Jesus Calms The Storms

Jesus Calms the Storm

²³ Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. ²⁴ Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. ²⁵ The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

²⁶ He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

²⁷ The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” – Matthew 8:23-27 (NIV)

After my husband was hit by that “man-cold”, I heard a slight, few, dry coughs from my son last Friday night while he was playing downstairs with his video game. That day was his usual time to get up early and he was greeted, he said, with a deadly kiss of extremely cold air when he went to school. Paired with the unexpected showers, the chillier the temperature got. When he got home in the afternoon, I could see his eyes were becoming glassy like.

I bought an organic cold syrup to try and see if that would help with his symptoms right away. Despite getting the annual flu shots, I didn’t expect for it to help him as much if it was just a plain “cold”. He knew the routines from this “mommy” now. Lots of fluids and rest. For the past weekend, he had gotten more tired but we were both grateful that the symptoms were not as bad as they used to bother him. His appetite picked up yesterday, the 4^th day that he was ill. I requested if he could be off from school and with a slight protest at first (he loved to study hard), finally agreed that “mommy’s advice” would be best if he obeyed. 

“Lord, thank You for always being there for us,” my husband started his prayer on Monday morning when he had to go back to work at the wee hours of that morning, after battling his “man-cold” for a week.

“Please continue to give “R” (which was me) her strength and that she wouldn’t get sick like “Kristian and I,” he added.

He knew…We were all grateful that so far, I hadn’t been invaded by these nasty viruses. It helped a lot that I could keep caring for the two of them. Bombarding them with hot broths or soups, cut-up fruits, using the over-worked toaster for their toasts and other healthy snacks to boost their immunity.

This morning, at 1:00 something in the morning, I found myself slightly crooked from my position on the bed that I was so achy when I tried to change my position. An image of Jesus calming the storm came to my memory. I knew…It was true…I knew there was an account of that in the Bible. I found the particular story (which were the verses above). 

Illnesses…Losing my battle at work to keep my full time position by demoting me. Not getting the expected help from the government agency that was supposed to investigate for me. Financial needs…And I could go on and on…

I know it’s not only me going through life’s storms. Some are light. Some are severest. To know Jesus is not enough. We must never stop knowing the things that belong to Him more and more. Through life’s storms, we can use those as opportunities to increase our faith, instead of being lessened. 

“Oh, you of little faith…”

I don’t want to be like that…Because the truth is no one can weather any life’s storms without His help. His help is available through His Word. And we can use His Word to speak to us and have these doubts, worries, bad habits, sinful lives, and other tough storms to be rebuked by His truth!

From my own life’s journey, how many times has He rebuked, not the storm, but me? He doesn’t want to calm the ravaging storms that are going on outside. 

He wants to calm…always calm…the storms in me…

The Man-Cold

“Please rest for the remaining days of this week,” I coaxed my husband who had gotten sick starting Monday. The symptoms appeared slowly. First, just feeling tired. Easily ignored as he always got up early in the morning to go to work. Yes. Even on those early mornings that brought below freezing temperatures. Second came slight bouts of coughs. I knew him well. Sudden changes of extreme temps made him sick from the past. Like I did on some occasions.

He went to see his doctor who gave him the cough syrup that usually helped him a lot faster than the regular over-the-counter concoctions.

“I’m feeling better. I’m going to work tomorrow,” he uttered on Tuesday.

But more punches from dry coughs hit him by the next day.

“Just listen to me,” I begged.

“Rest…”

“Because what’s the worth of you going to work only to feel sicker after? Than rest and truly recover?”

He was quiet. I wasn’t sure if he forgot I was a nurse, aside from being more of a concerned spouse and a caring mother who always wanted her family to feel their best.

“Okay…” he agreed…As I was about to thank him, he added, “I’m going to work come Friday then…”

But yesterday, Thursday, he was feeling more tired. He was not able to get enough sleep from those 4 previous nights that he finally surrendered to my pleading. 

“I’ll go see our doctor again to have him extend my medical note so I could be off tomorrow,” he said yesterday.

This time, no more disagreeing with me. He should know better. This lady could be tougher than that “man-cold” he had. He should know better. I got sick the same way he did so I knew how he felt.

It was just easier to let someone know “I know… I understand…” If we walked on their shoes before. 

Someone…who walked before us. Understands….Knows…Jesus... And He truly loves and cares for all of us…Do we want to listen to Him? Or not?

 

But God's truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: "The LORD knows those who are his," and "All who belong to the LORD must turn away from evil." – 2 Timothy 1:9 (NLT) 

Here's a link from webmd.com in ways how to fight cold/flu:

http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/8-tips-to-treat-colds-and-flu-the-natural-way

Mommy and Kristian's Song For Jesus

Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.  – Psalm 127:1 (NLT)

“Sorry…” I uttered to my husband to let him know that the nights I desired to be scheduled to work seemed not to be available as they used to be. One nurse came back from being a Per Diem and decided to go full time. She worked and wanted to work with the staff I usually worked with.

I was warning my husband just so he would know. That it was getting harder to get in on weekend nights that I wanted. He didn’t want me to work on weekdays. Knowing I was busy at home, tending to our needs. He reassured and without a change in his facial expression just whispered, “It’s okay.”

He was always supportive of me since being demoted in my position at work. He knew injustices were rampant. Like in his job. Powerful people seemed to prosper more. Everyone would try to fit in in a “Click” just so they could get along with each other. Even if it meant crossing some lines. He wasn’t that way. I wasn’t that way. With our lives changed and being renewed when we were found by the Lord, we knew we were involved…In an unseen battle.

