My Feet Were Washed...

I’m finally able to unwind yesterday and be able to go back here and acknowledge being “tagged” and being given a “blog blessing”.

Those of us who consider ourselves the Lord’s servants have a hard time receiving from others. Although Jesus said, “it’s more blessed to give than to receive” these few words I want to share with you also says, “it is blessed to receive” - [from “Treasury of God’s Virtues”]

“Didn’t Jesus have the apostles wash one another’s feet and even His feet? I only want to wash other people’s feet. Lord, please humble me enough to let them wash mine.”

With that, I want to let the “taggers” and those of you who had shared their blog blessings with me know that it’s not about being tagged or be given blog awards, but it is your friendships that I treasure and I’m grateful for. I want you to know how much your friendship and your love mean to me. Because I know it all originates from our awesome Lord.

Sister Christy and Sister Andrea, two wonderful friends/sisters, tagged me and here you go:

"8" Things I Look Forward To:

>1. To "retire" in the Kingdom where my citizenship belongs
>2. To have a "godly" leader in all branches of government and other institutions
>3. For more people to know about Christ and His gift of salvation
>4. For the Lord to lead me where He really wants me so I can serve Him
>5. For my neck pain [I had a neck injury from work in 1997] to vanish
>6. To grow old with my dear husband gracefully as we watch our son grow up and mature
>7. To enjoy each day knowing God is always there no matter what trials
>8. To be able to keep writing for the Lord and composing songs for His glory

>“8” Things I did yesterday:

>1. Was at work and wow! It was a quiet weekend so it was a nice break. [Thank You Lord!]
>2. Headed to Starbucks off a freeway ramp and got a “venti” mocha to keep me up
>3. Tired when I got home but did my devotion before getting some “zzz’
>4. I was like a zombie so I just slept and ate in-between. Been a night owl for 19 years now.
>5. Watched an old movie “Ice Age” on tv with my hubby and son
>6. Got on line and read some uplifting posts from fellow bloggers
>7. Ate a small piece of “power bar” and some water
>8.Said good night and I love You to the Lord, my hubby and my son and passed out on the couch

“8” Things I Wish I Can Do:

>1. Sing well with my guitar [It’s okay. God said, “love your voice anyway”]
>2. Wanted to be a Forensic Nurse [It’s okay. God said “no” You’re where I want you to be.]
>3. Wish my mom had taught me her cooking secrets because she was an awesome cook [It’s okay. My hubby and son remember to always have only “good things” come out of their mouths…so, they seem to love whatever I put on the table]
>4. Serve older people [someday…God willing]
>5. Travel all over USA [God willing]
>6. Encourage a lot of people and be able to lead them to the Lord [so “help me God!”]
>7. Play tennis [because my son loves it]
>8. Play the piano [because I love this instrument, too]

“8” Shows I enjoy:

>Nothing really in particular. I’d rather read or surf the net.

>PHOTO TAG:

1^st folder/10^th pic:

I went to visit my friend one time and this huge rose from their garden caught my eyes and for fun just took an aim with my camera.

6^th folder/6^th pic:

One of the pics my son took when we enjoyed the cloud formations one day and that was the roof of our house.

In another note, I’m so honored when Silver had shared with me her blog award. Here’s what this award is all about:

Ces designed this award to celebrate art in the blogs and to honor the value of friendship, sisterhood, sharing and caring. It is to be awarded to the gifted, accomplished, eloquent and talented blogger whose friendship and influence inspire us to do our best. That I named it after Bella Sinclair is because she epitomizes all of these things. She is an inspiration to many of us”.

“I hope that when Bella returns, this award would have already circulated in the blogs. It is my honor to give this award to the first recipients who I hope will find the same pleasure as I have in spreading its crown, giving shade and the comfort of friendship and caring and of sisterhood by sharing this award with their blog-friends and sisters!”

And that’s what I’m all for, too. Now that I had received all these blessings from these wonderful sisters, the best part is to be able to give them out to all of you, wonderful friends.

Please visit sister Christy, sister Andrea and Silver to get to know them more.

I want to share these to all of you who come here and continue to inspire and encourage me in so many ways. Please don’t let it end here. So, let “your feet” be washed by me and accept these tags and blog award. God bless you all. Thank you for always visiting me.

Spiritual Sundays

“Who Is A God Like You?” is the other song I had submitted to have a demo tape done. The other song was the one I shared for “Father’s Day”.

My inspiration in composing this song came from Micah 7:18:

“Where is another God like You, Who pardons sins of the survivors among His people? You cannot stay angry with Your people forever, because You delight in showing mercy!” – Life Application Bible.


