I Blew A Fuse

Sometime last year…I was endlessly working. Part of it, was my nature. To give everything I have. Only for the Big Boss. I would always be grateful for this job He gave me as a Correctional Nurse. It was not easy. But the joy of being able to help out to the hurting souls gave me accomplishments deep inside that has far more value than earth’s money or gold.

The other part was because of the Supervisor or Charge Nurse was also telling me “Do this! Do that when you’re done!” Patiently, I had been following her wishes. Until my neck got achier and it felt like I couldn’t go on anymore [I had a neck injury in 1997]. It wasn’t about her telling me what to do. It was about her telling us to do work first that were not nursing kind of stuff. You know, like filing papers. Cleaning the exam rooms after. Calling some inmates middle of the night to make sure they were okay when the sick call was usually done in the morning. In their units.

I heard Paul’s voice saying: [Romans 13:1 -”For there is no authority except from God and the authorities that exist are from God.”].

I even heard Peter from the back of my mind, too: “For the Lord’s sake, accept all authority - the king as head of state, and the officials he has appointed.” -1Peter 2:13-14

“Rcubes…Can you also do the blood pressure checks in unit 8?”, she uttered as I was barely done from charting on an inmate’s chart after a non-emergent sick call. Mind you, this was also done by the LVN's in the morning.

Would you believe RCUBES got upset? That was it! The anger meter went up the roof! A fuse blew up! As I kept telling myself, “be slow to anger Rosel! Be slow to anger!” I didn’t say anything. She noticed. Because I usually had the enthusiasm to work. Most of the time, without being told.

“Do you have a problem?” she asked.

“Yes, I do!” I answered really loud and with a higher tone of voice that surprised my co-workers who had not seen that kind of attitude from me. I felt their sympathy. On me.

She brushed against my left shoulder and whispered, “We’ll talk later, okay?”

“No!” I said with defiance she did not expect.

To make this long story short, I didn’t talk with her not until the following week that I was scheduled to work.

“Hi, Nurse Z!” I softly greeted her as I walked into the Clinic.

“Would it be okay with you, if you have a minute, to talk with me?”

“Sure,” she said as she got up and led me to her office.

As I heard the door closed behind us, I started, “I’m sorry for the behavior I had shown you last week. The reason I got upset was because you were non-stop telling me what to do. You know you never have a problem with me when it comes to work. Because I don’t need to be told. But most of the stuff you told me to do was not even related to our work. Which was fine. If we have a quiet night. You know that I also like to help out others whenever I can. But you knew we were busy that night. It just got to me as I started feeling my neck hurting more.”

She just kept staring. Not saying a word. Digesting all the words that were coming out like a flowing river. I saw her eyes got teary.

“I didn’t talk to you when you offered that night, because I was so angry and I didn’t want to face you that way. I know that in my anger, it would be easy to say things that I wouldn’t mean or even regret much later. And it would be so easy to destroy someone even with words.”

Still no words from her. She was meeting my own straight gaze.

“I just want to let you know that I’m very sorry.”

“Okay. Thanks for telling me,” were the only words she uttered as on-lookers were staring at the two of us as we walked out of that room. They were wondering what happened but they knew it was a talk that led to healing. To straightening out what was misunderstood before.

And I felt something got lifted from my shoulder…I didn’t want to make a good impression on her. I wanted to do it Christ’s way. He always put others first.


“Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too and what they are doing.” - Philippians 2:2-4

With Your Power And Might

I had posted a prayer request earlier. Please scroll down to see my previous post and please visit bro. Andy's site at "Insights From The Bible."

As I came home after dropping off my son at his school, I asked for the Lord to give me a new song to praise Him as I haven't played my guitar in a while. And He is always faithful to grant that request every time we ask from our heart. Within 5-10 minutes, He gave me a song.

I want to thank You Lord for all of Your blessings. For another day in our lives. Days that go by so fast, like sands slipping through fingers. But You constantly remind us, that when we seek You first, You are always there, wanting us to do that and wants to bless us in return. Thank You Lord for Your faithful love and mercy. Thank You that we can come boldly to Your throne of grace as You see Jesus' righteousness when we do so. You provide everything. And we don't deserve anything.

Forgive us for the times that we don't seek You. When we are lost in this world's busyness and find excuses not to be still and give time to see Your face. Please forgive us when we maximize our trials and forget that there is nothing impossible with You. Give us a heart surgery Lord. And help us continue to grow in Your grace and knowledge.

Yet, You continue to love us unconditionally. I love You Lord. I pray for You to fill all of Your children's hearts with Your Spirit. So that we die everyday and let Jesus in us increase. Give us the boldness to share the Good News. Give us discernment and protect us at all times O Lord. Thank You. Praise Your Holy Name. I have witnessed the power of me just saying Your mighty Name "Jesus" and the enemy cowers.

