Dear Christian Nurse Colleagues
Blessings and joy to you as we enter a New Year and look forward to what God has in store for all of us in 2012!
I am praying that you will see God's hand in the midst of joys and trials and that you will renew your commitment to
"trust in Him" as you live out your faith at home and in your profession.
As I look back over 2011, I am reminded of God's faithfulness as He leads us forward. We have grown in leadership development, established the Southeast Asia and Middle East region (SAME), expanded to countries in Central America, Africa and Eastern Europe, strengthened partnerships with other international healthcare organizations and represented NCFI at worldwide conferences. We are making "great strides" as we collaborate with other international organizations with like mission, similar worldview and a heart for patients and healthcare workers. The new International Institute of Christian Nursing (IICN) will bring a new level of professionalism to the organization in areas of research, education, and evidence based practice. Exciting challenges and opportunities are unfolding for future collaborative work in other parts of the world. Now as we approach 2012, there is excitement ahead as Christian nurse leaders around the world are planning to attend the NCFI Quadrennial Conferences in Chile November 5-9, 2012 to challenge, uplift and empower nurses in a globalized world. Check the latest information on the conference on the NCFI website at www.ncfi.com.
As you reflect back over 2011 in your own life, I encourage you to think honestly about your time, your attitude and your focus. Has it been a year of joy and peace for you -- or have you felt overwhelmed and saddened by the difficulty and trials in life? Being overwhelmed, consumed with details, and too busy can frequently rob us of our joy and leave us feeling insignificant, weak and powerless. But when we turn to God's Word, we allow His living words to feed our souls and calm our lives. Psalm 118:8 tells us that "it is better to take refuge in the Lord, than to trust in man." Yielding to the power of the Holy Spirit living within is the only way to stay in the center of God's will for our lives. God intends for the core of our life to be inner joy and peace, even in the midst of the daily trials and tragedies. We have a choice: we can focus on the overwhelming circumstances of life, or we can live our lives focused on Christ and His unending love for us. The choice is ours.
May the joy and peace of the Lord be yours in 2012.
Blessings
Dr. Barbara J White Ed.D. RN. CNS
President, NCFI