Month: December 2024

There’s a time to hold on to keepsakes, maybe from a loved one, a special friend, or family member. There’s definitely a time to keep important and impactful memorabilia. There’s a time to keep promises, a time to keep calm, and a time to keep sober.

Years ago, I kept a promise to my 4^th graders in New York, before   moving to Puerto Rico.  I promised to return for their HS graduation in 8 years if they kept in touch and stayed in school. Eight years later, I flew to NY to see them! We were both excited and happy to see each other!

Keep God’s word!

“My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.  Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.  Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart” (Proverbs 7:1-4).

In other words, take it with you everywhere, and honor and obey it.

 He wants us to keep it as a treasure, and very near our heart (Psalms 119:11). He also wants us to keep vigilant of Satan’s strategies because he roams like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8) seeking someone to devour.  Keep Away!

Keep your heart pure: “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).

What are you keeping?   Keep God deep in your heart!

God Bless!
Sam

In just over a month, people will be going nuts trying to lose a few pounds and a few inches off their bodies.  Some, may try to lose old friendships, companions, or partners.  A time to lose can be viewed as a time to cast things aside or to get rid of things.  Some people will try new ways to lose themselves by trying new gimmicks, yoga, meditations, etc.

God compares our service to Him to that of a husband and wife.  In a God-honoring marriage, both parties are to lose themselves in each other’s embrace and presence.  In passionate love, time flies out the window.  Abandonment to each other is what creates oneness; it’s where “Two become one” (Mark 10:8).

In God’s service, we’re told “He who loses his life for my sake, shall find it” (Matthew 16:25).  How do we lose our lives for Christ?  We wear ourselves out in service for Him.  We abandon ourselves to His kingdom work as we serve others.  We do not grow weary in well-doing (Galatians 6:9).  In His kingdom, one can see tons of people who go out into His service looking sparkling clean and fully energetic, who end up worn, and somewhat wasted for Christ.  A great many people, known as heroes of the faith, lose their lives for Christ.

Are you ready to lose?  Get rid of ideology, numerology, scientology, physiognomy, demonology, even zoology (you didn’t come from no apes).  Yes, people have gone bananas, and monkey business is all around, but you’re made in God’s image, not King Kong’s likeness.  Lose everything that keeps you from finding God. You’ll want to lose it all for His sake.  As the song says, “Laying down your life to find it in the end” Faithful Men by Twila Paris (Kingdom Seekers). Everything we lose now for His sake, we’ll recoup later in His kingdom, plus bountiful rewards!

Keep your eyes on the time…

God Bless,

Sam