Thank You that we have Your mighty weapons and power to be able to fight. Yes, we will stand. Even in these evil days. Because You never leave us nor forsake us. Glory be to You O Lord forever and ever. I pray all of these in Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen.


With Your Power and Might
[song by: Daddy and rcubes 2/1/10


This road was not easy for me

Sometimes, I got weak and weary

When I fell, I felt like surrendering

‘Til You came along and reached out to me


Chorus:


And this child fights with Your power and might

I don on Your armor and know that I can stand

With Jesus, I can claim a total victory

Yes, I’ll fight…with Your power…and might


This road is never easy, now I know

But the truth is that You’re there beside me

You fill me up with grace and mercy

You lived for God but you died for me


[Repeat Chorus]

Fading:


….only Jesus

…..Only with Jesus

Prayer Request

In lieu of my regular posting, this morning, as I did my devotional before my busy mornings start, a prayer request from a dear brother in Christ had caught my attention as I usually checked my bloggy friends' new posts.

I'm bringing it to your attention, prayer friends/intercessors to please visit brother Andy's site [from "Insights From The Bible]. Or you can also scroll down until you see my blog roll and click on "Insights From The Bible".

He is a great brother in Christ who loves to share God's Word in his site. Him and his wife need your prayers. Don't we all, anyway? To pray for each other, not only at times of needs but everyday, for protection. I had posted it before, when Jesus prayed for the disciples and all believers, [John 17:6-26] He didn't ask the Father to take us out of this world. He prayed for protection for His followers. Because we don't battle in our own power and might. We battle with His.

May God bless you all and thank you for coming by.

1Thessalonians 5:17 -"Never stop praying."

Ephesians 6:10 - "Be strong in the Lord's mighty power."

To Tithe Or Too Tight?

"Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love gift. Take time to meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship. If you hoard a thing for yourself, it will turn into spiritual dry rot, as the manna did when it was hoarded. God will never let you hold a spiritual thing for yourself; it has to be given back to Him that He may make it a blessing to others."

~ Oswald Chambers


“But I’m sick Ma’am,” uttered an inmate worker during an unexpected sick call request. He usually worked 12 hours in the kitchen, preparing foods. Just like others. He thought I would give him a chrono [medical note] for a few days “off-work” status.

“Sorry Sir,” I softly replied. “I heard your physical complaints but I couldn’t find any physical symptoms that would back up your claims. I am not ignoring your request. But how can I put you off of work when all of your vital signs are normal? You’ve been saying you have a cold. But your tonsils and throat are fine. There are no redness.” And the other symptoms I didn’t elaborate explaining. Knowing that they could potentially mimic those symptoms and fake their illness more.

Working for 10 years now in the prison, I have learned the inmate workers’ tactics of pretending to be sick. So they don’t have to work. They don’t want to work. At least, some of them. But not all of them. They are not willing to give their best to learn something that will make them proud. Or make them change their behavior as a result of doing a hard work. So, I have been careful to give “off-work” status.

When it comes to giving, lots of Christians struggle when it comes to “tithing”. While some churches over-emphasize it, others do not want to listen to the biblical exhortations about making this special offering for the Lord.

We are to give as we are able. It may mean giving more or giving less than the 10% we know of. Each one of us should seek the Lord for His wisdom as we participate in tithing or how much to give. [James 1:5 -”If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”]

Offerings should be given with pure motives and with an attitude of worship to God and as service to the body of Christ. “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” - 2 Corinthians 9:7

So…question is…are you willing to tithe or you’re too tight?


What the people were thinking during offering in a church:

1st man: “Hmm…10% of $455=$45 & 50 cents. But I only have $46 in cash. I wonder if I could take my change in the basket.”

Lady in blue: “God, You’ve been so good to me. Thank You for Your provision in my life.”

Lady in red: “Where does all this money go? Shouldn’t the pastors know that we need softer toilet paper in the bathroom? I think that instead of giving money this week, I’ll buy the toilet paper that I like and give it to the church.”

Woman in black [after the girl]: “Lord, You know my needs. I give this in faith. Please cover my debts and make my car lasts a long time.”

Man with striped tie: “Since I sent my money to that television evangelist this week, I’ll count that as my tithe.”

Girl in pink top: “Lord gave me a dollar and I got to put it in!... Why do we do that anyway?”

Man with brown tie: “As soon as I get out of debt, I’ll start tithing.”

Woman in blue top: “10%? Where does that come from? What happens if I only get 5%? No way! That’s too high!”

Old man in pink shirt: “God, I know You see how much money I’ll give. I hope this pastor will appreciate it.”

Woman in black & white top: “Okay God! You know I’m giving more than the usual 10% this week. So, next week, I’m keeping it all.”

Man in blue shirt: “I cleaned the sanctuary this week. That’s worth about $50. What do you know? That’s 10% of what I make. I’m covered.”

Please visit Spiritual Sundays for other encouraging posts. It is always great to reflect on His love and to see what He is doing in each of His children's hearts. God bless you all.