Rejected...Denied...

“But why won’t you give me an extra towel that I can roll so I can lift my head up? I know I need another one. I saw the doctor wrote it down,” said an annoyed male inmate who just returned from the county’s hospital after being treated for his right eye that was swollen and had bled in the white part of his eye. He was fighting against the cop so he got hit with an object on that particular eye when he was being arrested.

“Sir, I’m not going to keep repeating myself here. I already told you and this is the third time. I already had given you a permission to use an extra towel and that’s mainly to be used as a cold compress for your eye to prevent swelling,” I firmly answered.

“But…”

“Sir?”

“Just because you heard from other inmates what they got, doesn’t mean you’re going to get it. It depends on your injury and if there is no order from the doctor, nurses can’t give it to you. I told you earlier, you would be seen by our jail doctor for a follow-up. Then, go ahead and tell him so if he feels like you need it, he will write an order.”

“They didn’t even order pain meds but I’m giving you some of what I’m allowed to give you so you can be comfortable,” I added.

“I don’t understand. I had an injury like others…I know it’s going to help….”he mumble. Then...:

“Stop it! That’s enough!” a loud remark cut through from the deputy standing nearby.

“She was so nice with you yet you won’t listen. Not all your requests are going to be given. She kept explaining but it’s not sinking in your brain!” he yelled.

“Now, you can go back to your unit!” he commanded.

He looked at me. With head bowed low, he briefly glanced at me and uttered, “I’m sorry, Ma’am. Sorry about that. And thank you so much for giving my eye medications and pain medications.”

“I hope you feel better. Don’t rub your eyes and you can also request to be seen by us if you feel that it’s not improving after using the medications,” I reassured him that his behavior did not bother me.

I knew it was frustrating for him not to get what he wanted. But issuing things even extra towels could be used by these inmates to make something that they could think of. They had all the time to improvise to make things like weapons or shanks. Or if suicidal, could be used to harm even their own selves. Just because he had an eye injury did not mean he would get what he wanted and asked for.

Do you know the other side of Jesus? He exposed those people who sounded religious but had no personal relationship with him. On “judgment day”, only our relationship with Christ and our obedience to him will matter. Some will be denied to be let in into His Kingdom. Some will be rejected.

“21 Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as ‘Lord’, but they still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven. 22 On judgment day many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized.” ~ Matthew 7:21-23

It's Time To Wake Up


Thanks to sisters Charlotte and Ginger for hosting this warm, encouraging place once a week. Please visit Spiritual Sundays and meet many special friends who gather together, for His glory! Thanks be to God for the unity that comes from His love. Blessings to all of you...




“What happened?” I asked the female diabetic inmate as she was walking in, yawning and rubbing her right eye.

“I had done all the accuchecks [blood sugar checks] with the rest of the group and I noticed you weren’t with them. How are you anyway?”

“Sorry, they didn’t call me. Good morning, Ma'am,” she replied smiling as she had known me from the past accuchecks time. With her tone of voice comfortable to talk to me in that manner, in a friendly way yet without disrespecting me.

“I’m sure they did [referring to the person who handles all the controls in their unit]. I spoke with her and said that she kept calling you but you didn’t come out. You know, I’d still call for you anyway, right? It has to be done before you eat and you need your insulin dose.”

“Sorry again, Ma’am. Thank you for calling for me,” as she grabbed the Accucheck machine and poked her finger.

“11 Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So don’t live in darkness. Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourself with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light. 13 We should be decent and true in everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior. Don’t participate in wild parties and getting drunk, or in adultery and immoral living, or in fighting and jealousy. 14 But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don’t think of ways to indulge your evil desires.” ~ Romans 13:11-14

It’s time to wake up from our deep spiritual sleep!

C 2 8


Many inmates get tattoos to make a statement. It makes them feel they belong to a certain group where they can be identified. Some state power with affiliations to some powerful gangs that run outside and inside the prison walls.

