Free Surgery

Photo Credit

“Okay, don’t forget to ask the doctor how much it costs…”

One of my co-workers complained about her face looking older. I was behind them two, as they were talking. The other co-worker was recommending a famous and supposed to be good kind of plastic surgeon.

“Look at this!” she was exasperated as she pinched her cheeks. “My body is still young but it is my face that looks like my age!” she continued. “I think I want a little face lift and those eye bags removed.”

“It doesn’t matter what you do,” I exclaimed. “You can have it fixed but give it   another few years and everything will sag again,” I jokingly said.

“That’s true,” she agreed. “But I want to look beautiful still.”

People always look everywhere for happiness and fulfillment in everything. I was there once, too. When I worked so hard and thought I could be happy when I was earning more money. But in reality, it’s only God Who can satisfy all of our deepest needs. Especially the longings of our souls. We often forget to seek Him first. We are always after materialistic wants, forgetting that there is a much more important thing to pursue: that of spiritual things. God can meet all of our needs but He definitely wants us to pursue for spiritual things and there is no spiritual needs that He can’t meet.

We all need that kind of surgery. Not of physical ones but of the spiritual kind. It’s only through Jesus Who is the Master Surgeon that can fix those ills deep inside. That is…if we allow Him to. So, why don’t we all make an appointment to have the Surgeon give us a new heart? It’s free!

“And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart.” ~ Ezekiel 36:26-27

I just want to share this beautiful song. It's like a prayer to me. Sung and written by a famous Filipino singer, Gary Valenciano:

Wisdom

The gusts of wind made the surrounding trees danced as the dust got spun around all over the tennis courts this afternoon. My child, invited some friends as they played a few sets. The unfamiliar silence blanketed the school, emitting both mixed emotions of sadness and excitement as its seniors are about to say goodbye tomorrow, being the last day of the school year. They had a lot of celebrations prior to leaving their alma mater and start a new adventure in college. I know that in a few more years, it will be my son’s turn. And I know, that these years will go by fast. Most of the seniors feeling agog in pursuing their goals. Some will probably become nurses like me. Some, doctors. Engineers. Teachers. Coaches. Businessmen/women. And other careers.

They will all chase their hearts’ desires. Hopefully, most of them will succeed. Sadly, some will fail. Some questioning their lives’ purpose. Education is a big thing. To gain knowledge. It’s woven in humanity. They hunger to learn and understand. Knowledge is good. But God wants us to seek wisdom. We can learn all the knowledge to the best of our ability. But it’s useless if we don’t have wisdom for wisdom make us able to apply that knowledge into our lives. And in today’s world, knowledge is plentiful but wisdom is scarce. And the foundation of knowledge is to fear the Lord. To honor and respect Him . To be awed by His power. To obey His Word.

For all of you graduating, congratulations! May your heart choose to seek that path -  God’s way because He is the One Who grants wisdom. His Word leads us to live right and make those right decisions.

“1 My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,
3 and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” ~ Proverbs 2:1-6 [NIV]

The Best Way To Live

Photo credit

Pushing the EKG machine with fast strides, I rang the bell from the unit across from the Infirmary. This was a special unit that housed those inmates that required a closer monitoring for their mental or health needs.

“Okay, nurse Rcubes,” greeted the unit’s nurse as she walked out from the bubble [control room], looking exhausted and upset.

“I tried everything. He just didn’t want to deal with me anymore because I wouldn’t send him to the hospital. He wants a doctor now. I’ll let you try to deal with him because when he didn’t get what he wanted, now he’s complaining of chest pain,” she explained.

He was one of those inmates, going in and out of the hospital for chest pains. Despite the vital signs being normal, we just couldn’t ignore those kind of complaints. Because you just never know if it was the real deal.

He was sitting on the bottom bunk, housed alone. Not looking at me, he constantly was rubbing his chest.

“Sir, would you be able to go to our “G room” [nursing clinic in a unit] so I can do an EKG on you and see what’s going on in your heart?” I asked.

Still not looking at me and perceiving there were 3 shadows lurking in front of him [2 deputies and myself], he answered, “No! I can’t get up!” he uttered in a slightly raised voice.

“I understand that you got upset with the other nurse. But your vital signs were normal. That’s why I wanted to do this EKG so I can find out if I need you to go to the hospital.”

“I said I can’t get up!” he said in a louder and higher tone.

The deputy butted in, “So, if you couldn’t get up, how did you manage to ring the bell? [which was up on the wall, a few steps away from his bed].”

This made him more upset and now yelling, “Get the ___ out! If you don’t want to send me to the hospital, get the ___ out!” he demanded.

