Hands For War, Fingers For Battle



Of David. Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.-Psalm 144:1 (NIV)

My husband told our son to open the first page from an autographed book he brought home from a training much needed for his work. He was excited at the same time, telling us about the significance of this training with him and his co-workers at these trying times. Obviously, he learned so much.

The author, with his stylish, cursive handwriting began with “To a brother…” and ended it with the verse I wrote above… My husband added they were both excited to know the many similarities they had as both had served in the military and to learn that he was also a “brother in Christ” made his heart jump with joy.

“It fits what many does in law enforcement but I see the bottom line,” humbly I reminded him.

“In reality, we battle in this unseen war…And it is indeed God Who helps us with this…”

He silently nodded as he paused for a few bites of the dinner I just warmed up for him.

And as we surrender our hearts to Christ, we are all in this. From being lost sheep, we become soldiers…In these trying times, may we, children of God, use our hands, our fingers to battle the many circumstances surrounding us in persistent prayers…Because the war is real. It lies deep in our hearts. Of when to say yes or no. Of when to know what is true and what is false. Of hating what is evil and fighting for what is good. While at the same time, starting with a “thankful prayer” for the previous mercy given to wretched state. Most of all, of allowing God to help us in this battle for we are not able to win without His help. For it is only His help that makes a sinking vessel float. It is only His help that makes one realize that his or her life is but a shadow. It is only His help that drives one into a realization that self-importance does no one any good. And that’s where our victory comes…From Him and Him alone…

Yes… “Praise be to the Lord, my Rock!!!”


My Tears From "Tears of the Sun"



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." ~ Edmund Burke (quote also used in the movie “Tears of the Sun” in 2003.
Sony Pictures

“You know me…I don’t cry easily,” I reminded my husband as I started sniffling, though tired from just being roused from my mid afternoon sleep after working the night before.

He was in the middle of watching a movie and at first, I wasn’t paying attention except to read the news from my cell phone. My heart sank as I read that a British citizen was just beheaded by Muslim extremists. Two Americans lost their lives recently in the same fashion by these evil hands.

A loud “No!” was aired from a particular scene that I had no choice but to peek really quick and saw the evil act being done by rebels in Nigeria. They  were raping women. The villagers were also massacred by the said evil group. To make it short, I kept interrupting my husband to give me a short summary, as I put my phone down and tears started swelling in the corner of my eyes. 

“It was only a movie,” I would often tell myself. But this time, I felt the villagers’ struggle. I felt their pain. I felt their loss. But worse, my heart was broken when it realized the sacrifice the American Navy SEAL Team headed by Bruce Willis (as Lt.Waters) had done. Close to the end, Lt. Waters was forced to choose between following orders (which was to extract a US citizen and a mission priest and two nuns) or to save the lives of those villagers facing tortures and death. The US citizen, Dr. Kendricks, (played by Monica Bellucci), had set up a clinic in the jungle, also refused to leave unless she could bring along at least 70 refugees with them. She made it clear. If left behind, they, for sure, would face a certain death. With Lt. Waters’ conscience forcing him to disobey the order to get the citizens and missionaries only, him and his team willingly chose to help the remaining villagers to reach a nearby border town where they all could go for a safe haven. But with that choice came an expected gut-wrenching loss of some of his team members as they were ambushed by pursuing, evil rebels. Eventually, the movie ended where the villagers reached the border and were saved and the SEALs’ help arriving to get them out and retrieve the bodies of the dead soldiers as they bombed those pursuing rebels and killed them all.

It was only a movie…” my thought started reiterating what I would often say. But it didn’t even go there. As my tears flowed and I recalled the many lives lost in the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan. As I recalled the many awaiting families who sent off their loved ones to battle the terrorists in different places of Earth to preserve freedom and help a particular country’s oppressed.

The movie had long been replaced with another and as I returned to reality, I knew...

That we are all still facing this war. As Christians, our true battle is spiritual and we can’t face any without God’s strength and His weapons. War is ugly. But at times, war can be justified and is necessary. To bring aggression, injustice and even genocide to stop is a just cause.

Let’s all pray for our country’s leaders and for God’s true wisdom to prevail in these trying times… 

Deep in my heart, those who were killed but believed in Christ never faced death…They died…in the hands of evil men… yet they lived…Eternally… And as Christians, knowing this faithful promise of His, should enable us to live our lives differently. What can each of us do with the light He imparted in each of our hearts today that can bring change around us? May we be faithful in our prayers as we share what we know about His love and grace…


 He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”- Luke 21:8,9 (NIV)



Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. - Ephesians 6:11,12 (NIV)

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. - Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

 
 

The Drought



But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus--the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. – Acts 20:24 (NLT)

Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." – Acts 21:13 (NIV)

Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been. – Revelation 6:11 (NIV)

I haven’t been blogging…For a while…My desire has been as dry as this drought our state has been suffering from. Don’t get me wrong. It doesn’t mean I have strayed away from learning more of God. In fact, since He found me, I know that my very existence and survival doesn’t mean anything if I exclude Him. Each day…

Truth is…my heart is grieving…From all the rampant, devastating news going on all around me. The growing threat of terrorism and now that 9/11 is coming around the corner, I know, like other Americans, most of us are edgy if there’s anything being planned against this beautiful country and its people. My heart knows…the deep need to always look up…and pray…Any moment… At any place… I always find myself whispering… Uttering soft, silent petitions… While driving… While cooking… While sipping my cup of coffee… After closing the door behind my husband each time he leaves for work… For my child… who is not a little boy anymore…  For leaders of this country and of this world… For people… 

History does repeat itself…

Sins then are sins now…

“It’s 7:30 already?” my son asked, interrupting my thoughts…

“Mom, time goes by so fast…” 

“Yup!”

