Surrender 101

We were busy this weekend at the correctional facility where I work. We often do our blood sugar testing with diabetics before they eat in the morning, like around 6:00-6:30 in the morning. This weekend was a different agenda as we had to make some changes with some of our duties. The morning and evening medication nurses's schedule were changed from a 12-hour shift to an 8-hour shift. Along with that, all shifts are involved in sharing "who will do what now" with our duties. So, to make it short, night shift nurses are to give "self-carry medications" [those medications that are allowed for the inmates to keep on their own] previously done by the morning nurses.

So, together with the diabetics, those inmates whose refills were due, were called to come down to the clinic. And it was chaotic indeed! With the bodies slowly filling the small waiting area, one inmate came to my face and in a rude tone of voice, not even asked but sort of demanded, "Give me some toilet paper!". If I wasn't a Christian and if I had not allowed the Lord Jesus to mold me, that inmate might have heard profanities from me and it could even get worse, I could have put her in discipline for being disrespectful to staff.

While I responded to her in a respectful but firm voice, "Please have a seat and you have to wait for your turn when you are called. Do not come to me with that attitude!" So, she had no choice but obeyed. In the back of my mind, that's what we all must do, "surrender"....And this place would be a better place to live in.

The word "surrender" from the dictionary means "to yield to one's possession or power, to give oneself up". It sounds like we are big losers when we do so. But if Jesus' "Surrender 101" classes are offered, we are actually not losers but big time winners, more worth than winning a big lottery jackpot!

When we give in and surrender to Jesus Christ, our lives are transformed in big ways we can't even imagine. Everything happens because of God's grace, not of our own strength. When we yield to Jesus, by accepting Him in our hearts, and making Him our Lord in everything, there is peace, there is true joy despite the trials, and we know that the Holy Spirit will start His work in us by making us grow more like Jesus in our character.

2 Corinthians 3:18 - "All of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more."

Ephesians 4:15- "We will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, Who is the head of His body, the church."

Philippians 1:6 -"I am sure that God, Who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again."

Luke 9:23 - Jesus said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow Me."

Serenity and Sunsets

How calming this picture of a beautiful sunset was and will always be! I wish I can say that about many things we encounter in this life's journey.

Few weeks ago, I had heard a devastating news from my brother-in-law. His child was critical and was very, very ill. As a nurse, I knew the dreadful outcome. But as a Christian, I know that there is always Someone Who knows everything and the things we don't know. Out of my own trials I had faced, I had no other means but to trust in the Lord. And during those times, He had shown His faithfulness and He did His promise of not leaving me nor forsaking me.

All of us will experience fear in different ways. There will be mountains of fear, of despair, of hopelessness and even of doubt. How can we be calm during stormy times of our lives? How can we feel safe when we are traveling on roads that leads to nowhere?

Yes, we can overcome all of these! Only in Jesus can we find serenity and the strength to overcome such fears! Thanks to the One Who answers prayers! Thanks be to the One Who unconditionally loves us all! My brother-in-law's child is doing very well now.

Next time you see a "sunset", may you remember that we can always claim Jesus' promise of "peace" when we are having turmoils in our lives. [John 16:33 - Jesus said,"I told you these things so that you can have peace in Me. In this world, you will have trouble, but be brave! I have defeated the world!"

His faithful promises [New Century Version]:

Proverbs 3:25, 26 -"You won't be afraid of sudden trouble; you won't fear the ruin that comes to the wicked because the Lord will keep you safe. He will keep you from being trapped."

Psalm 27:1 -"The Lord is my light and the One Who saves me. I fear no one."

Psalm 23:4 -"Even if I walk through a very dark valley, I will not be afraid because You are with me. Your rod and Your walking stick comforts me."

Psalm 91:10, 11 -"Nothing bad will happen to you; no disaster will come to your home. He has put His angels in charge of you to watch over you wherever you go."

Psalm 91:4 -"He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you can hide. His truth will be your shield and protection."

Love is....

