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When I was about 4, I remember one day my knee hurting. I hugged it close to me and said to my mom, “Me huele” (h is slient; short e sounds). My mom, who was sweeping/mopping, stopped, smelled it, and said, “I don’t smell anything.” I looked at her and then repeated my statement. She then said, “O, te duele.” “Huele” means smells, while “duele” means hurts. It was hurting and in need of TLC.
We’re a people hurting in different ways and hurting all over. Pain is not a friend. Even when it’s emotional or mental, it hurts. What if we could be done with pain? What if we could rid it forever? Imagine no one ever hurting us again. Imagine us not saying the wrong words again. Imagine not hurting others in any particular way, ever.
While Israel awaited a savior to physically deliver them from their enemies, God had other plans. Let’s see it this way: Suppose you finally rid your house of pests-rodents, ants, etc. You’d rejoice! When you’d think of your mortgage…you’d know you’re really not free. God wanted to bring freedom to Israel and to the world not only from its enemies, but from one hidden enemy invisible to the naked eye: sin.
God’s plan has always been to get ‘His baby back,” if you will.
The one thing that’s always hanging over us is a sinful nature. No one can escape it. It’s at work in our lives nonstop. Sin separated us from God in the garden. It hurt Him dearly.

Once a year, Israelites offered to God a sacrifice for the sins of the people-a spotless (perfect) lamb. That’s why Jesus, being God, came to earth by way of the Holy Spirit overshadowing Mary so as not to contaminate the seed. He came without sin. He lived without sin. His cousin John, at seeing Him said, “Behold, the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
Being the perfect sacrifice, Jesus died in our place and freed us once and for all from the grip of sin. It was a horrendous death. If He moved, His nailed feet wouldn’t allow it. When He tried to shift His weight, He couldn’t. Tried to stretch His arms, they were nailed in place. He couldn’t stop the flow of the blood running down His face from the thorny crown. Yet, through it all, it is believed He whispered your name and mine. Definitely, You were on His mind. It was His love for you that kept Him up there. You see, He could have chosen a different way to die, but didn’t. He could have chosen any time in history, yet chose the one He did. He chose to hurt over us to remind us that true love hurts and that true love is based on sacrifice. His sin offering is free for the asking. No, He won’t die again, and no, it isn’t automatic. You need to repent of your ways and like a prize, claim it.
How much time do you have? “For God…is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2Peter 3:9b). Time is running out. Today is the day of salvation. What a great testimony to say, “I gave my heart to Jesus on Good Friday.”
There will be no pain or suffering in heaven!
God Bless,
Sam

Remember those early days of your teenage years? Especially those when you were young and in love? There were butterflies in the tummy, feelings of nervousness. Maybe you were anxious and had feelings of anxiety. There were days of puppy-love, of falling in love for the first time. Days when you wondered if you were going to be liked. You wondered if he’d find you pretty, or good-looking. Or, maybe you were in love for the umpteenth time and still were uncertain of the future. Those years of growing up were tough ones!
But maybe somethings haven’t changed! You might still be uncertain of the future. Doubt, fear, assurance, etc. can linger when one is in love.
I remember feelings brought about by love songs of my day.
I remember the words: “Can it be I stayed away too long; did I leave your heart while I was gone?” (The Jackson 5-I Want to Be Where You Are).
I remember how my heart jumped when I saw that special girl. I remember the churning in my stomach, the butterflies, the insecurities, gathering my nerves to speak, at the same time, having the desires to hide! All symptoms of love. It’s amazing, but one can hear a particular song that will automatically place us 20, 30, or 50 years back in time to special moments and special places. We get transported back to where we were, how we felt, things we said. We instantly become young again. We relive occasions we may have forgotten about. We picture everything from scents to clothing, to feelings and thoughts perhaps buried under layers of memories and different, or new experiences.
Love songs can remind us of painful past experiences as well as tender loving moments. We might recall falling in love, getting engaged, even married, or breaking up and lots of heartaches. Loving moments can be extremely vivid.
Those experiences/memories help shape how we now love others. New and great love songs can heal our past. They can push us ahead to where we currently are in life; to where we live. How’s your heart? Is it rejoicing with newfound love? Is it still reeling? Is it crying about days gone by- years gone by?
I remember a poem of long ago that went:
“I once had a heart and it was true but now it is gone from me to you. Take care of it as I have done ‘Cause you have two and I have none.”
Maybe, that’s where you find yourself these days: broken, taken advantage of, beating yourself with one of those mechanical legs attached to a rope you pull on and it gives you a swift kick right in the but-tushki.
I hear you. God can feel your pain.
Be of good courage, greater days lie ahead.
Like a clock ticking away telling time, our hearts beat and pulse to the rhythm of love. Try singing this song
“Lord, I give You my heart, I give You my soul,
I live for You alone. And every breath I take,
Every moment I’m awake, Lord, have Your way in me.”
(Hillsong Worship-This Is My Desire).
Although Chief Joseph died of “A Broken Heart,” it didn’t compare to Jesus.’ Jesus had His heart broken by the entire world. God’s heart also was shattered.
Yet with a loving heart and open arms, He still loves you and waits for you. His Valentine’s message to you is: “My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways” (Proverbs 23:26). Let Him know you love Him today. It’s fine if you ate the chocolates, He only wants the heart.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
God Bless,
Sam

