Seek the Lord

I have been working as a correctional nurse for many years now. I have seen many people from all walks of life, young or old, that are trapped in the cycle of substance abuse. Despite the many efforts and war against not using drugs or alcohol, most of the jails now are crowded. Coupled with that is an increasing number of people who have mental health needs or problems. I saw Mr. X brought by the unit deputy down to Infirmary where we can treat sick inmates. He was just housed after being booked and few minutes later, started having tremors and his breath still reeked with alcohol, despite the many hours they had kept him in a sobering cell. He could walk but his face was flushed and his blood pressure was high. Asking him to raise his arms to his side, his shaking was noticeable. Earlier that afternoon, a nurse had already given him a medication to prevent alcohol withdrawal. It wasn't enough perhaps. Mr. X admitted to daily, heavy use of alcohol. The doctor just advised us to give another dose of this medication. Few hours later, the blood pressure remained high and he started throwing up. We ended up sending him to emergency room to be evaluated and be monitored. Many of the nights I had worked like these make me think how sad it is to see people unable to get out of this kind of nightmare from substance abuse. Many tries desperately to seek medical help because they are not able to get that when they are not incarcerated. But they end up doing the same things over and over. We are all the same. Spiritually speaking, we are entrapped with having sins in our lives. We do them over and over even if sometimes we don't want to. When we are tired, when we want to be helped, when we want to stop, we can confess our sins to a good God Who never fails to love us. "Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord that He may have compassion on him and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." - Isaiah 55:6,7.

Only Way

My family & I went to check the plateau yesterday and decided to just drive around and even if we got lost, that would be okay since we were planning to explore what could be seen from up there. It was beautiful and we never knew there were so many trails available and many cars were already parked by one trail. People were arriving while some were already done with their day's hiking. The view was spectacular as we could see the snow-capped mountain from a distance.

We decided to take the road that was not familiar and it was the only road to go around that place so we could exit to the other side. Many big, beautiful homes were built up on top and we never knew that there were so many avocado trees. It was a long, winding road and there was no time to turn back since we already had driven for a while. We just knew that we had to take this only road to be able to get out of that place. Reminds me of our spiritual life. There is no other way to go to heaven but only through Jesus. He is the "Only Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can go to the Father but by Him."-John 14:6. Jesus also said in John 14:1, "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me." May you take the only road that's been available for all of us in order for us to have an eternal life. God bless....

Your Name by Paul Baloche (New)

As white as snow...

Back in year 2005, it snowed here where I live and it rarely happens. Everyone was excited to see the snow flakes raining down on everything, the roof tops, the ground, the roads..As I got off from work that morning, I had a message from my son who excitedly told me about that unexpected event. Sure enough, when I got to familiar roads, I couldn't even recognize since everything was covered with snow. It was like a dream. Despite the many constructions at that time, the dust and the ground were not even there to be seen as everything was just beautiful covered in white snow! This experience reminded me of how, spiritually speaking, we are all smudged with dirt called sins. Its penalty is death. But if we accept Jesus into our hearts and truly believe that He is Lord, that He came here as a man, died on the cross and rose again, our dirt [sins] would be like as white as snow. From Isaiah 1:18, "No matter how deep the stain of sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool." Thanks be to God. That He is offering His gift of salvation to anyone who readily welcomes Him into their hearts. John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life...If you are feeling down and out, if you had reached the ends of your rope, if you had reached the ends of the road where you travel and there seemed to be no hope, no direction, God has been inviting all of us to accept and open His gift of salvation. "It is a gift from God."-Ephesians 2:8. It's as easy as saying this prayer. Just pray it out loud and mean it with all of your heart..."Dear Father, I admit that I am a sinner. I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for me. I trust Jesus Christ to forgive my sins right now. Let me start a new and meaningful life with You today. Amen." God bless and may you discover the Lord's love more and more...