Friend of God

“What? You think you can beat me up? Try me! Just try me! Mother______!!!”

He was new to the unit. Aware of the power he had. Despite being shorter than the man whose face, he purposely put in front of his own, merely an inch away, he just wanted to prove that he was much stronger.

“You think you can outdo me, huh?” the bragging voice continued, as he flexed his well-sculpted muscles on his arms. He spread his legs to get a better stance.

“You come here thinking you can still do what you want!!! Give me a break! This is my house, not yours! Welcome to my house!” shrieked the loud, deep voice.

The other man kept silent. His eyes opened wide, staring at the yeller eye to eye. He didn’t want to say anything, to avoid provoking the other man to hit him. Or perhaps, him even adding any offense to his previous charges.

Then suddenly....One…Two…Three…lots of punches and kicks came hard on the yeller. The tall shadow had enough hearing his bragging and perhaps, abuse of power. The man’s cellie [inmate who stay with another in the same cell] emerged from the inmate’s back and came lounging at the young, newly-hired deputy.

The call for help blared loud over the radio traffic. “Officer down!” was what lingered. Pairs of what seemed to be thousands of steps from other officers hurried to save the downed deputy. But it was too late. He was laying on the cold, cement floor, bloodied and unconscious.

The inmate who hit the deputy felt proud of what he did, proud of the fact that he was able to help his “cellie”, the man he considered as his new friend he met in that small, square cell. He was not afraid of what would happen to his case. He just wanted to let that deputy know that they couldn’t be treated that way and that, if a friend was in need, he was there! He wanted to prove that his friendship, despite them being inmates, could be loyal.


Finding true friendships are rare in this world. How do we recognize someone’s potential to become our friend? We often go by the same likes, dislikes, interests, passion, etc.

But a true friendship takes time to develop. It takes time to share special memories and investing time with each other’s growth. Trust is a necessary factor to make it a long-lasting relationship. Along with trust, comes faithfulness and reliability. Genuine friendship is all about sticking with each other in any kind of weather. Real friendship is about the readiness to forgive despite the hurt caused by the other, having unconditional love for each other and being dependable when crisis arise.

God told us that “a friend sticks closer than a brother.” It’s not about finding friends…It’s about becoming one.

Are you in need of a friend? God desires us to be His friend. And as we tend to know Him and have a trusting relationship, He wants us to befriend others.

This world is in deep need of acceptance, friendship, and love. We are to be God’s representatives to make others know about His faithful and unconditional love, for His gift of forgiveness, and His awesome friendship!

Don’t you worry, whatever prideful things this world shows in your face, God is always with us to protect us and never to forsake us at times of danger and needs. Are you a friend of God?

Passionate Love

“Eeeewwww…” exclaimed everyone in the Clinic as the Unit 15 nurse showed a note from a particular inmate he gave to her while she was giving him his medications.


“That’s creepy,” echoed one voice joining in the chorus of different tones, uttering their fear for her.


He definitely had mental issues. Giving him a kind of care appropriate for his special mental needs, which would be a normal task for a Unit 15 nurse to perform, turned out to be extra-ordinary for him the way he perceived it. He started falling in love and became obsessed with this particular nurse. He started calling her special names [like how you would call your special someone sweetheart, dear, honey, love, teddy bear, etc…]. Every time she would enter the metal door that led to that unit before she started her shift, he was able to peer through that small window of his from the side and would try everything from yelling out what he felt for her or would call out her name so that he would get her attention. Sometimes, he would sing her some songs.


And on that particular, unexpected moment, he slipped a crumpled note through a small slit on his segregated cell, as she was about to give his evening medications, while being escorted by their unit deputy.


The composed letter was full of passion, echoing the deepest desires of his unstable heart and mind. He sounded like he would really do anything to make her notice his love.


“Be careful when he gets released,” warned one of the co-workers to this nurse.


“If I were you, I’ll tell your husband because he may have the potential to be a danger for you and your family,” added the concerned co-worker.


Fear…that was the initial reaction stemming from that display of a passionate love.