“I can’t force to do an EKG on you but I want to let you know that it’s available when you feel like you can use it,” I answered still trying to be calm, despite knowing that there was nothing wrong with him. In my heart, I felt sadness…

Sadness, knowing that we, nurses, just want to help them and a lot of them turn up always upset, speaking in foul languages back to us. Despite us knowing they are just being manipulative, we still try to treat them with respect. In a way, it hurts deep inside. It feels like something is violated when they don’t respond to the kindness shown. Not that we expect anything back. But they have choices to make. To do things: good or bad.

I feel sadness, too. Everyday. Trying to ponder whether I hurt Him or not. I know that I can bring sorrow to the Holy Spirit by the way I live. And that’s my prayer…Knowing that I am not perfect. Like a child who imitates the parents, I want to follow Him. His example. Jesus’ example. His great love for us nailed Him on that cross. So I can live. So you can live. He wants us to love Him first, then, love others. So, what’s the best way to live? That is to follow Christ...

“And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” ~ Ephesians 4:30-32



Lord, I have nothing to offer You but only my heart. My life. My everything. Forgive me for hurting You. Please forgive me for grieving Your Spirit. Create in me a clean heart Oh Lord. I want to know You more. On a deeper level. Help me Lord to make the right decisions. And that is to follow You in all of my ways. Thank You Lord for Your love. Your mercy. Your grace. I love You Lord. Thank You for loving me first. Help me grow in Your love and knowledge. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Tap Into This Power

 Please visit Spiritual Sundays for encouraging posts from God's family, hosted by sisters Ginger and Charlotte.

“Jesus replied: It is because you don't have enough faith! But I can promise you this. If you had faith no larger than a mustard seed, you could tell this mountain to move from here to there. And it would. Everything would be possible for you.” - Matthew 17:20    

It was barely 45 minutes after I came on to work last night when an emergency call blared over the radio that there was a man down in one of the units.   

I went with the nurse who responded, my own stethoscope dangling around my neck. As she toted the red, emergency bag filled with supplies. Our conversations echoing in that long, barren hall.

A row of orange-uniformed men were lined up against the wall. They were all occupants of the upper tier. The deputy must have sent them downstairs and cleared the area where the fallen man was. As we ascended to the top tier, we found the man down on the floor, possibly from falling from the bottom bunk and must have bitten his tongue as a streak of blood flowed from the left side of his mouth. He was very diaphoretic and very restless, his right arm flailing in mid-air. Stabilizing him and after calling for the ambulance, we waited in that top tier: 2 deputies and 3 of us from the medical staff. As soft chattering men’s voices emanated from the lower level, I knew we were in complete view from the bottom, too. And I knew those pairs of watchful eyes were glued to our every moves.

The spiritual enemies were good at trying to throw a dart of fear into my mind. As the thought of these men, if they really wanted to do anything bad could easily empower the 5 of us just like that, was possible. Even if help from other deputies would definitely be there in seconds, some of them could inflict injuries in seconds, too.

As the girl who brought the man’s medical chart was standing next to me, she also whispered the same thought I had in my mind.

I told her that….I was thinking about that…But despite the inmates outnumbering us, I knew about the only One Who is more powerful than them, actually the most powerful One in this entire universe!

I softly prayed in my head….feeling the strength right away…For His protection. For His angels to surround us. Because of Him, fear was replaced with courage.

“1Live under the protection of God Most High and stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful. 2Then you will say to the LORD, "You are my fortress, my place of safety; you are my God, and I trust you." 3The Lord will keep you safe from secret traps and deadly diseases. 4He will spread his wings over you and keep you secure. His faithfulness is like a shield or a city wall. 5You won't need to worry about dangers at night or arrows during the day.” ~ Psalm 91:1-5 [CEV]

Ahhh….the power of prayer should never be underestimated. For the power resides in the God Who is being prayed to. Whatever circumstances you are in, tap into this power. His answers may not be “yes” sometimes, but it is because He knows what’s best for us. But when we pray purposefully and passionately, according to His will, He does respond powerfully!

"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." - James 5:16






Father God, how awesome does it sound that we can come to Your throne boldly, at anytime, anywhere...Because You see Jesus' righteousness in us. Thank You Jesus! Help us remember how vital it is to communicate with You through prayers. That we may call upon You, not only at times of our needs, but mostly to just praise You, thank You and honor You. Thank You Lord, my Abba Father, for loving me [us] unconditionally. Thank You for equipping us and blessing us with things that we need in order for us to finish this work You marked within us. I love You Lord. In Jesus' Name. Amen.