Month: February 2025

Linda Ronstadt sang, “You’re No Good, you’re no good, you’re no good, baby, you’re no good.”  We sometimes come across relationships that are less than stellar, no good. They can take us down bad or hurtful paths.  Fleetwood Mac sang, “Don’t Stop thinking about tomorrow…it’ll soon be here, better than before.”  That’s sometimes hard to grasp. But then there’s God’s reassurance that even though dark days lie ahead for those outside His fold, in Him, great things await His children.  That’s good!

On the other hand, we sometimes come across good finds-bargains, deals too good to pass up.  My dad would walk us up and down Graham Ave. and Moore St. in Brooklyn, NY knowing where to go to get the best deals at the best prices for his hard-earned cash.  Of course, when I was nearing twelve, it was a bit embarrassing for me when shopping for clothes. My dad would haggle back and forth for a good deal. One time we passed by a familiar store but he wouldn’t pay a certain amount for a shirt.  We walked the neighborhood only to go back and purchase there anyway.

During the week of creation, God said every day was good, except on the second day where some say He didn’t create anything new, only divided.  However, seeing everything was good, He knew something was lacking.  In Genesis 2:18, God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone, I will make him a helper suitable for him.” And so, God made the best thing ever-females!  That’s great!  But as good as good is, and as wicked as bad is, change is on the way!

 Soon, after the righteous are rewarded, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb celebrated, the wicked judged, everything on this earth over and done with, after God wipes away every tear from our eyes, and death and sorrow, and crying and pain, is gone; and after all former things are passed away, He that sits upon the throne shall say, “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:4,5). 

Wickedness will be no more and God will no longer say, “It is good,” simply because everything will be excellent!  And we shall reign with Him who alone is Awesome!

Praise the LORD!
Sam

Recommended Songs: Goodness Of God, Jenn Johnson, So Good, Vineyard Worship, Awesome God, Rich Mullins

Some people have a great name, and it gets them to great places or helps them stay out of trouble!  Some people have a song in their heart which they sing when they’re happy or sad. The tune may help them through difficult times.  Still others, might have a dream which they’re holding on to in order to get where they need to go.  These are three things useful in life.

Hard to believe, but a bit over fifty years have transpired since the death of folk singer, Jim Croce, at age thirty.  His songs impacted lots of people in the short time he was popular.  And they still do. A favorite of mine, I Got A Name, deals with the three points above.

You may have a name you wished you didn’t.  Then again, you might love it.  You may have an old song that’s out of tune with those around you, but you still sing it.  Maybe your dream, as wrote poet, Langston Hughes, has dried up like a raisin in the sun, or maybe it’s deferred.

Regardless of your circumstances, as the late Jim Croce sang, “I got a name…and I’ll carry it with me like my daddy did.” I got a song…And I carry it with me and I sing it loud…I’ve got a dream…and you know I can share it if I wanted to…”

It’s a great song by a talented singer.  The lyrics, “Moving me down the highway, rolling me down the highway, moving ahead so life won’t pass me by” are the saddest part of his short life.

Like so many people, the singer wanted to enjoy all life offers before it passed him by.  Yet, it was cut short in an airplane crash.  There are no guarantees in life.  Tomorrow is elusive.  Don’t count on tomorrow to live and do what you can accomplish today.  For many, it never comes.

Christ has given us a new name; a new identity (Isaiah 62:2).  He’s put a new song in us (Psalm 40:3).  He’s given us dreams to dream and to fulfill (Jeremah 29:11; Joel 2:28). Enjoy your new name today! Sing out loud the song God has given you!  Fulfill your dreams ASAP!  God has done all that for us out of love.  Live in the moment.  Cherish each breath. Reach others for Him.  Keep moving before life p-a-s-s-e-s you by.