Totally the opposite of a passionate love displayed from heaven. From a Father Who loved everyone, not wanting them to perish. His love song was a perfect melody! His plan to make His love known was flawless. Love that He showed by sending His own Son, Jesus…He wants our full attention, too…


A song that is “not of this world”….Open your ears…Open your eyes…Open your heart….Listen…Soak yourself up with this heavenly tune….Feel the Father’s passionate love expressed through His Son, for He is God of love….Just listen, trust and believe…

[Don't forget to click on "pause" with my playlist...]




John 3:16 ~ “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” [NIV]



1 John 4:7 -12 ~ “7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” [NIV]



Revelation 3:20 ~ “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” [NIV]

Choice

Wow…I couldn’t believe we had a quiet night this past weekend at work. It was just the usual paper works that we were accustomed to. Not too many sick calls. Then, the interruption…

“Good morning. Clinic. May I help you?,” asked our medical secretary. Her voice echoing in the waves of peace that blanketed that area.

“He is? Chest pain? Can your deputies bring him down here? Okay…Thanks…I’ll let the nurses here know,” as she ended the conversation with the deputy from one of the housing units.

Reviewing the chart, we found out that the inmate was still in his early 20’s, unlikely to have cardiac problems [except for congenital cases or other conditions precipitated by injuries]. There were no other recorded medical problems from the past since he was incarcerated.

One hour had passed and as I was readying myself to see the inmate, another call came in from that unit.

“No? What did you guys do that he is cured just like that? You guys are awesome!,” jokingly, the secretary uttered.

“Excuse me, nurse RCUBES. That inmate was told that it would cost him $3.00. All of a sudden, he told the deputies that he was okay and did not really need to go to the clinic.”

“Oh, okay. Thanks for letting me know. I’m just here so if he changes his mind again, I’ll see him,” smilingly I replied.

Most of the inmates faking their conditions or not, get upset to find out that they need to shell out $3 from their accounts, as a cost for being seen and treated when they request a medical attention. Whether they have the money or not, their requests are never denied as some cases actually turn out to be to worth being assessed and treated.


Boy, aren’t we like that? Got hesitant when we heard that we have to shell out our worldly ways in exchange of a life given to be renewed by the Savior. But this treatment wouldn’t cost a thing. He paid for it all, in order for us to live a life of freedom. Freedom from sins. It cost Him his life so we can live.

Just like our Infirmary being opened 24/7 in that correctional facility, His offer of hope, eternal future, of physical and spiritual healing, of starting your slate clean and smudge-free from sins, is always available!

The only thing left is for you to make that choice whether you want to be renewed or not….Yes, it does seem that we are giving up a lot when we surrender everything to Jesus. But I guarantee, your life wouldn’t be the same as you accept His gift of grace. Because you will start walking on the only right path toward living a joyful life…..that no matter what you encounter in your life’s journey, He is always right beside you…

He desires a personal relationship with us….He is offering His love, forgiveness, grace, mercy in exchange of your worldly things that do not have value. So, what’s the state of your personal spiritual account? Full or bankrupt? You make a choice…Because doing so is also His gift…


Isaiah 55:1-13 [The Message]

Spiritual Sundays - I Will Wait For You

"Cancer is a word, not a sentence." ~ John Diamond

"The most important thing in illness is never to lose heart." ~ Nikolai Lenin

"Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death." ~ Unknown

"I don't think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains." ~ Anne Frank

"Hope never abandons you, you abandon it." ~ George Weinberg

"Every evening I turn my worries to God. He's going to be up all night long anyway." ~ Mary C. Crowley


I had composed this song on April 7, 2005, in memory of my sister-in-law's father who died from cancer. A year later, my own father was diagnosed with colon cancer and lived until December 2007. That was a difficult journey to walk on, but it was the Lord Who comforted my father, my siblings and myself. These 2 verses came to mind as I composed this song:

Philippians 4:19 ~ "You will meet all our needs according to Your glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Isaiah 40:31~ "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint..."

I Will Wait For You

I feel my strength is gone day to day
My heart is broken and the pain never goes away
What I'm going through, others will not see
Deep inside, I know that I'll find my strength......in You

Chorus:

My hope is in You 'cause You're the One
You stay beside me when I'm all alone
You always mend this broken heart
Lord, I'll wait for You 'til You hold my hands

I'm not afraid whatever comes my way
In my heart, Your Spirit's here to stay
I will close my eyes now so I can pray
May Your will be done as I wait for You....everyday

[repeat Chorus...]

rcubes 4/07/05

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