We used to do the same. Pursue those things that actually never had a lasting value. And our lives changed when the Lord found us and life for us, as individuals and as a family would never be the same. Our cares were to keep ourselves in the love of God. Whether we had little or much of anything, didn’t matter anymore. For we knew, by His grace, any of our plans could fail, without Him.

I looked at the schedule and sighed…My cares I chose to give to His hands. For He would be the One to direct anyone’s steps.

Feeling the achiness from my shoulder last night, my cell phone rang and I saw it was one of the night supervisors. I picked up. She advised me. She might need me this Friday though I wasn’t scheduled. It might be short of staff.

“I’m always available on those nights. Thank you,” I ended our short conversation with true gratitude.

My husband sitting at the nearby dining table heard me and looked at my direction and smiled at me as he whispered, “I told you…It’s okay…”

Deep inside, we both knew it was His provision. His Divine blessing. 

I remembered this song God gave me on June 7, 2003. Our old house was already stripped of all belongings as we were in the process of moving to another house. I remembered asking my son to help me finish with the lyrics and he just said, “Thank You, Lord”. He was busy playing with his keyboard and in soft melody that filled the barren indoor, the truth hit me that without Jesus, our lives were like the empty house. They felt void. And even when we gave in our lives to His love and friendship and gift of Salvation, it still wouldn’t be easy for trials would still come at any moment. But life with Jesus has an out-of-this-world reward: His promise of an everlasting life to those who would love Him.

Mommy and Kristian’s Song For Jesus 

I thought that I don’t need anyone

But my life has long been gone

Jesus, thank You for finding me

Your love fills me up completely

Chorus:

May Your love on me grow

For all people to know

Don’t want to be lost again

Help me be strong against all sins

Thank You for dying on the cross

But on the third day You rose

My life with You won’t be the same

Right path I’m walking on today

(Repeat Chorus)

He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. -Psalm 126:6 (NIV)

"Do Not!!!"...Oh well, "Do-Nuts!"

I’m not sure if it is the freezing temps lately that started my neck to hurt again since yesterday. As I got used to waking up early to prepare my husband’s sack lunches, though I’m not working today, Saturday, I found myself searching for the glowing hands of the clock and saw it was only 4 a.m.

Some days when I am not scheduled to work because the shifts have adequate number of staff working, I end up searching deep within.  Though contented at home and I truly enjoy keeping our abode clean and preparing hot meals for my boys, I feel like I’m not doing enough sometimes.

I felt a surge of a spasm-like on the left side of my neck and that electrifying pain somehow made me crave for donuts! Staying away from too sugary foods for a while now that seemed to benefit my family and I’s health. I  had not vowed though to stay away from deep fried foods. But at my workplace, whenever a few nurses would come with their hands carrying those huge boxes of donuts, I tried to look away and kept telling myself “DO-NOT!!!”…But there are those times when…

Ouch! I felt my left shoulder so achy but the thoughts of donuts were making me much more wide awake. I remembered I had bought a can of refrigerated biscuits from the organic store few days ago that had lesser sugar, with unbleached flour and lesser saturated fat. So I thought…Why not? And surprise my 2 boys who were still active in their dreamland.

I never told anyone and mulled to keep it a secret that I hated those popping sound from the canister of that can of biscuits as if it would explode in my face. So, I put my glasses on (Just in case...) and tore the wrapping and push a spoon to let those prepared dough say "Hello!" I had no choice but to do it myself since I wanted to surprise my boys.

making holes with a melon baller

Oh...Looking good already!!!

Except I couldn't go anywhere as they browned too fast!

I thought...I had to thank my neck pain. The only time that made me do something that made me forget the pain...

Chocolate glaze...Maple Sugar...No!!! I better stick to raw sugar and organic powdered sugar!

Of all mornings, with pain in my neck, this was the morning I got up with a smile and looked forward to greeting my boys when they wake up and I couldn't wait to see their eyes to grow big and a smile when they see that the "do-nots!" are going to be in front of them to be savored.

I took a bite with a cup of coffee (Of course, I'll eat with my boys again...) and as I felt the pain on my neck and shoulder alleviating a bit, I thought how back then, I preferred indulgence to hard work and preferred hard work to be rewarded and be praised. But a true servant of Christ, with the renewing of our minds, tend to work hard even when no one notices. Because deep inside, I know... God does...Anywhere...Anytime...

I remembered this from Booker Washington: "Almost any individual can succeed in legitimate enterprise that he sets his heart upon, if he is willing to pay the price, in most cases, is being willing to toil when others are resting, being willing to work when others are sleeping, being willing to put forth the severest effort when there is no one to see or applaud. It is comparatively easy to find people who are willing to work when the world is looking on and ready to give applause, but very hard to find those who are willing to work in the corner or a midnight, when there is no watchful eye or anyone to give applause..."

Do you feel inadequate at times? Never take anything that you do lightly for even little things like your ability to write, you don't know how many hearts are lifted and soothed when they visit your blogs...Including mine...

I checked on my boys. Tucked and sleeping cozily under their blankets. I kissed my son and whispered "I love you..." Not moving, very much drowsy, he tried to acknowledge but became still again. I closed his door and then, checked on my husband who woke up at the faintest sound of my footstep and asked me if I was okay and how I was feeling...

"Better..." I replied (as I felt a grainy sugar on one corner of my lips). We hugged each other and I kissed him and whispered, "I love you..." (as my tongue took a swipe with the secret topping).

The countdown began in my mind...Awaiting for the surprise downstairs. I knew....

"There's a fulfilling joy that comes from serving not only my family but with others. The do-nuts were not just for me...It was for my loving husband and son this morning...Because they bless me with their love. The way God blessed me first...

the "do-nots! await..oh by the way, the holes I rolled 'em in cinnamon sugar...

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. - Proverbs 11:25 (NLT)