Yes, Everything Is Good

I felt the soft tap on my left shoulder the same way my husband felt one on his right scapula. It was during the beginning of our fellowship’s worship as the Worship Director paused and gave everyone time to greet each other. Warm “hello’s” and lots of hands met and shook as warm smiles were displayed. The drum kept beating. The piano kept playing soft keys. The guitar kept being strummed.

“How is the S. family?” followed those taps on our shoulders.

While turning my head toward the direction of that person who wanted to know, my mind was being flooded with a sure answer: “Not Good!” Thinking about this huge battle I had been going through from work, it seemed to be the appropriate answer. Nothing else.

Going on 8 months since I faced many people who held high positions from work and who had been trying to oust me in this role as a Correctional Nurse, their plans were still on-going. Stripped of my benefits and usual monthly pay, they were sure they were doing everything right. But I wasn’t sad. I was not scared from the beginning. They could strip everything they wanted to take away and who did I have left but God alone?

I was rather thankful. Through this trial, it reminded me of my own limitations. It challenged me even more to serve the faithful God for Who He was, Who He is and Who is to come. Times that should have drowned me helped me aim to stay afloat.

This trial helped me realize that life here would never be my final destiny. This battle reminded me of His faithful promise that if He could demonstrate His power through my weakness, that truth alone was already a source of power and hope for me. This suffering propelled me to have more courage to face even the severest of this storm that could come. Through this trial, I learned to be stronger. I was taught to persevere.

Yes, through this battle, I learned Who could sympathize better. Who else but Jesus?

“Since He Himself has gone through suffering and temptation, He is able to help me…”

– (Hebrews 2:18, NLT)

I turned my head towards the back part of the Sanctuary. My gaze and that of my husband’s were met by a warm, deeply caring gaze as his face was painted with a wide smile. It was our pastor. He wrapped his right arm on me, his left on my husband’s as they both did the “pat on the backs”. Then, he took a few steps forward toward our son who also hugged him in return.

And I echoed my husband’s and son’s reply with a voice that I wanted him to audibly hear:

“Good!!!”

“ Yes, everything is good!”


In my mind, the more profound truth appeared: "Everything is good...Because God is good to me..."

"² Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” ~ James 1:2-4 (NLT)

This was a song I penned on December 16, 2005 as my father faced his battle against colon cancer.

Help Me Get Through

We may never understand

Every trial that happens in this lifetime

Lord, You’re always there that I know

Giving us strength when giving up is all I want to do

Chorus:

Oh Lord, please be there for me

Help me get up whenever I fall

Oh Lord, draw me near to You

With this pain, help me get through

My hope comes from knowing You

In my dark moment, You’re the light that shines on me

Lord, You take away all my fears

Giving me the courage to fight all my battles

(Repeat Chorus)

Help me get through…

His Word

I read the long-anticipated email many times. I could not believe that they would make me go to work, starting this Friday. Only as needed. This plan was subtly executed to make me think that they were not getting rid of me. I knew better because what was said and what were done many times said otherwise.

They thought they could always plan things their way. They only selected those who they wanted to be in their team as long as they won’t cause a hindrance to their plans. They were known to intimidate those who didn't want to fight back and chose the easier escape: "they quit." They were doing the same thing with me but I had not done anything wrong. They couldn't go any farther. They seemed to be running out of plans. Because I had not resigned. I chose not to quit. And I chose to fight back. It won't be easy as it would involve exposing these deeds done in the dark. But I heard Him. The Truth. He promised He would be there for me and He had been there with me as I went through this trial. He already granted me His victory.

I read the Word again. My heart wanted to rebel but I had been warned many times to endure, to choose to forgive, to love, to show compassion, and to give revenge into His hands.

Without His Word, nothing else would have sustained me in this period of great battle I was in against some people who had been discriminating me. When they put me on a forced leave, I knew how important it was to even draw myself closer to Him. Through His Word, He healed my broken heart, He soothed my pain, He reminded me of His faithful promises, and He sustained me with all of my needs. What I lacked, He had given me even more.

His Word…Truly the lamp unto our feet…I must trust completely, knowing His ways and thoughts are higher than ours…

Do you trust in Him?

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.

Photo Credit

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.