I totally want this shirt…
Oct23
Category Archives: Humanitarian
Aug17
Random ( hopefully inspired ) Thought
I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)
Deuteronomy 32. “Then the Lord spoke to Moses that very same day, saying: ‘Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho; view the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel as a possession; and die on the mountain which you ascend, and be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people; because you trespassed against Me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin, because you did not hallow Me in the midst of the children of Israel. Yet you shall see the land before you, though you shall not go there, into the land which I am giving to the children of Israel’” (Verses 48-52). Ahhh, the graciousness of God. Moses disobeyed and paid the penalty, he does not get to enter the promise land. Could you imagine! God calls you, sets you apart and tells you He’s going to use you to save His people, to bring them into the promise land. You wonder for forty years (because of the disobedience of others). Then just near entering you learn that your own disobedience has disqualified you! I would be heart broken, as I am sure Moses was. But God was not unaware of that, so He blessed Moses with the opportunity to at least see the land. Here’s what I realized: I don’t want to be disqualified. I don’t want to miss what God has for me. I am realizing that I have missed so much already because of pride, disobedience, and fear. As I embark on this new journey with God I am encouraged because the same GRACIOUS God that allowed Moses to at least see the promise land, is the same God who goes before me. However, unlike Moses I want to possess my promise land not just look at it. I pray that not just for me, but for all who read this today. Blessings.
Jul15
DAY 196
Stay the course. Even when you hit a bump…stay the course.
(Picture by Lisa R.)
Had an interesting talk with a co-worker today. He is embarking on a venture that if successful will not only make him very wealthy, but also be a source of inspiration to many people who may not have otherwise had been given a chance to realize their dream. As I sat listening to his excited and nervous chatter, this prayer popped into my mind, “Dear Lord I pray that You would protect the heart behind the venture. I pray that as his goals are reached, he won’t lose sight of the mission.” Most things that have gone awry started out with good intentions, but greed, selfishness, and the love of power can slowly seep in robbing us of our humility and causing us to forget what our true intentions are (example communism…good reasons, bad execution). I am not gonna lie my coworker is the kind of person that gives of an air of “I’m better than you” (this makes me wry of what may happen if he does have someone in his corner to bring the balance). The thing is I have never seen that as the complete person, but more of a protective shell. So I will continue to pray for his goals. Continue to pray that God will keep him humble. I will continue to pray that he doesn’t lose sight of the mission. Oh, by the way my coworker does not believe in prayer, so I will just have to believe for him. Hopefully one day soon, he’ll believe too.
“… Pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16, ESV).
So what am I thankful for today? Pioneers and prayer warriors. The world needs both.
Mar30
DAY 89
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
On my way to a volunteer training for Easter Sunday service, I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of another homeless Joe (see DAY 83). The world has a backward view of the homeless. Many times we see them as somehow less than us, less than worthy, and less than human. What is the truth? They are human beings. Their fate could and can at any moment be ours. Don’t dismiss them as not important. I am always amazed at humility and honesty (only because it such a rarity), today’s Joe was not ashamed to talk about his past. He told my brother and I down to the day when he was saved by God from alcoholism and drugs. He was grateful (yes, even on the said of the road) for what God had done and was even now doing.
My brother gave much of what was in his wallet (my brother is a financial analyst he doesn’t just give money away). Joe said, “Praise God and thank you for your kindness.” Then, he did something amazing! He blessed us! “May God Bless you and take care of you.” Tears are coming down my face as I write this. Why? Joe (who needs to be blessed) chose to bless us. 
He chose to ask God to take care of us. I can’t express this enough, but what a person has (or doesn’t have) does NOT determine the person’s worth. Don’t be so quick to toss someone aside because they don’t fit society’s standards of “worthy.” Joe was a veteran who fought for the safety that you and I enjoy. He doesn’t have much, but he used what he had to bless my brother and I. Our encounter with Joe today reminded me of this: “Do not be afraid to [show kindness] to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2).
So what am I thankful for today? I am thankful for Joe and his blessing.
Mar24
DAY 83
We can’t do it alone, we all need help on the journey.
I have a gift…I see homeless people. This is not meant to be a joke. I will go to the most affluent of neighborhoods and encounter someone in need of shelter. I have never been bothered by this, in fact it is very much the desire of my heart to work with the homeless. From this group of people I have learned humility and vulnerability. I have seen mothers crying because they can’t provide for their children. I have seen men utterly devastated and humiliated by standing on a street corner begging for anything that will help them take care of their family. I have seen the flip side as well, people who just want to mooch off of others. I have one rule…I will buy food, clothes, even pay for a room, but no money. Today’s lesson…GOD makes the rules.