God Bless!
Sam

Harlem Langston Hughes, 1951; I Got a Name Jim Croce, 1973

Have you ever been passed by and left on the floor when others were asked to dance?  Maybe the creep stood you up (left you floored-in a negative way).  Maybe he had a lame excuse for leaving you hanging.   Growing up, we called someone who left you flat, a flat-leaver. 

Maybe your heart’s been broken so many times not even the best glue can piece it together.  Maybe you were at a game and you lost-bigtime.  No number of Life-Saver candies can save you. Maybe, as in my case, you’ve recently lost both friends and family members.  Even before we knew it, my wife’s oldest sister died New Year’s Day.  It’s easy to sing the Blues!

But we have a choice: Sing the Blues, Sit it out, or Dance it out!  Like a cat, we can lick our wounds, howl like a dog, roll in the mire like an oink-oink, or do something different.

Lee Ann Womack sang,                                                                                                                            

“Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,  And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance… I hope you dance (dance) I hope you dance (dance).”                                    

See, we can lament many things.  We can dwell on the bad and never move beyond the pain and hurt and sink into depression.  Satan loves that.  He doesn’t want us to prosper.  Nothing brings him more satisfaction than seeing people nearly destroyed or beaten down.

  We can sit it out because no one’s asked us to dance and wallow in misery feeling sorry for ourselves.  Oh, I know, the reasons are real and the pain unbearable. Feels like we might not even make it through the night, let alone face tomorrow.  Or, we can get up and dance alone.  Like a blind man’s sight restored, or a healed lame man, we can cast aside our cane, the staff, our walker or security blanket and leap for joy in dance before Him!

As you hit the floor in dance, you’re not alone!  God’s actually there with you!   He’s not a stiff!  He’s not a grumpy old man.  He’s not hunched over wearing a long gown with a beard reaching the floor!  He moves with you!  Put on your dancing shoes and rejoice in victory and dance before Him!  They’re not only acts of praise and thanksgiving, but an overflow of our gratitude within. Let God’s promises for a new tomorrow remove all doubt and unbelief from you today!  Allow His word to seal your heart with trust and confidence NOW!  Check it out:

“Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.  Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.  And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes” (Isaiah 35:4-7).

Rejoice before Him!

Sam

PS “Let them praise his name with dancing” (Psalms 149:3a). Recommended Song: I Hope You Dance Lee Ann Womack

Happiness comes as a result of happenstance, things that happen to us. A new purse, new shoes, vintage car, a promotion, etc. can bring us happiness.  Happiness is as temporal as the things that cause it.

Ever been excited about something? Really looking forward to it? Ever had a thrill?  Certain thoughts or circumstances can exhilarate us to where we can’t contain ourselves. Love can cause us to skip a beat when we walk. Knowing we’ll be seeing a loved one, can thrill us beyond words.

More than happiness, and alongside exhilaration, is joy.  When we have Jesus in our hearts we gain joy within our lives.  Joy is not happiness. Whereas happiness fades, joy remains because it’s God-produced.

From the time of creation till the time of Jesus’ death, the righteous dead, had been waiting for the Redeemer to remove them from Abraham’s Bosom, to Paradise, to be with God’s promised savior, the Anointed One!

Since before the creation of the world, Jesus knew He’d be dying for you and me.  The thrilling joy of seeing you led Him to the cross!  God knows the end from before the beginning of time!  He knew the requirements.  He knew He’d leave behind His powers, His deity, His riches and majesty, and all the glory He shared with the Godhead (John 17:5).  And though He suffered insults and beatings, “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

Our Savior underwent disfigurement, torment, open shame, crucifixion and death for us.  His joy extended beyond the cross; to what came next: The Resurrection! 

   Overpowering death and sin, and meeting the Father’s requirement for a perfect sacrifice, Jesus knew that He had sealed the deal!  All that were His, would remain with Him forevermore and no-one or nothing could ever separate them from Him!

Are you overflowing with joy knowing you’re loved?  Is gratitude overflowing from your heart?  No? Get it!  Yes? Share it! 

