The Seven Tornadoes

I suddenly woke up with my teeth still clenched tight, my heart slightly racing still. The vision was very clear as if it did just happen. I slowly stretched the fingers of my right hand that in my dream was holding someone tight as I reassured her.

The skies above had a very ominous darkness. I had some neighbors over at our house except I did not know any of those people though it felt like I knew them all. One seemed to be my grandma who had passed away long time ago. They were all scared. They wanted me to look out over the glass patio door and see what was going on above us. Bravely, upon hearing the strong force of winds, I looked out as I told them not to panic.

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The sight was not good. I counted....1, 2, 3, 4....

"4 forming tornadoes!" I remember yelling.

"Wait, go you guys under the island! Seek cover! There are 7 tornadoes of different sizes. And....they're comin' our way!" I ran as I sought cover myself and held my "grandma's" hands.

I heard the swirling debris hovered above the roof of the house and all the sides. Loud as the deafening sounds were, I heard my prayers were more audible. I held the other person's hands tighter...

"Lord, protect us! Please cover us with Your Holy Blood and surround us with Your angels..."

The 7 tornadoes passed until we heard just complete silence. The skies turned bright. We got up one by one, all in one piece.

I took a deep breath. I was still praying as I woke up. I was not the type to interpret dreams but when it came to my spiritual growth, I wanted to know.

I had been going through a huge battle at work. I counted. I just realized I was against 7 people who hold positions and who got involved in discriminating me. Yet, I was never afraid because I knew that God would be with me always as I go through this ordeal.

And I had the sense of urgency in posting this at the wee hour of this morning because I know I'm not the only one facing "tornadoes" under this vast sky. No matter how little or how big the tornado you're facing, just remember that none of them is bigger than the God we serve.

That was the nightmare I would forever treasure. It was not a nightmare but more of a reassurance from His invisible tight grip on my hands.

"“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”- Romans 8:32 (NIV)

Many people still doubt God. Many still believe in different ways in searching for God.

If you are facing tornadoes or trials of this life, do you know where to seek cover? Where to run for refuge?

"My God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence." - 2 Samuel 22:3 (NLT)

Hear what happened to an atheist turned Christian, Lee Strobel, and what he had to say about his nearly 2 year investigation of evidence for Jesus:

That's What Faith Is About

“Faith is putting all your eggs in God’s basket, then counting your blessings before they hatch.”

~Ramona C. Carroll

I just saw a little bit of what the Lord was planning for my journey at this point in my life. Sure it wasn’t easy being on hold as some people had put me on a forced leave. But it was a time of rest for me at the same time. It was more time spent with even a better quality with my family. It was also a time of reflection, of evaluating my walk with the Lord. As He placed me in the Correctional setting  from the hospital 11 years ago, it was the place where He strengthened me, empowered me, gave me discernment, protected me, and the place where He had shown His faithfulness, grace and love countless times.

Corrections are places filled with many evil spirits. It is a place devoid of God’s Light. If not for His Armor, I would not be able to withstand all the pressures there, physically and much more spiritually. It could be both mentally and physically draining. But by God’s grace, I always overcome. Except this time, I am beginning to see that not only He prepared me for those kinds of unseen battles I dealt with from inmates, but even a bigger one was to come. This time, with my own co-workers who hold high positions. Not one. A few. Against me. But being groomed and nurtured by His power, I was never afraid.

At that time when I had injured my neck from the hospital where I was working for almost 10 years, He replaced my doubts of ever finding another job as a Nurse by quickly answering my deepest cry for another opportunity. That was when He brought me to Corrections. It was a job I had not done. Nevertheless, it proved to be very rewarding and at the same time, helped me grow in my spiritual journey.

Now that these people are discriminating and intimidating me in any way possible hoping that I’m going to resign, I have kept my hopes high and I know the importance of ever drawing nearer to the One Who knows it all and the One Who is my Shield against all these darts being thrown. Each day that should have been filled with frustration is a day filled with thanksgiving instead. Despite the financial strain they want to cause me, He provides. Despite the fear they are trying to instill, He holds my hands and always tells me “I’m here with you.” Despite the lies they hurl, He reassures me, “The truth will prevail.” Despite the acts of seemingly kind and loving gestures, He warns me to be “watchful” for all things put on the table by enemies for they are deceptive.

One thing is for sure, if this door is to close on me, it will never break my heart realizing that it won’t be them capable of doing that, but God’s hands will. That is my prayer at this time, for Him to help me see where He wants me to go.

I know that in His hands, I can enjoy immense peace because Jesus had already overcome the world. That’s what faith is about. Faith makes us put our confidence, not on ourselves, but on God Whose ways we sometimes don’t understand. No matter if the bumps are too many in the roads we are walking on, He is constantly watching us, guiding us, and quick to reach out His hands when we fall.

