Jesus is Peace

I couldn't help but marvel at this wonderful scenery. What a mighty force it must be for the currents to etch and leave prints every time the water hits the land! This side of the beach is being reshaped over and over only to show a magnificent art, done by nature!

We all go through different trials of life. Some are suffering more than the others. But no matter what kind of trial we're in, we should emerge as victors, despite the pain and the force of impact a trial has on our lives. From James 1:2-4, "Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything."

We don't know our reactions until we undergo some kind of pressure. But instead of complaining, we can look at these trials as opportunities for growth. God has promised that "He will never leave us nor forsake us." God will stay close with us if we ask Him to, as we are being reshaped to have a strong character.

Jesus said from John 16:33, "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." What a wonderful promise from Him that He is with us as we go through these trials. He is our peace during times of trials...

Spring Break 2008

Spring Break is here! No matter how early, this time of the year is a great reminder of what Christ Jesus had done to save us all. All these wonderful places we got to see, foods we ate, things we did...To God be the glory!

Famous turn "corkscrew" at Laguna Seca Raceway

Acts 20:24 - However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

Lunch from Giovanni's at Morro Bay...

John 6:35 - Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

Lone Cypress Tree at 17 mile drive [Monterey, CA.]

Proverbs 11:30 - The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Morro Rock at Morro Bay, CA.

Psalm 18:2 - The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Sunset at Pismo Beach, California

Psalm 37:18 - The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever.

God's Insurance

Don't have a clue what to blog about today. Tired from last night's work...Inmates are sicker, with history of diabetes or high blood pressure or both and also seizures. Outside, some of them don't have the insurance to be able to manage their medical problems, thus, are unable to buy the necessary medications they need to control such problems. I hope whoever wins the presidency this year will really do something for the health of all Americans. It should be a fair system in treating everyone who needs it.

If we want to have peace and harmony, we can all learn from God. From Acts 10:34,35, Peter said, "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality but in every nation, anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him." God wants all of us to be saved from eternal fire. That's how much He loves us all. God doesn't select who He wants to be saved. He grants His offer of salvation to anyone who is willing to accept it. His gift has been offered. Someone just needs to accept and open that gift. We are all spiritually ill and we need His insurance in order for us to restore our spiritual health.

Ephesians 2:1-9 says: And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [ESV].

Trust in God

Whew! What a very busy night at work! I had a gut feeling that I would be floating to "Intake" and was I right! I haven't been there in a long time..."Intake" is a part of detention facility where arrestees are first screened by nurses to see if they are physically and mentally fit to stay in the jail. It can be very busy as many bodies start arriving after they are arrested for driving under the influence, using street drugs, and any other forms of crimes. It also houses a few cells where "suicidal inmates" are monitored and a couple of safety cells for those who are a threat to themselves.
Mr. X in safety cell 1 started getting more anxious and was yelling profanities as I was coming along to get my report from the outgoing nurse. He had been refusing his psych. meds for the past days that added as a factor to his already odd behavior. Few minutes later, he started banging the metal door and caused a high potential to hurt himself physically. I had the deputies put him on the safety chair and decided that it was the right moment to administer the meds ordered by the psych doctor to calm him down. His blood pressure was high at 153/103. A couple of hours later, he was sound asleep. Sensing that he would be more calm when he woke up, I had the deputies release him from the safety chair. His blood pressure returned to normal at 124/84. There were other situations that demanded my own autonomous decisions and they were not easy. I used to be afraid of making wrong decisions. I used to be afraid of just being there in that place knowing how busy it could be and there was no other help, medical-issue wise.
But I know that God is there with me anywhere, anytime. I know that I can call on my God to help me out. Jesus said in Matthew 6:8, "Your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him." Yes, I still need to pray...all the time even if God knows what I need. It just proves how much I need Him and without Him, I am nothing. The more I realize my dependence on Him, the more thankful I feel because then, I know that nothing is impossible to achieve when I know He will always be there for me. He sees me and my intentions. Proverbs 3:5 reminds me all the time to"trust in the Lord with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding." How wonderful to know that God is always there and He is Someone I can lean on at all times.