Softly we ran through the snow. It was a game of two-hand touch football. The snow was 16” deep. The winds howled. Hail rained on us. We ducked our heads and took giant steps in and out of the snow. We covered a few feet of ground with each run before feeling the exhaustion. As we tried to look up, the cold snow bit into our faces. Ice-cold winds cut deep into the skin. We stuck our tongues out and tasted flurries. But we trudged on. We passed the ball, we tackled each other. It wasn’t about winning; it was about fun. It was about seeing how far we could get by raising our legs as high as possible to take one step. We fell on our faces. We fell on our backs. We stared at the skies with nearly-closed eyes and swallowed the silence around us.
Our heads felt as if we were spinning. It was as if we were in a movie where the camera man is circling around us capturing our every move. We could stay there all day had it not been for our freezing feet. Hail beat upon us and we shielded our faces with our freezing hands. Our pinkish ears felt like they might fall off. Then we laughed! We screamed! We knew that in the silence no one could hear us. “I’m heading home to warm up” I said. “Me too!” said another. “Yep!” was the consensus. No score and no losers, for we were all winners. We had tasted the coolness of snow. We had basked in its chill. We had rested in its depths. We had looked into God’s treasures of snow and hail; we had felt His Hand upon us (Job 38:22).
Have you been touched by His hand? Have you fallen on your face before Him? Have you entered into His secret rooms? Do you know Him well enough to share your secrets with Him?
When you do, you’ll want to bask in His presence. You’ll want to lay on your back and feel His caress. You’ll feel His touch upon your face. You’ll be a winner, but only after you lose yourself in Him. You’ll feel yourself spinning in circles. God’s always there; always here like a cameraman admiring you from every angle. He can’t get enough of you! Go ahead, laugh, scream with joy and excitement because He loves you! The One whose treasures include snow and hail, has you at the top of His list! He also has treasures of blessings in disguise for you. Let Him snow upon you! Throw the ball, take a shot. He’s making a pass, go deep. Catch it!
Now go home and warm up. Get ready for tomorrow; more snow is on the way.
God bless!
Sam

One wintry day back in ’76 or ’77. I rode to work as usual with around 6” of snow on the ground. My ride on Bushwick Ave. totaled about three miles each way. It was cold and windy. I wore my large army coat which repelled water and snow. It was great for fighting the wind-chill-factor. On my back I carried an army knapsack. It was rugged and strong. It carried extra clothing for the weather as well as emergency items.
On the way home that afternoon, we were getting hit by a snowstorm expecting another 10” making visibility very difficult. My ride from Flushing Avenue to Myrtle Avenue was an uphill one. After that it leveled out for the next two miles before going uphill again. Aware that I could not ride the bike, I began walking home. Just past Myrtle, a motorist, trudging along at about 5 mph. and finding himself right next to me, leaned over, lowered his passenger-side window, and said, “Oh, I see, some people walk their dog, but you walk your bike!” Dumbfounded, and before I could explain, he laughed and moved on.
Sometimes, our walks are long. Sometimes, they’re through pouring rain. Other times, they may be through scorching heat. They might even be like that day, through a storm. Whether you’re walking through puddles (lots of tears), deserts (finances dried up), snow drifts (bills mounting), or slush (all stressed out), remember these famous lyrics of long ago:
“And he walks with me and he talks with me And he tells me I am his own And the joy we share as I tarry there None other has ever known.”
Jesus makes the walk more pleasant-whether you’re walking a dog or walking a bike. And while He’s there walking beside you, allow Him to carry your knapsack loaded with your worries, problems, and sins. He’s going your way. Above all, remember to laugh in the midst of your storm.
*In the Garden by C. Austin Miles, 1913
God Bless!
Sam

