Finding Laughter In Difficult Times

REALLY??  But not exactly what you might think. See, because of sin, God ordered the death of Israel’s enemies all the way from men and women, to children and infants.  Why? To prevent offsprings’ claims to false promises, as well as to prevent retaliation.  But that’s in the natural, everyday living.  In the spiritual realm, things are different.

Jesus has never wanted His body, the church, to fear men for their violence, threats, or acts of torture.  In fact, in Luke 12:4-7 NKJV, He said:
“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.  But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!”

In other words, Satan may send man to kill off God’s people for different reasons, but that’s all he can do.  See, Jesus defeated him at the cross.  Jesus defeated Death.  Jesus has the keys of Life and Death. Satan’s powers are limited.  But God, can not only kill, but also cast one into hell.  Additionally, in Matthew 10:28, we’re told that the enemy can’t kill the soul.  However, God is able to destroy both the soul and body in hell.

Does that mean that those false teachings out there are true-that God will annihilate those in hell? Nope. Does it mean we create a following declaring that the soul can be killed? Nope! Notice, only God can destroy us because He has the power.

So, do we kill? Nope, not unless it’s gossip, discord, infidelity, etc.  We should “kill” things that hamper life. What of those who bully and torture us? In due time, they’ll be gone.  Either God will convert them, or bring them to accountability.

In Psalm 37:35, 36, the psalmist said, “I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil.  But when I looked again, they were gone! Though I searched for them, I could not find them!” (NLT)

God says: “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9).

Time to move on!

Sam

Recent hurricanes, Helene and Milton, plucked up or uprooted vegetation, trees, houses, and bridges from their foundations and scattered them about.  A lot of items, including vehicles, were destroyed and sent down rivers in South and North Carolina as well as Tennessee, and parts of Georgia.  Hurricanes and tornadoes are devastating; yet, as painful as uprooting things can be, that’s what God has in mind for us, in a different sense.

In the gardens of life, along with plants and flowers, grow vines and weeds.  Left unchecked, they overrun everything to the point of choking the goods and overtaking the garden.

We may be firmly planted in Christ, or at least planning on serving Him in the near future, but there might be seeds, weeds, or vines needing uprooting. Do you have need of plucking out envy, jealousy, gossip? Are there seeds of indifference in your garden? Do you need to uproot bitterness  or unforgiveness? Are you holding grudges against friends, your ex, or your spouse for past or recent transgressions?

What about anger and malice, do I throw in spite and defamation? Couples can live together and still be separated by un-plucked plants/vegetation.  All these issues are addressed elsewhere throughout scripture.

God seeks for our lives to be like the garden of Eden; pleasant, serene, and bringing forth life.  But we can’t if our lives are overrun by weeds.  They need plucking immediately!  See, once sin was introduced to the garden, man was kicked out (Genesis 3:22-24).  That’s why He said, “And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you.  It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire” (Mat 18:9).

A garden is to be a place of harmony and wholeness. It’s where we commune with God, the Father.  It was in a garden that Jesus was communing with His Dad when He was arrested.  Once again, peace was disturbed; but this time man wasn’t uprooted, but God was by sinful man.

A time to pluck that which was planted is serious business. Satan, our enemy, loves to plant into our lives, seeds of contention along with everything that causes discord (Matthew 13:24-30).

This season is designated to bring us closer to God.

God Bless!
Sam

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me as I also 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.

I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:1-8).

Now that you’re planted in Christ, He wants you to

1. Remain in Him.
2. Bear fruit in Him
3. Allow His pruning
4. Know you’ve been cleansed by His word
5. Allow His word to remain in you
6. Show others you’re His disciple by bearing much fruit

In a nutshell, the only way to remain in Christ is to stay close to Him.  Stay planted in Him and in His ways.

God Bless!
Sam

Back in our New York, Brooklyn apartment, we had plants growing everywhere.  I would take some to the school where I taught, and they’d grow too. We had one small plant we took lots of care with.  We’d water it, place it in the sun, and look after it.   One day, I decided to transfer it to a larger pot.  To my surprise, it was fake!! I couldn’t believe it! Neither could my wife.  But the rest of the plants were real.

