The Impossible

I immediately recognized that haggard face. way older than the stated age. Rubbing her mid-chest, her tears swelled.

I recalled those messy locks of hair turning gray. The lines on her forehead that spoke about the harsh habits she was entangled in. The same complaints of chest pain despite the normal findings.

"You look familiar," I couldn't believe I uttered when I usually tried to maintain my professionalism when it came to dealing with sick inmates.

"Yes, Ma'am. You've treated me once. My chest is hurting again. It started today," she rapidly responded.

"Did you get released before?" I continued.

"Yes," she coyly replied.

"What happened? What were you doing that your chest started bothering you?" I probed.

"I was released. I thought I could change. But it's impossible! I went back to using drugs!" she replied without hesitation.

"What kind and how much a day? And the last time you had the drugs?"

"Meth...a lot....and the day I got arrested, that was the last time, Ma'am."

After taking her vital signs and probing more relating to the type and degree of her chest pain, I motioned for her to go into one of the exam rooms so I could take an EKG, an electrical reading of her heart. She knew the treatment modality so well. And everything was normal.

She bowed her head in disbelief. She was very sure of this pain bothering her. How could this be impossible?

"Ma'am," I interrupted her thoughts, "Take care of yourself. It is possible that the meth had this effect on you. If every time your chest hurt, just let your unit know. They will send you down here every time. It's just good to check if there's something more serious or not. Okay?"

Meth...or Methamphetamines...One of the drugs out in the streets. Used by many. Someone can get hooked even with its first use. But the effects are disastrous. Health becomes at risk. Relationships suffer. Sensing euphoria during the early stages, only to feel sicker, angry, depressed, ashamed or guilty the next. And the users answer to the latter? To use more meth! No wonder she said that "it was impossible". Impossible to break that habit!

But I believe in God Who is able! I believe in "what's impossible to us, men, is not with God!" [Luke 18:27]

We all have our failures. We all are entangled in different kinds of sins. Of habits that are not pleasing to God. There is a way out....Jesus... Who said, "I am the only WAY, the TRUTH, and the  LIFE..." [John 14:6; emphasis mine]. Let's turn all our impossible to possible, not with our way but with God's way....But you must believe...I was once like you except now, I believe...in Jesus...



Lord, today, I praise Your Holy Name. May you be the One glorified in everything. Lord, may many more lost wanderers turn to You. May they realize that what's impossible is not with You, our awesome God. Glory be to You now and forever. Thank You for loving us. Thank You for sending Jesus so our relationship with You can be made right because of His sacrifice. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

The Enemy's Victory Party Had Long Been Over

The heavy metal door swung open. Two deputies awaited for us, the emergency responders, as they watched the inmate looking dazed. According to neighboring cellies [cellmates], he was shaking and looked like he had a seizure.

The yellow band Intake Nurses applied was visible on his right wrist. The fading permanent black marker read "Seizure". I noticed a small drop of blood on the blanket right next to his head.

He wasn't saying much. I tried to make him open his mouth. He slowly pried it open and with the aid of my small bright flashlight, I couldn't see any cut or laceration. With his vital signs being normal, I knew there was something going on but it was hard to prove that he was only playing a game at that time. I had no choice but to play it safe.

"Can you start an IV on him?" I asked the other nurse who helped me, as I readied the paper work and called for an ambulance over the radio.

Going back to the Clinic, after the inmate was taken away, another LVN asked me who the mandown was. As soon as I stated the name, she knew that something was odd with that inmate. That he was planning on something. She recalled how he told her that he didn't want to be in that unit after being just moved. So, he complained that he was having seizures at night.

"Ahh...There you go...Thanks for telling me," I replied.

"I knew he was faking it but I wasn't sure and couldn't pinpoint at that time. So just to be safe, I sent him out anyway to ER to make sure that his medication level for Seizure was not low."

"Guess what? Next time he has it, we have to probe more and perhaps, just keep him here in the Clinic until he figures out he can't do this to the medical staff, wasting our time," I added.

When I went back last weekend, I pulled and read his chart. Everything was normal in ER. So he got sent back to jail after. The doctor's order was to continue current treatments being given as his Dilantin level was on a therapeutic level. I spoke with the charge nurse and warned about his scheme.



Let us not be fooled again by our spiritual enemy. Hurtful words, doubt, unbelief, fear, lies, condemnation, guilt, temptations, pride, greed, lust, self-pity, and many other things that do not come from God are being hurled at us. Yes, we can repel them all because we now belong to God. The enemy's victory party had long been over!!!