I glanced at the nearby digital numbers glowing from the oven. 

7:30…

In the evening…

Confirming what my son had just spoken…

Clearly, another few seconds have passed by since I turned my head into that direction…

In soft whispers, I found myself lifting up petitions again…



Lord, time is fast. Our lives are indeed short. Like flowers wilting in open fields... May You always lead me and my family to Your truth…Help us Lord with Your wisdom…Your discernment…Give us the courage and the strength to overcome… Each day…I pray that for Your children… That may You always remind us to remember the race we’re in… To help us be aware of the things that we need to put into this place, instead of aiming to get things out of it… For what matters are the things that we don’t see… Thank You Lord… for Your grace, love and mercy… May many more come to know You…the only true God… May they come to realize that the tracks they are making are heading into wrong directions and instead, may Your love and forgiveness help them find the only direction that leads to You… The true drought existing in our land is nothing compared to the drought of souls needing the rain of Your grace…

The Train Known As "The Beast"

What happened? The mainstream media reporting about the influx of illegal immigrants suddenly died down. After many people started saying something about the government not doing anything to protect this country against possible crossing of unwanted terrorists through those porous borders.

My heart was hungry for answers.



“Why now? Why this uncontrollable number of illegal entry? Just like that? And now, with young kids?”

And with the president not coming up with the solutions nor the other politicians trusted by the public to what they should be doing, I wanted to know about the other side of the story.. Even a little bit. For one side always sounded true not until one heard both sides...

“What was going on from the other side, the southern part, that everybody was coming in throngs, risking their lives?”

Worst…risking their own children.

I watched many tapes recorded with the struggles of illegal immigrants. I saw one report from a French media, interviewing the illegals trying to ride on the train. The train they called “La Bestia.” Yes…

“The Beast” in English…
Photo Credit

But I hardly saw any young child from those trekkers. Most of them were adults. Male. Some adult women. All with the determination to go northbound knowing USA offered a better life and better jobs. They were not escaping from violence. It was somewhere along their trek that corrupt police and other politicians, paired with the smugglers and drug dealers, was where that violence occurred. Some kidnapped and abused. Some killed. Another thing that fuels their desire to ride on that train is the false hope they heard. That America will not deport anyone once they are able to reach that side.

One in particular commented that he was in the USA before. Only to be convicted for use of illegal drugs and then deported back to his country after serving some time. 

“I’m gonna’ do it again,” he said.

“This time I’ll try to make it better.”

“ I don’t think I’m robbing the Americans of their jobs,” he added, smiling sheepishly.

There are so many of those videos. But I never saw any children fleeing from violence. More likely, it is their parents’ dream, just like everyone else’s dream, to have a better life in USA that they ended up being tagged along. 

But…Who doesn’t want a better life?”

Except…in the way they do it, they are breaking the laws. It’s not all their fault. It’s the USA’s too. As it is lax in doing something to protect its border and instead, the president and the others want to make it as a political issue. 

We can all go “finger pointing”…We can all scream at each other’s face, stressing our own points of views regarding this problem. 

But their problem from the southern part has been going on for decades… 

It isn't about the children. For not only children, but anyone who comes here are getting help right away and that is a fact. There is nothing wrong with that and much more, to help out those who are truly fleeing either from political or religious violence and other threats where they are incapable of living in their homes anymore is just the right thing to do. In the eyes of God.

But some who successfully made that illegal entry are breaking in…Stealing…Murdering… Not all of them come with good intentions… The porous border is an easy, open gateway to terrorists and others determined to destroy this great country. And if some Americans choose to fight as this problem escalated and the trusted politicians are not doing anything, I think their voice should be heard, too. Because we are facing the same violence now from what they are claiming.

Day to day since we had that significant protest from people of Murrieta from different walks of life, from different nationalities, from different faith and made their small voice heard from different parts of this nation, though depicted as cruel to children and not true Christians all over USA, I want to remain to hear and see both sides in order for me to discern the truth.

In doing so, I know deep in my heart, there is this ultimate truth

That we are all hungry to travel northbound (going to heaven)…We just differ in choosing the route to get there. And it’s sad, to see many perish if they choose to ride on “The Beast” for along with it comes deception… False hope.Lies. Even mimicking God’s light… There is only ‘One Way, Truth, and Life’…

“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” – John 10:1-3 (NLT)
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