When Facing The Fires

The alarming sound pierced our ears as my husband got up from the computer chair so fast, my son running towards the smoke detector to check it out and myself, sprung up from the couch as I was watching an evening show.

We ran everywhere to check out if there was any smoke. I loved to light up tea lights and a candle was always burning inside the fireplace. My husband puffed some air and quenched the candle in the fireplace.

“You don’t think it caused the detector to alarm, right?”

“I mean, c’mon, you know I always had candles burning 24/7 there and it was so far from the detectors. Plus, the vent was open anyway.”I explained.

The shrieking alarms sounded for almost 4 seconds then died down.

“Hmmm…That was weird,” we all agreed. There was no smoke. There was nothing that was giving off some heat.

“Oh, well,” my husband uttered. “Buy some batteries tomorrow if you can so I’ll go ahead and replace them.”

The alarm was loud but short yet, enough to make us, three, wary. What a relief to know that there was no fire inside the house!

What a truth that applies to our spiritual lives, too! Of how we must be always wary knowing that the spiritual battle is real as we surrender our hearts to Christ. Yet, when facing adversities or feeling the massive heat from the fiery trials, we must not fear. Christ promised that He will be there as we go through all these trials.

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“24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. 27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.” – Daniel 3:24-30 (ESV) - emphasis was mine...

These three friends were pressured to deny God, but they chose to remain faithful to Him no matter what, even if it meant to face death. They trusted that God would deliver them yet still chose to trust no matter what occurred.


As I go through a tough battle at work and here I am going back this Thursday to face the same people who love to give me a hard time, God reminds me that He is with me all the way through from this passage from Daniel. He knows that I have been praying for a quick escape, even if it means Him returning “now!” But I must learn to trust in Him and in His plans for me. If He always rescues those who are true to Him, then believers don’t need to have faith. Many selfish people will sign up to be followers if that’s the case. God is working in me, letting me know that I must continue to remain faithful (as He is with me and you…) whether He intervenes or not. What awaits in the future is worth any suffering we have to endure. Glory be to God! Thank You Lord for being there for us during our fiercest battles.

Oh Lord, please forgive me for those times that I even want the things to happen my way, my time. You are Sovereign Oh Lord. Please empty me and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I surrender everything to You Oh Lord. May Your will be done. I have everything because of You. Thank You Lord for Your love, mercy and grace. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

The Graveyard

^“10then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. ¹¹ Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’¹² Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” – Acts 4:10-12 (NIV)

The hot sun was suddenly covered by grayish clouds as my scissor glistened from my first aid kit in the car. My friend and her mother were waiting for me on a slight slope where her sister was buried. The flowers we bought before heading to the cemetery were so colorful in contrast to the gloomy skies that hovered above us.

“You know I don’t cry easily but something hit me as we were making that turn down below the hill,” I softly whispered to my friend.

flowers for a special someone

“Oh my,” she exclaimed.

“Look at all these new markers. So many have been buried here already in a short span of time,” she uttered.

Some of the grave markers had pictures of their loved ones who passed away. One with poem dedicated to a “beautiful wife.” The lines filled with love and longing for what was lost down here. Most of them had flowers, some with metal art like birds or butterflies. On one side, one had small and big pinwheels, dancing with the occasional gusts of wind but actually scared some birds wanting to devour the petals from those beautiful flowers.

“Is this good enough?” I looked up to my friend and her mother as I tried to cut the stalks with my bandage scissor I always kept in the car.

As we arranged the stalks, tears poured from a mother who had lost her child almost 12 years ago. I couldn’t imagine the wound in her heart. All I could do was just to pray for her healing and comfort. Same for my friend.

The markers were so many, same level with the green grass that was beautifully cared for. Most of them were “Christians.” But something was eating in my heart. I knew then why I cried.

It was because seeing so many “Christians” in that graveyard, I wondered if they thought they lived so God could accept them?…Or did they know that they lived because God had accepted them in Christ?

Yes, I mourned, too….For those lives who tried to earn God’s love than freely accepted it. I knew I cried because I wondered how many lived only by what they felt God wanted. I was hurting for those who had human traditions and their standards added to God’s law.

We all came from dust  and to dust we will all return. We all came here with the same conditions: sinners. The end of the journey will matter. Because only those who choose to walk in the narrow pathway will find the abundant life that lasts forever. That is the only way, the only truth, and the only life...

J...E...S...U...S...

"LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered--how fleeting my life is.” – Psalm 39:4 (NLT)

How Do You Shield Your Child From Pain?

How do you shield your children from getting hurt? From all the pain or trials that are to come their ways?

The other night, my son and his tennis team had their dinner after the matches were over. I didn’t go same with his dad as my husband had been so tired, having a special operation at his work these past few days. We wanted him to enjoy his time with his friends and the team so we told him he could go. He was excited.

Not the same expression when I was picking him up. He was quiet and looked visibly with a combo of “being hurt and upset.”

I hugged him when we got home. A nudge through this act to make him vent out. He sensed it.

Tears started staining his cheeks and softly he whispered to me, “Mom, how could my name be missed? Every one was up there already as their names and certificates were given except for me. When the coach said that those players were the team, I had to raise my hand as my friends were looking at my direction, too, wondering why I wasn’t called.”

“And?”

“He apologized and called me after I raised my hand. But I felt so left out. I guess I was just wondering how I could be forgotten when I was visibly there.”

I joined his tears with mine, consoling his wounded heart. I had no words at that moment but wanted to let his heart be poured out. Only then I knew that through those tears he was shedding, he would be able to release the hurt.

“This won’t be the first nor this would be the last,” I told him as I hugged him tighter.

“Maybe it wasn’t intentional. But you must learn to forgive. Through this painful situation, you would be able to see who was truly there for you or not.”

He hugged me and his father back and whispered, “I love you.” I saw a faint smile appeared.

"Don't let the spiritual enemy steal your joy," I reminded him. The more he smiled.

How do you shield your child from inevitable pain and trials of this life? How do you shield your child from all the ridicules, the rejections, from those who would want to see them hurt? I asked God that…

This was His answer:

“You can’t.”

“You just need to trust Me and pray for them. Always.”

“Isn’t that My will for all of you, My children?”

“To be prayerful. To remain joyful. And to always give thanks.”

“Remember when I also gave My own Son? So you can be saved. I have given Him up instead of shielding Him from the hurt and pain, knowing that’s the only way to restore your relationship with Me.”

Continuing to reflect, I sensed that true believers’ journeys were never known. True Christians’ lives were never remembered because the only footprints they left were not theirs. It was of God’s. They would never claim any glory but glory that belonged to God alone.

There is no option but to face the pain. There is no other way but to face any trial. That is the only way to overcome and survive. That is the only way to endure. God is the Shield. God is the protection. If we are willing broken vessels to be used for Him, we are bound to get hurt. We are bound to suffer. The way Christ did...We just need to keep walking with Him until we finish this journey and the work He started in each children’s heart.

^"18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹ They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me." 
- John 15:18-21 (NIV)

Just Doing A Duty

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I miss my work as I had been off to give myself some time away from all the hard times some people were treating me with. The problem at my workplace is never about work. It is always easy. The problem is always about the people there, clashing with personalities. Self-interests are proudly displayed. Vanities and personal assets are more valued. Gossip is always ever growing more like cancer cells. Positions and power are coveted in order to be respected.  Secret relationships thrive and love, even when it is the wrong kind, is boldly expressed among some of them.

After working in the prison system for many years, despite the condition, I have learned to adapt to it. This is the place where spiritually, I have grown. When God brought me here, it became one of tangible evidence of His presence in my life, knowing I wouldn’t be able to survive in this place without His help nor guidance and protection. Spiritually, many evil spirits are in this place: murder, lust, lying, fear, religiosity, pride and many other that are detestable to God.

As my battle with some people started, I never feared knowing the position I’m in because of what God has done. We all are winners if we have allowed Jesus to have a home in our hearts. And that is our duty as believers: to remain standing despite the evil days knowing that it is not our own effort that saves us. It is what Jesus had done for us. We are redeemed!!!

“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” –John 19:30 (NIV)

As I wait patiently for the Lord and His perfect timing, I am learning to reflect on so many things. Aside from Him taking me away from a particular group that does things that will never be beneficial to my spirit life, He is allowing me to nurse my own wound. He is making me learn to try to forgive no matter how deep the wound they create in my heart. Only then, I will be able to help others (inmates or co-workers)’ wounded hearts more effectively if I let my own wounds heal first. Healed by His love.

The truth is….we, as Christians never stop working daily. We have a duty to defend what we believe in. We must always be ready to defend our faith when we are mingling with those who don’t know Jesus.

“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,  keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.  For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.  For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” – 1 Peter 3:13-18 (NIV)