I can’t believe it had been 20 years now, since I said goodbye to my husband, who was my boyfriend at that time, and was in the USS Missouri, off to go to the Persian Gulf War.
Lots of mixed emotions and thoughts swirled in my mind. But more of questions. Of “what if’s”. Of fears. Of sadness. Of tears. Many days went by with only prayers sustaining me with strength and hope. That one day. He would come back and return here safe. And by the grace of God, he did return. Unharmed. But a changed man. Changed by a torpedo that almost hit their carrier. Intercepted by an ally.
Changed by the many sleepless nights he was on alert, along with other comrades to watch for mines scattered in the vast, open sea. Changed by the letters we exchanged that got piled up as delivery wouldn’t be that easy. Their locations, most of the time, unknown. Changed by the tomahawks fired towards the enemy.
Changed by the many, many days that turned into months and years that we were physically apart.
He is not working with the US Navy anymore. But he continues to work to fight against terrorism. To you, my hubby, I give you my sincerest gratitude for all the sacrifice you did. Not only for your family but for all of us who enjoys this freedom we have. And my “thank you” to all of you who are serving in the military. For those of you, their families, who sacrificed also. To let go of a soldier to a mission with no time frame. It is not easy. But through their sacrifices, we remain free. May we remain honoring those who had given their lives because they never compromised. And because of that...we are free.
While many do not support war, sometimes, war is necessary to keep sinful people away from harming those innocent ones. War is indeed terrible. But sometimes, it is necessary to prevent greater evil. As Christians, the most important thing we can do is to pray for those serving in the military, those who fight against terrorism, and also for their families. Their spouses. Their children. Their parents. Whose hearts end up with a big hole every time a soldier leaves on a mission. Let’s pray for their safety. For God’s wisdom to guide our leaders.
“...a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” - Ecc.3:8
May God bless all of you who sacrifice your life to preserve our freedom!!!
It was one of those urgent sick calls we pulled from the pile of sick call requests from inmates. The words written complained of bleeding nose and that he was hearing voices. I glanced at my watch and realized I still had an hour before my shift was over last Sunday morning. I told the charge nurse, I would see the man.
He sat down in front of me, coughing and complaining of pain on the right side of face. I didn’t see any bloody nose. I touched his right cheek and it was slightly tender. He complained of on and off headaches. He admitted hearing voices but he said he wasn’t suicidal. That he only added it so he could be seen right away.
“That’s okay. Because I feel you have sinus infection if your right face have been hurting and you have headaches sometimes. You’re fortunate. Because our doctor came in early. I would go see her if I needed to give you some antibiotics.”
He let out a soft sigh and softly uttered, “Thank you, Ma’am. I appreciate your help and for not getting upset with me.”
The doctor did recommend antibiotics to be taken for 10 days and a nasal spray to aid with his congestion. I gave him all the instructions.
“Do you drink water? If you do, how much?” I probed.
“Ah….Mmmmm…”he paused.
“Just say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ Sir.”
“I do. But just a little.”
“Okay. From now on, if you’re not throwing up, try to drink lots of water to help you with your healing. It will loosen up those phlegm so you can cough it up. And that will prevent you from getting dehydrated. That’s okay if you can’t eat but the water is a must.”
“Yes. Okay…”
“Also, once you start these antibiotics, it’s very important that even if you are feeling better, you must continue and finish everything that I am giving you. Okay? If you feel like you‘re not improving, you can always put a sick call so we can recheck you.”
He got up and kept thanking me. It took me 20 minutes so I gave a little sigh myself that I had a little time left to chart in my notes.
We are once like that man before coming to Christ. Day in, day out. Congested with the things of this world. We fight hard. Except we use our own limited strength until we bleed. Yet, accomplished nothing. The hearts…always left with a gnawing emptiness and feeling of less worth and dissatisfaction. Not knowing that the Living Water is available, we never drank enough. Have you committed your life to Christ? Have you been drinking the Living Water?
Christ did not promise a good, rich life when we accept Him into our hearts. He is not of this world. Our highest accomplishments will not matter. Our riches and possessions will not matter. Our hope and trust on someone or something except Christ will not matter. We must continue once we start having Him as Lord in our lives. Because in our weakness, He will give us the strength. In our lack of knowledge, He will give His wisdom. When feeling afraid, He replaces that with courage. We must strive to keep improving. To know more about Jesus. To know more about God. “4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” - John 15:4-5 [NIV]
But being saved does not end there. We are given a mission to share the Good News to those who haven’t heard about it. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” - Matthew 28:19. This is the whole design of Christ’s commission. We are to teach. We are to make disciples. It is not about me doing ministry in the prison. It is not about our highest accomplishments that will matter. It is not about the prized possessions we have that will matter. It is all about the Lord Jesus. Our mission as His children is to share His gift of forgiveness. That will matter. Because God wants all to be saved…We are to plant the seeds. Yet, He is the One Who will nurture. Who will make them grow, not us. There is no second, no hour, no day that the Lord will not be there for His children.
So, how are we investing our time? Day. After. Day. We are saved. Now what? We are God's eyes. His hands. His mouth. His ears. His touch. May God bless you and empower you!