“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” – New International Version.


“Where is the god who can compare with you – wiping the slate clean of guilt, Turning a blind eye, a deaf ear, to the past sins of your purged and precious people? You don’t nurse your anger and don’t stay angry long, for mercy is your specialty. That’s what you love most.” – The Message.


“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.” –King James Version.


“Our God, no one is like you. We are all that is left of your chosen people, and you freely forgive our sin and guilt. You don’t stay angry forever; you’re glad to have pity.” –Contemporary English Version






[Photos: Heartlight and Stockxchange]

On this spiritual Sunday, please reflect on how God delights to show mercy! He is glad when we repent. He offers forgiveness to all who come back to Him.


Today, if you haven’t confessed your sins to Him, please consider in doing so. You will receive His loving forgiveness. Don’t be too proud to accept His free offer.


For more encouragement and uplifting posts, please hop over to Spiritual Sundays, hosted by two loving sisters in Christ – Sister Charlotte and Sister Ginger. God bless you all.

Christ Has Set Us Free

Author's Note: I know I'm posting this way early for July 4th Independence Day celebration, but I want us to reflect and in our prayers, please include our soldiers who sacrifice their own lives to protect us and our "freedom". Also, pray for our Christian brothers and sisters who are also sacrificing their lives as they share the "Good News" to different places of this world, to share the "freedom" that comes from Christ....






Two deputies were slightly dragging a male inmate towards the Clinic, with the man’s bilateral hands soaked with dried blood and a few drops still visible as they fell on the floor. He was bleeding somewhere from his hands. He wasn’t attempting to help out in any way with his legs letting them literally slide on the cold floor.

This man tried to jump over a broken window as the cops tried to arrest him during a burglary. In the process, he ended up getting pierced somewhere in his finger with that broken glass.

It’s pathetic when we see from the media when the cops are portrayed as the abusers. What the rest of the people don’t know, it’s not the whole story. What the video will show is only the part when cops are using their batons, or kicking the arrestees or using their taser guns to subdue them. Working in a correctional facility, I have seen all the lies, all the manipulations, the unpredictable behaviors of inmates who have the history of using drugs and/or alcohol, by which any minute, can be very combative to anyone: deputies and even medical staff.

Prior to this man being booked, he was already treated in a nearby county hospital. What happened next, no one knew as he claimed that he was still bleeding.

He obviously did not want to help with his mobility, the deputies had to slightly drag him, the handcuffs securely fastened both of his wrists.

As he neared the Clinic, he started yelling, “The cops did this! I feel that something is broken in my chest and I’m still bleeding!” When the deputies asked him to sit on the chair, he wouldn’t obey. Anything they said to him, he just wouldn’t do anything.

“Sir! If you want me to treat you and be able to clean your wound well, I need you to just stand still with your back on me so I can clean your bloody hands!” I uttered in a firm voice. He did stand still and I put the big trash bin behind him as I readied my supplies to clean his wound.

I couldn’t tell where the bleeding was coming from. So I patiently washed every digit of his both hands with normal saline, until I was able to inspect them, one by one. I saw some kind of pierced wound on the 3rd digit of his right hand. It was a clean wound but if he picked it, it would still bleed.

“Aww!,” he screamed, as I tried to cleanse it with normal saline.

“The broken glass pierced through my finger! Thanks to these cops! I shouldn’t be here!” he continued to blame the authorities.”

“Awww”, as he yelled one more time.

“Sir, why are you yelling still?” I asked. “Your wound is not bleeding anymore and it’s already wrapped with gauze and a pressure dressing to prevent it from bleeding.”

“It’s only a minor wound and it will heal in no time,” I said.

He didn’t know what to say. This time, he started walking away without the deputies needing to drag him back to his unit. He stopped giving them a hard time.

This inmate exaggerated his injuries and his pain obviously. He pretended to be innocent but he was caught robbing a place and that was how he sustained his injury when the police officers started pursuing him. He was claiming his right to be “free” but he committed a crime. Despite his ill behavior against authorities, he was treated decently by everyone but he wouldn’t say anything, not even one “thank you” except to make it appear that he was being treated unfairly.

The whole time I was treating his wound as I was hearing his lies, I was thinking of the One and only innocent Man who was arrested, prosecuted, pierced, stabbed, spat on, and was pierced with big nails, not only on his two hands but also of His feet.