On my way home from church today, I spotted a man on the sidewalk with a cast on his left leg. He was standing on crutches and holding a sign. I inched my car forward so that I could get a better look at the sign, it read: injured can’t work…please HELP. I was in the left turn lane and before my brain registered, the word “HELP”, the light turned green. So, I turned. I guess I wasn’t suppose to help…wrong. Two seconds after turning I felt something in my spirit say (more like scream)..turn around. Really?! I struggled with the decision a bit…but made the u-turn. His name is Joe. He was injured at work, broke 3 toes. However, he was fired because he couldn’t work (yes I know, you’re thinking workers’ rights, but Joe is working an under-the-table sort of job…he has no rights). I am in the left turn lane once again (my time is limited), and I hear God say, ‘Give him money.”
Wait! What?! Not only did You make me turn my car around. You want me to give him money, too (this is so against my rule). I struggle in my mind, but I open my purse. I only have a twenty (aww, come on). “Give it to him.” REALLY?! I struggle some more (it’s all the money I have). Reluctantly, I hand Joe the twenty dollar bill. I say these words. “God told me to give this to you. He made me turn my car around for you. He loves you.” Joe looks at me, smiles, and says, “I know.” The light turns green, I drive off. Here’s some truth what I gave Joe is temporal (money runs out). What Joe gave me will be with me forever. What was it? That standing on a corner begging for food, after being wrongfully fired, does not mean God doesn’t love you. On that corner, with his broken foot and his sign…Joe knew that simple truth.
So what am I thankful for today? That I made the u-turn.
Mar7
DAY 66
“Everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it.” -Mark Twain-
This morning as I left my house to go to work, the temperature gauge in my car read 49 degrees. For those of you living in the north this is summer weather. However, here in sunny S. Florida this is WINTER. Why am I talking about the temperature? I have a point( I swear), just follow me on my tangent for a bit. I may live in the sunshine state now, however, I grew up in Virginia (Alexandria to be exact). If you grow up in a state that has a REAL winter you know this one rule, “dress for the weather”. You need to cover all the vulnerable areas such as: head, neck, chest, ears, hands, and feet. If these areas are covered (properly) you could go out into the coldest weather (without a coat) and not feel cold, or get sick (trust me I know). I will now end this public service announcement on winter wear and get to my point.
If winter requires preparedness, how much more does life? On our journey we will have sunny days, rainy days, snow days and in between days. We need to be prepared…we need to know how to “dress for the weather.” Looking back at my life there were days I wasn’t prepared for, moments and events that threw me for a loop. Why? Because I wasn’t prepared. No one will make it through this life living only by their wits. Because at some point wits come to an end. How then do we prepare? Learn. Learn from those who have gone before. Learn from past experiences and mistakes. This is how God intended it. It has been said those who don’t learn from history will be destined to repeat it. Don’t be a copycat…learn how to dress.
So what am I thankful for today? That my wardrobe is stocked for any weather.
Feb27
DAY 58: Innocence Lost
So I am not sure I have said this before, but I am learning Korean. Why? The answer to that question would take waaay more than one post. I divulged this bit of information about myself because I wanted to talk about Asian dramas. You are thinking at this very moment…”What?!” But as always I promise there is a point…I think. There are staples to Asian dramas. Staple number one: The plucky, cheerful, hard working, life’s rough but I get through with a smile character (usually female). She works fifty jobs (this is not an exaggeration), with the goal of paying off her dad’s gambling debt and taking care of her family. She does all this while smiling and saying things like,”with a positive attitude you can do ANYTHING!” or “If you work hard all your dreams will come true.” In Korea these are called “candy girls”. Staple number two: The rich, elitist, arrogant, “I am too good to walk this planet with the likes of you” character (usually male). He is usually a Chaebol, the heir of a major conglomerate. Staple 3: These two characters will first dislike each other and fight like cats and dogs. Staple 4: Then for reasons that NEVER make sense they will need to become participants in some form of fake contract marriage or pretend dating arrangement, where the only rule is they can’t fall in love. Staple 5: The contract of course will be broken, because they fall madly in love. Okay, now you’re like, “Huh?”
Here’s my point.
These stories are fluffy and unrealistic, but nevertheless we are drawn to the innocence of it all. Why? Because the world we inhabit has lost its innocence. Children today are basically little adults. They walk around with smart phones. They have Facebook accounts and can Google information at the drop of a hat. They don’t go out and play. No tree houses, storming the castle or imaginary treasure hunt. Instead they stay in and watch TV, play video games and surf the web. I am not saying any of this is bad, but I am saying that we have taken away their childlike spirit of adventure. That drive to chase a butterfly just to see where it lives. Or follow the rainbow till the end just to see if there really is a pot of gold at the end, or even better a leprechaun. Why am I so passionate about this point today? Lately, I have seen many news stories about kids hurting kids. Children committing crimes that their minds should not even be able to conceive. They are no longer innocence. So I am setting forth a challenge to parents, to anyone who knows a child. Let’s earnestly try to help them regain what society has taken away from them. Let’s give them back that childlike faith that God intended them to have. Let’s help them see wonder and not dread when they look at this world.
So what am I thankful for today? I am thankful for my childhood: for cowboys and Indians and princesses that slayed dragons.
Feb25
DAY 56
Pain is necessary, it makes us thankful for the moments we are pain-free.
