed while writing it, and I pray that it will bless every reader with a closer walk with God.

Here's an excerpt I share at the end of the book. It comes from a hymn written by Fanny Crosby in 1882. It is also the song of my heart as I complete this work I was called to do. What a privilege!

"Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ,

wealth that can never be told!

Riches exhaustless of mercy and grace,

precious, more precious than gold!

Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ!

Freely, how freely they flow,

making the souls of the faithful and true

happy wherever they go!

Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ!

Who would not gladly endure

trials, afflictions, and crosses on earth,

riches like these to secure!"

Wishing you a strong faith and a life full of true riches,
Dr Mari

For more information and updates, visit my author website.