"How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord!" 
- 1 Corinthians 15:57 [emphasis mine]


"But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won your fight with these false prophets, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world." - 1 John 4:4

The Defining Moment

I thought we won't make it this past weekend. Lots of people had been calling in sick that made our staffing truly short. Last night was no exception. As the usual 3 nurses assigned in the Clinic alone were down to 2. It was difficult as it was only the other nurse and I to handle what would come our way if there was any emergencies from any of the 2,000 something inmates, on top of the full bins of doctor's orders from different disciplines: Dermatology, Medical, or Psychiatry.

One LVN didn't feel well and left early. That was tough to end up with only 2 LVN's by morning to do all the accuchecks of many diabetics. But deep inside, I knew we would make it. Not in our strength but with a supernatural strength. Who else to turn to but consult the Ultimate Power?

"I can do everything through Christ Who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13

By 7 a.m., the bins had only 4-5 charts left. All the morning and noon medications had been prepared awaiting to be delivered by the morning medication nurses. All the diabetics' sugar levels were recorded. I volunteered to go to one of the female units with one having a low blood sugar and re-checked her to make sure she was okay. After being given her breakfast early, her sugar was at a normal level by the time I went back to her unit.

"Thank you," she whispered through the metal bars as she poked her finger and got a drop of blood for the monitor.

"I just want to make sure that you're feeling okay. Are you?"

"I'm fine, Ma'am. Thank you again," she repeated.

The 2 LVN's gathered their belongings as I got a hug and "thank you's" from them.

"We wouldn't make it if you didn't help us," they chorused.

"Oh...you're welcome guys...But you both help me, too when I am overwhelmed with tasks."

Their shadows had long been gone as the other nurse and I stared at each other and both breathed a sigh of relief. We knew we weathered that storm last night. And we did well. But I knew something far beyond that. That it would be our defining moment. And such was not marked by praises, nor by recognition, and applause. It would be remembered because it was the time we reached out with each other. It was the time we chose not to whine but instead, tried to accomplish things to the best we could. It was a moment we chose to see the positive instead of the negative. It was a time we chose to swim against the strong current instead of letting it drown us.

That is a defining moment. Not marked by life's achievements nor successes. Not proven by how big a house is nor how much assets one has in their savings. But it is something that reaches out to those who are in desperate need. To those who are hurting. To those who are in need of a Savior. A defining moment is bringing Christ's light to those areas of darkness to be His hands and feet. Of making that important decision first to surrender to Christ and to walk in His likeness. Resting on His promises and trusting in Him completely...

"Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." ~ 1John 2:6

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." ~ Philippians 1:21

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." ~ Galatians 2:20

"And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." ~ Ephesians 5:2

Today

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"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we have asked of Him." - 1 John 5:14-15

Help us Lord to begin this day anew. A new beginning to walk closer with You. Where we have fallen, help us get up again. Where we have wandered and got distracted with our focus on You, help us return to You and look straight on that road that leads to You.

Today, help us grow in Jesus' likeness. Instead of serving our needs, help us look after those who have needs bigger than ours. With unexpected, unpleasant things that come our way today, help us be slow to anger and give us the strength to respond in ways that are pleasing to no one but You. Help us be true in showing our sincere love not only among fellow believers, but mostly, with those who have not yet been found.

In this new day, Lord, forgive us for our weaknesses, for our low desire to crave for meat at times, for all of our sins. Help us decrease and You be the One to increase in all areas of our lives. Help us become a clear letter, with notes known and easily read by everyone so that they may be encouraged also in return, to know You more.

Today, Lord, I lift up the leaders serving in all areas of this government. May they all recognize Your unfailing love. May they serve in humility and be united, instead of being divided, to help this hurting nation and its people. Protect us Lord from the works of the enemy. Guide us with Your wisdom and discernment. Strengthen us and enable us Lord to do what You have started in each of us. Knowing You are faithful up to the very end, help us remain faithful and always willing to work together with You.

Today, give strength to those whose strength is waning. To those who are doubting, please send them faith and trust. Protection to all of Your children. and to those who are so close in opening their hearts and mind to You. Provision to all of the needs. Healing for the sick. But most of all, let our hearts' desires be upon You, not on temporal things.

And today, I praise You, honor You and lift up my hands to You. You alone are God. All the glory belongs to You Oh Lord. Thank You Lord for Your faithful and unconditional love that doesn't last for only a day but lasts forever. Thank You for saving us. Thank You for giving us that chance to be Your adoptive sons and daughters. Thank You for sending Jesus, the Love from up above Who descended to make Your love known. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Praying God's blessings over you friends. We have a mandatory skills day at work so I'm busy this week. May you be strong in the Lord's mighty power! Not only TODAY but in all the days to come. To God be the glory forever...