So, we’re here in Puerto Rico where everything grows-everything, but what we plant!  Nothing we’ve planted has grown.  We know plants need good roots to grow strong. Somehow, ours didn’t develop them.

Have you planted yourself in the ways of God? You need Him in your life as Lord and Savior, and need a good Bible-based church as well as the desire to seek and follow Him.  Don’t get caught up in all these videos proclaiming everyone to be false because they might have misquoted someone or missed a verse.  Do make sure the doctrine is sound.  Develop roots in the things of God.  What does that look like?  Don’t depend on others to grow for you.  In other words, read and study for yourself.  Do your homework.  Be real; not an artificial plant.

Others can’t walk for you either.  Walk with Him by spending time with Him in His presence and in His word.  Soon, your roots will go down deep.  You’ll not be swept aside by false doctrines or hearsay.  

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.  He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers” (Psalms 1:1-3).

Today’s your day to plant-yourself in God,

Sam

People enjoy living in the past.  Sometimes it’s easier than moving ahead.  We can get comfortable within the past in areas that suit us.  We can avoid pain, frightful moments, and the unseen.  Staying in the past doesn’t help us in the present or the future if we can’t face them.  When embracing the ‘now and here,” we can refer to the past if there are helpful insights for guidance.

Jesus lived in the past…present, and future all at once.  He’s not limited by time.  He’s the I AM. Always NOW. 

He made a comment to the religious leaders of His day that shocked their socks off.  Their words, to be sung millennials later, by Jean Knight in Mr. Big Stuff, are echoed at the close of their discussion below.  Follow this conversation He had with them:

“Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever obeys my word, will never see death.  At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed!  Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets.  Who do you think you are?”   

Since they didn’t believe He was God in the flesh present before their very eyes, they missed everything He was trying to show them.  Here’s the clincher:

“Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day, he saw it and was glad.” “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”  “Very truly I tell you, “Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:51,52,53, 56,57,58)!

That’s when they picked up stones to end His life, but He escaped.

To be crazy, He would have had to say, “Before Abraham was born, I was.”  But He didn’t!   The Great I AM was in their midst and they missed Him.  He was in the past with Abraham as well as in the present with them.  He’s eternal, knows no limits.  He’s always in the present and able to weave in and out between time and space as we know it.

God had made a promise to Abraham that seems to be incomplete in scripture.  After asking Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, Abraham said God would provide a lamb for the sacrifice in Isaac’s stead (Genesis 22:8).  God, however, provided a ram.  It is believed that God showed Abraham the future revealing the Lamb of God; Jesus, laying down His life for humanity; thus, providing the Lamb which was slain from before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).

Look to the future!

You’ll live forever!
Sam

In Indiana Jones, the Last Crusade, Indy is ordered to search for the cup of Jesus. Based on demographics, logical reasoning, he locates the correct one.  Were the cup to be found today, like many other ancient archeological finds, people would kill for them.   Everything today, it seems, is worth selling for wealth, fame, and social media acknowledgement.  Indy, had to get it for his dad’s recovery, and would have donated it to a museum.  We tend to idolize everything around us. People pay big bucks for artists’ handkerchiefs, vehicles, homes, and even undies.  The cup of Jesus would break the bank.  First, because it ‘d prove Him real, and second, because He drank from it. But a cup is so much more than its purpose or use.

                                    I’LL DRINK TO THAT

When we agree on something, we’ll say, “I’ll drink to that.”  In other words, “I’ll offer a toast to it,” or, “I’m for that.”  But when we think we’ll be toast, we’ll pass.

In heaven, in respect to saving the human race, God asked, “Whom shall I send?” “Who will go for us?” And, No one could go.  No one was capable of redeeming mankind.  But One was!  “Then said I, Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8).  Jesus was willing to go rescue humanity from the hands of Satan and his demonic host; from sin, eternal darkness, and perpetual separation from God.

At the appointed time, when Jesus was facing the cross, when in agony He prayed to the Father, He said, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39b).  A little later, after being apprehended, when Peter swung his sword and slashed a servant’s ear, Jesus confirmed His stance to Peter, “Put up they sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it” (John 18:11)?