Some days you just need chocolate, today was one of those days. My mom was discharged from the hospital today. She was admitted on Saturday for severe abdominal pain. Prior to pain medication, her blood pressure was 194/104 (for those who don’t know, that’s stroke city). She is in PAIN. The ER doctor orders pain medication, 15 mins later her blood pressure is 124/74 (perfection). Why am I telling you this not so exciting story? I have a point…I promise. She was admitted and given pain medication every 2-4 hours to control her pain. Today she was discharged, and the doctor (one who did not see her at all except to discharge her) writes her NO orders for pain medication. NONE. Zip. Zilch. I was livid. It takes a lot, and I mean A LOT, to get me angry. You have to put in effort. We go home and not even three hours later my mom is back to where she was on Saturday, the reason we took her in the first place.
This story is a picture of life…I told you I had a point. As we continue our sojourn of life, we will encounter pain. All pain has a root cause, being something or someone that inflicts it. No pain is random. All pain hurts. All these statements about pain are true. Here’s another truth. Most times, instead of dealing with the root cause, we take pain medication that deadens the pain, but doesn’t cure the problem. So, what happens? We get sent home and two hours later the pain is back. If they had figured out the root cause of my mom’s pain, we could fix it. Same in life, except most times we know the root cause. However, we are too scared to fix it, so we walk around medicated but not healed. I am pushing through till my mom finds a solution and not just a quick fix. In life we should do the same…push through the pain, find the cause…eradicate it. Pain medicine eventually wears off. The cure lasts forever.
So what am I thankful for today? That the cure exists. (John 3:16)
Feb24
DAY 55
The path is perilous for certain, but well worth the adventure.
Why is it the day never goes as planned? Correction, why is it LIFE never goes as planned? I had plans for this weekend, things that I wanted to accomplish, but life stepped in and threw me a curve ball. What do you do in those situations? Do you see them road blocks that can’t be passed? Or do you see them has challenges that need to be overcome? I want to tell you my weekend story…I am telling this story because it s an example of how something unplanned can be the catalyst for something you needed, but didn’t know how to obtain. First let me give you a bit of background (it will make things clearer). My mom was laid off from her job nine months ago, because of this she has no insurance. Exactly a month ago yesterday we had to take her to the hospital for severe abdominal pain. They ran a battery of test, couldn’t figure out what was wrong so she was sent home. We incurred an astronomical bill (for the amount they charged us I could buy my very own universe). Yesterday, my mom could not move it hurt to stand, to walk and to sit. We rushed her to the ER. They run the same battery of tests, they found the same results. However, this time they admitted her. At this point I know you’re thinking, “I am not seeing the good here…” Hear me out a little longer. On the surface things look more bleak admission means bigger bill (larger universe). However, now my mom is eligible for emergency medicaid which will not only cover this hospital bill but the prior one as well . Why? Because the hospital wants to get paid and they know mom can’t afford it without insurance, they will apply on her behalf.
Life has all kind of situations and circumstances that may look bleak on the outside, but on the inside it is working things in your favor. However, because we get scared and try to fix things on our own often times we don’t get to redeem the “hidden” good. So, here’s a little advice from someone learning this lesson. Don’t just take bad situations at face value, see what could be hiding behind them. Look at a bad situation from every angle don’t be scared of it. God really doesn’t allow anything we can’t handle (this may sound trite, but t is 100% TRUE).
I have had a looong, ROUGH weekend, filled with circumstances I did not plan for. Yet, the bad was for my good.
So what am I thankful for today? That I am learning to see all of a situation and not just the bad.
Feb22
DAY 53
The sky is on fire…your world aflame. Even then…push through.
What. A. Day.
Today the hospital I work for had a network malfunction, which if you’re IT means “system failure, all hands on deck.” However, if you’re not IT, it means “danger Will Robinson, danger!” The day started out fine then…I went to the bathroom and it all went awry from there. While in the restroom the electricity goes out (complete darkness), I stumble and bump my arm on the paper towel dispenser (black and blue mark on arm, *ouch*). Then I hear, “my system just went dead”. What!! We are paperless! We see patients for chemo, EVERYTHING we need is on the SYSTEM it can’t be dead! So I checked it…yup dead.
Reading thus far you would think this is a post about how sucky (sorry Christmas <—one of my closest friends, she does not like this word) my day was. But no, this is not a tirade nor a diatribe. This is a post of thankfulness. Why? My coworkers ROCK! We pulled together and got it done! Patients got their treatments, appointments were keep, notes were dictated. The world moved as it was supposed to. Everyone pitched in, everyone had a hand in finding solutions. We did not waste our time complaining and grumbling, we pulled up our britches and went to work. Network failure…HANDLED.
As I sit here and look back on the day here is what I realize, this day could have been a complete disaster, but instead it was a triumph. The day’s events showed me what we (mankind) can accomplish when we pull together. When we are not whining and complaining. When we are NOT being jealous, petty or selfish…we can overcome obstacles and jump hurdles.
So what am I thankful for today? My co-workers of course (I think we’ll tackle the deficit next ;)).