The only One Who claimed “He is the Son of God” but no one believed. And it is for the cause of “freedom” that made Him give His own life on the cross. Christ came to set us “free” – not free to do whatever we want because that would lead us back into slavery to our own selfish desires. But because of Jesus, we are free and able to do what was impossible before – to live unselfishly. Being saved by grace is totally different from trying to be saved by keeping the laws. All we do is accept His gracious gift through faith.

If you don’t know Jesus and you are here today reading this, would you place your trust and faith on Him? We are saved by faith and not by deeds.

Like that inmate, would you keep on professing your innocence? That you are not a sinner? Blaming others instead of taking responsibility for your own wrong deeds.

The Bible says, “For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standards. Yet, now God in His gracious kindness declares us not guilty” –Romans 3:23,24.

“Salvation that comes from trusting Christ is already within easy reach. The message is close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” –Romans 10:8

“For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.” – Romans 10:9,10

[Click on the “Roman Road to Salvation” on my right side bar if you are ready to commit a life with Jesus]. “If not now, when?”

BTW, I am proud to be an American! And I am “humbled by the Lord” to be a Christian!!!

Who's Telling The Truth?

Fifteen minutes to 08:00 in the morning, my other co-worker and I were taking turns running around, seeing one sick inmate after another. Then, she ran to a unit when they asked for help as the inmate seemed to be having a seizure. Five minutes later, another distress call over the radio was requesting for Medical staff’s help.

“Possible heart attack,” the call blared.

“Unit 13 nurse copy. Enroute in 1,” I replied [meaning I was on my way and that’s my ETA was in 1 minute at the max].

“They couldn’t say that! [“heart attack”],” exclaimed the newly-arrived day charge nurse getting her report from our night shift lead nurse.

“Perhaps, they’re panicking. I’m on my way now,” I replied to her.

“Okay, then call us if you need help,” she uttered.

The hallway was long though it was the same hallway that led to our Infirmary. I hurried my little steps as I toted the heavy emergency bag, praying for the Lord to protect me and guide me with His wisdom and I asked for discernment.

The heavy metal door popped open. The unit deputy met me and had warned me that there was some issue earlier with the same man, complaining of chest pain now. He complained about other inmates being noisy but there was really no one making such a big noise. When they told him to go back to his bed, that was when he started complaining of chest pains.

The inmate workers were serving “chow” [breakfast trays]. They had barely finished their meals. As I approached the particular cell, there were perhaps, twenty-something bodies lined up against the wall as the deputy went with me and assisted me to a the farthest bed in a corner. On it was a seventy-something man, laying on his left side and while clutching his mid-chest, started moaning a lot and was complaining of severe pain. Since I noticed he was breathing okay, I had requested the deputy to put him on a guerney and I would rather take him to the Clinic because if anything happened, all of our equipments were there and there would be more nurses to help me, in case it was a true heart attack and if he coded.

Five minutes later, as he still clutched his chest, I tried hard to take his vital signs. Everything appeared normal. The blood pressure was not that bad. I motioned for him to get on top of the exam table so I could do an EKG to check if there was something going on with his heart.

It took a while before the other nurse and I got a good reading, as even a minor movement would affect the result. We didn’t see anything to be of concern and as we were trying to read the EKG, he started complaining:

“I got kicked!” while moaning still.

“Who kicked you?” I asked.

“This tall, Hispanic deputy in my unit. I told him that there were 2 inmates who were loud and he got upset and kicked me!” he claimed.

I didn’t see any inflammation nor bruising on the area he mentioned as source of pain. It was slightly tender to the touch. There was no deformity. If he had any broken ribs, for sure, he wouldn’t be able to breathe and even talk. He denied any prior injury and his chart noted his history of diabetes. I stopped asking him and reported to the day charge nurse, who in turn, immediately notified the Sargeant. He would probably need to do a further investigation regarding the man’s claim, because the deputy was involved.

This situation is tough. How do we know who’s telling the truth? The Lord warns us not to judge and He’s so right on that. Every story seems so true until you hear both sides. One thing is for sure, it’s only the Lord Who knows who’s telling the truth for He sees all of our actions, words, and even thoughts.

It was time for me to leave as I finished the EKG and my report to the charge nurse. The doctor would be in, in just a few minutes. My heart was heavy. I just prayed that the Lord would help the man if he was telling the truth for it to come out. And if he wasn’t, I still prayed for him that he wouldn’t get in so much trouble.

Proverbs 12:19 –“The lip of truth shall be established forever; but a lying tongue is but for a moment.”

Romans 14:13 –“Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.”

Matthew 7:2 –“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Job 28:24 –“For He views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.”