In Gentle Ways

I miss dealing with inmates as I had not gone back to work due to a struggle with some powerful people used to intimidating workers who they deemed would not be useful for their purposes. However, if I had time with my family before even when I was working, I’m even more grateful to the Lord that despite this trial, He grants me more quality time with my family, especially with my child.

Breakfast is always a special time between us (as my husband leaves early for work). I try to keep the house quiet, just the kitchen filling with the aroma of toasts, or warming up hash browns, pancakes if he feels like having that or some scrambled eggs. I love lighting up tea lights and in the wee hours of the morning, it gives me some comfort to see the soft, bright glow that illuminates the familiar surroundings.

“It’s still dark, Mom. Can we turn on the kitchen light?” my son asked when he was descending the stairs, his backpack straddled over his shoulders. He saw two tea lights glowing in the middle of our kitchen table.

little glow that calms me every morning

“But don’t you like it?”

“It’s peaceful and there’s just enough light. How about I light up more of the tea lights?” I requested, as I got hold of the lighter and lit up some more. Brightness filled the tabletop and the breakfast that waited emerged to our naked eyes.

“There you go!” “Don’t you love it?”

lighting up all of them

“Yes, Mom. It’s better now and I can see well.” (Trust me...it was well-lit despite the dark picture I posted).

As he coated his scrambled eggs with a little catsup, I initiated the morning pep talk he’s used to hearing from his mother. As he put the fork into his mouth and stared at the tea lights, I told him that one tea light was his dad, one tea light was me, the other was him. How beautiful it must be if we share the Lord’s light together, just like with other believers letting their lights shine in this dark world. How bright this world would be!

He smiled as he took a few more bites and understood what I was telling him. He knew where I was going to, that here in this dark world believers are to reflect God’s Light in gentle, caring ways, not in harsh ways. Believers are called to share the Gospel with those who are still living in the dark. With gratefulness of being able to see, one can’t help but share that anyway among those who still can’t.

¹⁵ 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, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ¹⁷ For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”

~ 1 Peter 3:15-17 (NIV)

“You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” – Psalm 18:28 (NIV)

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." - 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

Betrayal

"One should rather die than be betrayed. There is no deceit in death. It delivers precisely what it has promised. Betrayal, though ... betrayal is the willful slaughter of hope."
- Steven Deitz

Betrayal…That’s what I had felt since facing this struggle at work. She was one of my immediate supervisor at night. I fully trusted her and I poured out my heartaches after I was told some discriminatory remarks. I blamed myself. Out of pain and anger, I let my emotions be poured out in front of her. She never offered help. But that morning, I saw her took another supervisor to their designated office and only God knew what conversation occurred.

That person she talked to pulled me aside in the middle of my work. She had mentioned the same things, the same exact discriminatory words I shared with the other. I knew it was an opportunity for her to trap me knowing how that was her favorite thing to do: to cause harm and commit ill intentions among those who had gone their way and chose to just quit and exit as a quick escape from their intimidations.

One accusation became big. They were forcing me to do what they wanted, disregarding facts I had given them. Disregarding supporting documents given them. They tried everything in a subtle way. All acts, all words thrown at me to make me resign.

I haven’t…And I knew they haven't stopped planning other devises to cause my termination.

I haven’t done anything wrong. I had worked the same way I had performed on day one: work hard and give my all…

Betrayal hurts…They think that by doing so, they will make me paralyzed and not be able to do anything. But all actions have consequences. How do you battle lies but with truth? How do you get rid of bullies but to face them and not turn your back away? How do you avoid poison and deceptive plans but by being careful of what is being offered every time?

This morning, I woke up and thought about Judas. Why did he betray Jesus when he was one of his disciples? He must have seen his miracles. He must have heard Jesus’ divine wisdom. He must have seen his unfathomable acts of forgiveness, understanding, compassion and love. But why did he sell Jesus for 30 pieces of silver? If his love was for the money, then he must not love Jesus at all. He must not have believed completely in Jesus’ divinity. 

 “INRI…” It was placed up on the cross. Meaning “Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum”…”Jesus of Nazareth, the King of Jews”…

People placed titles on the head of the cross to show the crime that crucified person committed and his name. That was an accusation they placed on Jesus’ cross. It was the crime they accused Jesus of. But in reality, that was the absolute truth!

I look at this road up ahead. Right now, I’m on a standstill. People I work with are also part of law enforcement. Ironically, they are not afraid to break the law…

I knew Who walked on this road before. He walked carrying a heavy cross as He bled while many spat on Him and wanted Him dead. Judas was wrong! People were wrong! They did not cause Jesus to die! It was already planned because God loves us all. Jesus endured and died on the cross so we may live.

He walked before us. He’s inviting us to “follow Him…” Let’s not betray Him…