God Bless!
Sam

Recommended Song: Joy To the World (Unspeakable Joy) [Lyric Video] Chris Tomlin

Our house has lots of windows.  We have both true-divided and storm-resistant windows. While cleaning them can be a hassle, they serve their functions in shielding out the elements and offering protection.  Looking in allows others to get inside views.  In general, most people don’t want others looking inside their homes. We tend to keep them closed and wave at those outside. Looking through windows to the outside, allows us to choose when to do so and what to look at.  Either way, windows frame views.

Let’s look through some windows. Back on August 5th, 2020, I shared a post, Parts and Pieces, on the life of (the late) Elias.  Later, on August 23^rd, 2020, I featured a picture of his sister, Nadia, in Out on the Town.  Great memories.  This week (January 29, 2025), I learned from best-friend Gil, that Nadia went to a hospital last month and died the next day.  So sad!

This same week, I learned from best-friend Ray, that his wife of over 45 years, who I grew up with, and had recently been diagnosed with cancer (November, ‘24), passed away Weds. It’ll be tough on Ray and his three kids.

Since May, 2024, I’ve been writing my young, 47-year-old nephew, Abraham 3^rd when he made me aware that he had been diagnosed with cancer.  Numerous trips to the hospital for all types of complications, resulted in both his resilience to go on, and in his early death this morning (Sunday, February 2, 2025).  He leaves behind his wife and three teen/adult daughters, as well his mom.  Abraham, whom we’ve known as Pipo, all his life, had been a NY cop.  Most cops/firefighters originally assigned to NY’s Twin Tower-attacks, contacted various forms of cancer, and have died off.  After retiring, he moved his family to Florida.  Unfortunately, he left us too soon. They’ll all be missed!

These are windows no one is eager to look through.  They offer painful views, sadness, darkness, gloominess, loneliness, and to some, uncertainty.  This is when we need God to peek through the windows of our souls.  He’ll see us for what’s there.  He can wipe clean windows and undo the fogginess, thereby allowing His light to shine through.  Our eyes are windows to our souls, or, “The light of the body” (Matthew 6:22).

When we look out windows we may see good things like rain, snow, birds, animals, acts of kindness, sunshine, rainbows, and other great things.

In this previously used picture, our grandson is looking out to see his grandma leaving his house and bound for a flight home.  While it can be interpreted as sadness in seeing her go, it also reflects hope in seeing her return.

What do you see out your windows?  We can look out by faith and see God’s glory through them.  He’s there holding promises for us.  He’s there with outstretched arms waiting to hug us, to receive us.  He’s there waiting for us to take His hand as He’ll lead us to better things.

God does windows…

Sam

My, how hard it is to wait! We’re waiting to move and it’s hard waiting for the Lord’s green light.  Jesus said in Luke 19:13, “Occupy till I come.” Meaning, keep busy while you wait.

When waiting for news from afar, waiting can be trying. If you’re waiting for a loved ones’ return, days can turn into nights and all roll into one.  There’s a heartbreak movie we once saw and didn’t have the heart to watch again-Hachi. Waiting is really tough!  Watch at your own risk!

Maybe you’re waiting for healing.  Or maybe you’re waiting for God to send you that promised loved one.  He tests our mettle!  At this present moment, all of creation awaits God’s full deliverance from the curse of sin and death (Romans 8:19-23).

But, in victory, Jesus knows the time of His return for us is near and close at hand!  He too awaits the day when He’ll have us near Him for all eternity!   Just as we can’t wait to be near our daughters and grandkids, God looks forward to the long-awaited day when all His children will sit at His table!  Can you imagine?!  Sounds incredible, but soon, our waiting will be over!

Don’t despair!  He hasn’t forgotten you! Wait faithfully!

God Bless!

Sam

Recommended songs: Maranatha on High, 1997; Wait for Me Rebecca St. James Singers-I Waited for the Lord