Yesterday, after my time with the Lord, I had gone off for my scheduled eye exam. By God’s grace, everything was the same. Except I still needed to get a pair of new specs as my old one’s coating started peeling. I needed to see!!!

When my loving hubby came home, he accompanied me to Lenscrafters in the mall nearby so I can have a new pair within just a few hours. After measuring everything and finding what I liked, we took a stroll around the mall to kill time as my glasses were being made. By the time we have went up and down the 2-story level, there was still 15 minutes remaining. So, instead of going back to Lenscrafters, we decided to turn to its right corner and saw some stores we haven’t seen before. C28...A store caught our eyes immediately. Looking like a shop for teenagers shirts, we looked closer and saw all the Word printed on their shirts, jeans, stickers, everything! It was a Christian store. The sweet, young lady said that it had been there for 8 years. Yet, we never knew. Why C28? It was taken from Colossians 2:8. So, they had a lot of products sharing the “NOT OF THIS WORLD” messages or “NOTW” for short. And yes, they share the Good News if given an opportunity and she said that some teenagers walked into that store and left...Saved. Glory to God!

As I woke up this morning, C28 was on my mind:

“Don’t let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ.” - Colossians 2:8

But let me back up and start from verse 6:

“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him.”

Verse 7: “Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.”

In relation to tattoos and body piercings, it is good to always ask God to bless that particular activity for His purposes [1 Corinthians 10:31 - “so whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God”]. But if there is a room for doubt whether it pleases God, then it’s best not to participate in that kind of activity. [Romans 14:23 - “But if people have doubts about whether they should eat something, they shouldn’t eat it. They would be condemned for not acting in faith before God. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.”].

Pray for wisdom and ask the Lord to provide pure motives and discernment.

1 Corinthians 10:23 - “You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’ - but not everything is helpful. You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’ - but not everything is beneficial.”

Remember that we have a special tattoo when we came to Christ...Our new commitment to God is tattooed [written] on our hearts, not our bodies. ["When you came to Christ, you were circumcised, but not by a physical procedure. It was a spiritual procedure - the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to a new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, Who raised Christ from the dead." - Colossians 2:11-12].

It Always Brings Me To Tears



This song always brings me to tears. As I do so right now that I am typing my thoughts and worship Him this morning. Lately, the Lord has bringing to mind to "always look up to Him as He was nailed on that cross". Going through trials or not, I know He is reminding me of His faithful and unconditional love. Day after day. Like what He is doing now to me. He is reminding me that He gave His life for me [us] because He loved me [us]first. This morning, I felt like taking a blog break. And seek Him first in everything and surrender everything. I don't know at this time. I know where He wants me to go first. To be at the foot of the cross and "look up" to Him. Let His blood drip over me. Be cleansed. Be healed.

Friends, there is nothing more or less that we can do that will make our Lord love us more. He loves us. Period. We have received His gift of forgiveness. But it doesn't stop there. He wants us to look up to Him and be cleansed. Day after day. We need daily repentance. And submit everything to His Lordship.

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." - Philippians 4:8

Who is true? Honorable? Righteous? Pure? Lovely? Admirable? Excellent? Worthy of praise?

None but Jesus!!! Let us put Jesus into our minds.

O Lord, thank You for reminding me to look up to You on that cross. Like what that song said, You thought of us above all...Help us do the same. To focus our minds and hearts on You. Above all...Thank You for loving us first. Your cross...A plus [+] sign. That's what we get when we start living our lives with You. Everything is a plus. Thank You Lord for Your wisdom. Thank You Lord for Your guidance. Thank You Lord for Your healing. Thank You Lord for all Your provisions. Thank You Lord for Your love and mercy. I love You Lord.

Lord, I want nothing or no one else but You. Use me Lord and let Your will be done for the rest of my life's journey. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
All posts/composed songs copyright by RCUBEs.



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