When faced with a life and death scenario, the first Adam, failed by not drinking the cup of temptation and thereby keeping sin at bay.  Instead, he passed the cup (of blame) to Eve and both sinned.  But not this second Adam, Jesus, He drank the cup-the bitter cup of humility, punishment, shame, and torture; the sacrifice for sin, and saved us all!

THIRSTY?

Drink the cup of eternal life!

Sam

Ain’t that something, a time to drop dead. Within the last three weeks, my microwave died.  Our pedestal fan fanned no more at the age of 89 days. It couldn’t take the heat.  Shoot, it couldn’t even make it to three months!  Then a part broke off our ice maker.  We just had a technician replace a key part on our stove, and after he left, one burner still has me saying, “Come on baby, light my fire.”  But it won’t.  The Preacher, I’m sure, wasn’t referring to inanimate objects when he wrote this piece, but there are things, and not only people and animals, that face death.

Sin is bad. It diminishes our health.  It robs us of our beauty.  It steals our joy and peace.  It shatters our tranquility, and causes us to age.  But worse of all, it brings forth death.  While we can fight and maybe overcome health issues and many circumstances, we all have to bow before death. We can’t go around it or through it.  When death knocks at the door, even if we don’t open, it’ll get in. It doesn’t matter where we go, it’ll find us.

Maybe you’ve lost a loved one recently.  Whether out of the blue, or saw it coming, its sting always hurts.  Of my five older brothers, I lost one about nine years ago.  Then another, and another, and then another.  Every few years, I lost one.  Four in total. The last one is hanging by a thread.  He doesn’t know the Lord.  When the thread breaks, he’ll go without God to a world of darkness and hopelessness-unless He gets himself right with God.

How about you?  Are you ready to die?  Are you 100% certain you’ll be going to His presence? Are you confident of His words, “For it is appointed onto men, once to die and then the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).  No one can ace life’s final: DEATH.  Only Jesus laid down His life, took it back again…and defeated death!   

We can’t rejoice over others’ deaths, but we have to be ready for it. It doesn’t matter all the theories out there and all the thoughts on it; once our souls/spirit leaves our bodies, we can’t ever go back for a do-over.  Death is coming.  But as Christians, while our bodies die, we live with Him eternally.  Death doesn’t reign over us.

But there’s a different death that God calls us to.  A death some of us fight all our lives: A death to self. “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).

To deny ourselves means to die to our desires and wants.  God expects us to carry our cross (our trials and sufferings) and follow where He leads.  We can’t do that while pursuing our dreams and living our lives.  Why not?? Can’t do both.  He doesn’t share His glory with anyone. It’s either we live all for Him, or none at all. Not everyone wants to pay the high price of serving Him.  Well, why should you when there are thousands of other paths called religions?  Because none get us there. He seeks relationship. He doesn’t reject us, but we’re the ones that rule ourselves out.

 Dying To Live For Him!

Sam

Life isn’t the only thing to be birthed. Right now, hundreds of people lost their homes, properties, belongings, businesses, family members, friends, and neighborhoods, due to hurricane Helene.  Along with those loses, some have also lost hope as well as reasons to go on trying, or to go on living.  Don’t lose hope!  Don’t despair!

Remember, Kairos, is a specific time allotted in history and in our lives in which things can happen; bad and good.  “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to be born…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 2). Today is that day for renewed hope, for renewed trust, for renewed strength.  Today is a new day.  It is a day for hope to be born in you.

God is not the source of destruction; Satan is!                                    “The thief comes not, but to steal, to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

As hope is born or reborn in you, trust God for your future.  He’s well aware of your circumstances.  He allows trials to come our way as He stands nearby with open arms ready to receive us, ready to embrace us.  He wants to hold you close and hear your cries.  He desires to restore you to your belongings, but most importantly, to restore you to Himself.  Please understand, He’s for you!   “What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31 ESV)? 

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

“So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19, 20).

Application: Now that hope is born, nurture it by trusting in God.