“May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.’ - 2 Thessalonians3:5
Glory be to You Oh Lord forever and ever. In all ages to come. Thank You Lord for Your grace and mercy, Your faithful love that endures forever. Thank You for loving us first. Guide us with Your divine wisdom Oh Lord, to give us discernment and protect us. Give us the boldness Lord to share Your wonderful gift of salvation to those who are still wandering lost and whose roads will cross ours. Help us lead them to the only, narrow road that leads to eternal life. And may their hearts and minds be opened up to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Praise the Lord with me: [offenders singing at Indiana State Prison]:
As a part of being an employee at the Sheriff’s Correctional facilities, everyone is required to know the radio codes and be able to know how to use them. They are vital to each other’s communication. Especially during dangerous situations, radios are the fastest way to transmit a message if there’s a riot and deputies or medical staff’s help are needed.
I was nervous to listen to the traffic when I was newly hired. Memorizing each code night by night to get more familiar. Learning how to work the radio and be able to send a message or respond to calls. I’m sorry that I can’t disclose the meaning of some codes here. I used to joke around that I could use it [the radio], as my weapon if an inmate tried something with me. But I knew then, it wouldn’t be funny during critical situations.
Radio messages were able to summon more deputies and controlled fights among inmates. Ambulances were called on life-threatening situations by medical staff exchanging radio communication. They even could use it to alert if anyone would be willing to stay if they happened to be short of staff on a particular day.
I knew everyone’s messages were being relayed from a central transmitter location. I thought how neat technology was. That it would only take a few seconds and people’s radio calls were heard all over the facility, though the messages were going to that central location first.
How true it is with our prayers! How vital prayer life is to us as followers of Christ. They go to Him, the center of it all, and the answers come back to us, prayer warriors.
I like Don Piper’s preaching and I found one where he described this about prayer:
Oh Lord, I don’t feel the passion to pray sometimes. Help me Holy Spirit to give all my heart to you as I send out my prayers. What are beautiful prayers if they don’t come with my heart? I just want to thank You tonight that You are in the midst of us, listening to our petitions. I just want to glorify Your Holy Name. We are nothing without You, oh Lord. Please help me become strong in this area of my life. I know that I am in a battle and I am defenseless without You. I thank You Oh Lord knowing that because of my trust and faith in You, You have shared Your victory with me. Thank You for Your protection Lord. Thank You for loving me unconditionally. Thank You for Your power and might that You give us when we seek them. Help me Lord to remain standing. Our Father….How grateful I am that because of Jesus, I can go to Your throne of grace boldly and call You “my Abba, my Father…”Thank You Lord, the One Who is in heaven. Glory be Your Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done….on earth as it is in heaven…In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” ~ John 14:13
I was the Intake Nurse long time ago. My charts that needed to be opened for those arrestees who had a medical or psychiatric problems were piling up in front of me. As I started getting to work, I was almost startled though the voice was soft. It broke through the brief solitude I had which gave me time to catch up with my charting.
“Ma’am, can I ask you for some Motrin? My tooth hurts!” bravely queried an inmate worker. He and the other worker wearing blue uniforms. They usually could be found in one corner of the Intake on the male side. Awaiting for the deputies to call them if they needed help to have something cleaned up or to pass meals during “chow times”. They sort of the errand runners for us. For medical staff, they often would get empty charts as we needed them. Or they would pick up a wheel chair or other equipment stored in our Infirmary.
“You know you need to put a sick call, right?” I replied. That was the rule. That no medications would be given to any inmate, not unless it was through a sick call when the nurse could evaluate them.
He lowered his head and pivoted to head back to the corner where he was.
“Wait! I didn’t say I wouldn’t give you any yet, right?” I added.
His face lit up. But at the same time, a little grimace was also shown.
“Are you sure you’re okay to work?”
“I think I can handle it Ma’am. I just need to try if the Motrin can help me until I finish this shift.”
I grabbed a handful of packets of Motrin after determining he didn’t have any drug allergy. His right hand, cupped and waiting for the meds to be dropped. He had a little wry smile this time.
“Sir, I’m giving you some to make you comfortable because you’re at work. But if your toothache doesn’t get better, please put a sick call. So, the nurse can determine if you need to see our dentist.”
“Thank you so much, Ma’am,” he replied with gratitude. He disappeared from where he was standing. A few minutes later, he came back and emptied my big trash can becoming full with papers and other forms of trash.
“Thank you, Sir! I appreciate your help,” I told him.
I sat there with my achy neck after finishing the charts. I started thinking…”Was I wrong on giving him that packets of Motrin because it just wasn’t allowed if not through a sick call? That meant I broke the policy?” But I strongly felt it wasn’t about breaking the policy. It was about helping someone who was in pain. And this thought came over me that brought me comfort:
That Jesus healed a crippled man on a Sabbath, where the Pharisees were just waiting for that opportunity to attack him and his ministry. Blinded by their own self-righteousness and oral laws with the intention of keeping God’s commandments, they failed to see the real meaning behind God’s laws.
“No work is allowed on Sabbath! Healing is work!” they accused Jesus.
Jesus knew their hearts…with hardness. So he asked if it was lawful to do good or evil on Sabbath, to save a life or destroy? None of the Pharisees could answer. Are there still Pharisees today? I believe so. We are like them when we build those walls around us, to separate us from sinners. Thinking that what we do is right in the sight of God. But those walls are the same walls that separated us from what God truly wants from us. What defiles us is what is in our hearts.
Oh, Lord...help us to be more like Jesus everyday. Mold our hearts. Remove the things that impede my spiritual growth. Forgive me for my sins. In Jesus' precious Name. Amen.
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