I was pumping gas last week and on the other side of the gas pumps, a van pulled over. As the mother opened the driver's door, I heard a little girl's voice, yelling at the top of her lungs, " Mommy!!! Mommy!!!" The mother answered in an irritated tone of voice, "What????" And the little girl, in a much softer tone now said, "I love you, mommy!" I didn't hear a response from the mother...I was hoping at that moment that the girl's innocence wouldn't think much of it, of not getting a response from her mother....My heart was sad for the girl at that time. I was hoping and praying that the mother would come to her sense of feeling her child's expression of love. I couldn't judge her. Maybe she was going through a tough time like the rest because of this economy. And that was also another sad thing.

My child is in his teen years now. When he looked back and remembered the memories we had all spent as a family or as mother and child, he spoke of the times we shared laughing and sharing jokes. He mentioned how he would try to cut the spring roll wrappers and pretended he was making his own "egg rolls" when I would make him cook with me. He remembered the "Saturdays" that he and his dad spent making some pancakes of two sizes, one bigger, and the others were mini-sizes meant for him. He remembered the fun he had when we drove the car in Disneyland together and with me or his dad, carrying him in our arms, that was the only way he would take a picture with Disney characters. He remembered he used to say "yo...yo..." when he was only a tot, meaning "I love you" but it meant so much for me and my husband. He remembered the times when him and his dad would pretend they were racing with his "hotwheels cars" and his eyes would glisten whenever he won! He remembered every afternoon, he had his play time with his father, even though he was tired from work.

That was then...Now is the same. Material things do not give us the "happiness and the love" we long for...It is in those simple things, of making memories together, even without having anything, but just having love incorporated in every moment, is something that no money can buy nor any words can ever express.

I had bought this "Valentine's stamps" recently from the post office. "The words "all heart" caught my eye and a man, sort of running while carrying a big, heavy heart was enough for me to remember that not only on Valentine's Day nor on special occasions, but everyday, we must have a "big heart" and in everything we do or say, we must "give it or do it with all of our hearts." If we can learn how to love, we must look up to God first. He is the Author of love. 1 John 4:19 says, "We love each other as a result of His loving us first..."

The apostle Paul had expressed the true meaning of love [from 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13, Life Application Bible]....."Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever..." "There are three things that will endure - faith, hope and love - and the greatest of these is love"...

1 Corinthians 14:1 - "Let love be your highest goal."

Mark 12:30, 31 - Jesus said, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself."

1 John 4:7,8 - "Let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God - for God is love."

Romans 13:8 - "Pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. You can never finish paying that! If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God's law."

1 Peter 3:8 - "All of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds."

Don't Go With the Flow

I like to watch the surfers whenever my family and I take a stroll by the beach. It's amazing when they try to go against the currents at first, paddling with all their might to steer towards the deeper end and then, to wait for that "big wave" they're waiting for. It looks tiring as they go against the currents...But they never seem to quit.

Then, the "final glory" comes when they are able to ride their surf boards and balance adeptly as they glide smoothly on top of a nice wave, that carries them back to the sandy shore.

A Christian way of life is very much the same as these surfers. The Lord doesn't want us to go with the "flow" of this world. We should never quit with our ways of going against the flow or currents. Then, we will reap the "great glory" as we head back to the Lord's home. The things of these world are not of the Lord's...[1Corinthians 7:31 -"those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed with them. For this world in its present form is passing away."].
In our workplaces, "grapevine" is such a common occurrence. Many have lazy work habits and are not willing to help out in whatever way they can. It's hard to go against such people but as Christians, we must strive to "not go with the flow" and set an example. We should be encouragers not discouragers. We should be the light in dark places. We should show our strength in areas where there are weaknesses. We should be able to share the love that we have received from our faithful God with those who don't know what love is. We should have the patience despite the rush and time pressure. Then, someday, when our time is done, and we are about to catch the wave that will bring us back home to Jesus, then we can proudly tell Him, that we didn't quit and that we "didn't go with the flow"...






Psalm 19:14 - "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer."

Philippians 4:8 - "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

Psalm 1:1,2 - "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law, he meditates day and night."

Psalm 1:3 - "He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in season, and its leaf does not wither. In all he does, he prospers."