Prayer: Lord, comfort all who have lost their possessions, their familiar things, friends, and maybe loved ones too. We lift them up before your presence, before your throne room of grace that you may comfort their hearts.  Lord, that they may lift up their crying and aching hearts to you.  That they may feel Your touch and Your arms hugging them.  Thank you, Lord for volunteers and helping hands reaching out to help those in need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Songs: So In Need [Live] From Dwell Live Vineyard Worship,

             Needy by Jamie Smith

Sam

When our youngest daughter came into the world, it was really a time to be born! I dropped my wife off at the hospital and waited about 2 mins for the person in front of me to finish talking to the reception clerk.  When I went up, I began to ask if I… “Congratulations!” I was told. I said, I stepped back thinking she was talking to the guy who left.  She once again congratulated me.  “I want to know if I should leave my wife’s coat” I said.  “Your child was born and you’re a dad!” she told me.  My wife was wheeled in, the baby delivered, and, I was congratulated, all within 2-3 mins!  It was her time to be born.

All babies, born dead or alive, impact others’ lives.  Whether it’s the mom’s, or the deliverer, a birth is a magical thing; not of nature, but of God’s doing.

About 18 years ago, the birth of our grandson caused his dad to cry at the miracle of bringing a (tiny) life into the world.  And a few years ago, after several miscarriages, our daughter gave birth to her daughter, and years later, to a son.

From a tiny baby we grow into adulthood, and God has a divine plan for each person.  Nevertheless, our natural birth cannot get us into our heavenly Father’s home.  We need a spiritual birth.  Nicodemus, a teacher of the law went to Jesus in the night to ask Him some questions.  Jesus assured him that “Truly, truly, I say to you, ‘Except a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:3, 6).

At the birth of a tiny one, there’s rejoicing among loved ones and friends.  Likewise, when someone repents and accepts Jesus into their heart, not only do their friends and Christian family rejoice, but they are born again, they get their name written in heaven, and the angels also rejoice over them (Luke 15:7)!

To everything there is a time and a purpose under the heavens. Today is your day to be born (again).

God Bless!
Sam

Tiny El Tiny Tim

Our ice-making machine recently broke. It was a great machine. Up in heaven, I want to check out God’s ice-producing machine. He’s bound to have one where He presses a button and it produces varied sized hail.  I know that during the great tribulation period hail stones weighing 100 lbs. each will be dispensed to the earth (Revelation 16:21).

He probably has a ginormous mechanical room where His snow blower is stored. We sometimes get snow flurries, wet snow, thick snow, blizzardly snow, blinding snow, and white, whirly snow. It’ll be nice to also check out His rain machinery.  Here in Puerto Rico, you can have rain at the back of the house but none at the front or sides.  Let’s see, one can have light rain, misty rain, heavy rains, or torrential rains. Sometimes it’s powerful, nonstop rain.  I wonder how it can be so even and precise. Is there a machine set up for that? Is it an angel repeatedly blowing down the reverse-end of a funnel sending the droplets upon the earth?  Interesting.

What produces earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, and volcano eruptions? I mean, just what type of machineries does God keep in His garage?  Maybe while everyone’s in the foyer just beyond the pearly gates, I’ll sneak around to see what I’ll find.  I don’t expect to find over 700 million cameras set up there-like China does, but then again, cherubim have their bodies, backs, hands, and wings covered with eyes (Ezekiel 10), so, they’ll probably spot my every move!

Hopefully, I mean, with Him being God and all, it’s not a pocket-sized machine He carries on Him…

Maybe He’s discarded a few in the past and now reside in His junk yard. Well, scratch that. Everything in heaven is brand new. But, there’s plenty to discover!  Check out His mysteries:

“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail, which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle?  What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth? 

Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm, to water a land where no one lives, an uninhabited desert, to satisfy a desolate wasteland and make it sprout with grass? 

Does the rain have a father?  Who fathers the drops of dew?  From whose womb comes the ice?  Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens when the waters become hard as stone when the surface of the deep is frozen?

Can you bind the chains of Pleiades?  Can you loosen Orion’s belt? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs?  Do you know the laws of the heavens?  Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?   Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water?  Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?  Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?  Who gives the ibis wisdom or gives the rooster understanding?  Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?  Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens when the dust becomes hard and the clods of the earth stick together” (Job 38:22-38)?

Well, we have lots of water bottles as backups when water goes (sometimes several times weekly), so God must have trillions of water jars!

Maybe you can help me discover all these heavenly secrets when we get there! See you soon!
Sam