There I was face to face with my enemy. White, plastic sword in my hand. Directly opposite me stood my brother Ruben. Unlike other times when I faced off with my little brother, Nelson, three years younger, whom I defeated several times over, slicing and dicing him to smithereens, Ruben was taller and eleven years my senior.
“On Guard!” we yelled. Crisscross, up, down, straight, zig-zag, diagonally we tried to slice the other off. I was El Zorro; he was a vigilante. Our living room was our stadium, our battleground. Minutes went by. We moved in my direction, then in his. I tried cornering him but his height and arm-reach were greater than mine. I climbed on the sofa, then jumped down again. “Give up” we said. “I’ll slice you to pieces,” said the other. “Down, you dog!” we said. Round and round we danced daring the other to give up. As more minutes went by it was evident this would not be an easy fight, not for an 11-year-old. This was a quality sword not some cheap $.25 blade. It had won many battles and this was an epic match.
Sparring was in our blood and soon someone’s blood would be spilt. “Aha! take this” said Ruben and suddenly, my sword was slashed in two! He thrust the ball-point at the end of his sword into my heart and blood in the form of laughter poured out as I fell on the sofa! We had a good laugh and Ruben was the new champ. Now it was time to admit defeat and trash my sword. My fifty-cent sword had come a long way; It had experienced many fights.
We are commanded in Scripture to “Take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17) to fight against, and conquer the opposing forces of evil.
On Guard!
God Bless,
Sam

With a pillow at my back, I lean against the bay window seat gazing out at the snow swirls. Softly it falls. White and soft, fluffy and gently it lands without making a sound. Powdery-white trees surround my home. Branches beautifully display God’s creativity. A hallow silence is echoed throughout the land. Beauty is frozen in time available for all to behold, for all to cherish.
Holding a soft pillow to my cheek I take in its pleasant scent as I drift (like the snow) between bouts of sleep and daydreams of the goodness of God. As the fire crackles and flames dance, I think of His gentleness, of how He calms everything. He calms our fears and qualms.
Like gentle falling snow, the Holy Spirit settles upon our lives stilling our nerves, changing our inner environment, and like a fresh blanket of snow that hides dirty grounds and filthy streets, He makes of us a beautiful wonderland. Like the fire in a fireplace, He warms our hearts.
God Bless,
Sam

Twinkling lights shine bright
On a cold, dark, snowy night.
Logs aglow in the fireplace,
Send heat and warmth upon my face.
Clenched blanket wrapped around me tightly,
As twinkling lights shine ever-so brightly.
Serene stillness & peace envelope me,
Priceless beauty as only snow can be

God Bless!
Sam

Utter blackness on a moonless night,
A zillion stars swept the skies.
As God stooped into humankind,
Glory and riches left behind.
Mary birthed the giver of life
Joseph tended the needs of his dear wife.
Darkness was pierced by a baby’s cries,
Catching the busy world by surprise.

God Bless!
Sam

It was our high school senior year and we were getting ready for our yearbook pictures. We were all given the address, but most of us were confused. The location was very near the school, yet no one had ever seen a photo studio there. Nevertheless, we went. What happened was photographers rented an old, abandoned building.
When I walked in, I kind of bumped into a guy all dressed up in a nice suit. We both quickly turned around and apologized to each other. I thought this was the photographer. I then noticed he was a fellow student, Ramos. Turns out, the students were all dressed up-unrecognizable to each other, yet the photographers were all dressed down. Hippie-looking, they quickly took our shots and off we were.
New suits hid the students. Nice hairdos camouflaged the old selves. “Wow!” we said to one another. “Didn’t know you could look this good,” some said. “Yeah man, it’s just for a dumb picture, you know?” others said. Here we were facing the reality that in a few months we’d be kicked out of school-something we were excited about but at the same time nervous for. Mandatory draft had just ended before our 18th birthdays and some of us were relieved. We could now focus on our dreams and the future.
That was the 1970s. It was when a song was released, Garden Party by Ricky Nelson. I thought it was nice song. I told my mom about it and she actually knew about the singer! I couldn’t believe it. She told me he had been like an Elvis Presley, a Rock & Roller who joined the service, came home, no longer felt like rocking, and no one recognized him anymore, ‘cause he didn’t look the same or felt the same as in earlier years. She had some of the facts right. He did go to a Madison Square Garden concert to sing his songs. No more a clean-cut version of himself, but a long-haired fella, he tried pleasing the crowd. However, the fans only wanted his old hits-not new songs. They even booed him off the stage. That’s life. We can’t please everybody.
Some people tend to picture God as an old man in a long robe giving out commands in His deep, baritone voice. NOT! He never changes (Hebrews 13:8), He’s always the same! Doesn’t age! He’s eternally the same in every way! Shouldn’t be hard to identify Him.
However, He came to earth as Jesus. He dressed in a suit of flesh. He lived amongst us yet no one recognized Him. He spoke the Word, spoke of God the Father, performed miracles, yet men were clueless. “From where does he get this wisdom and the power to perform these miracles?” they asked (Mark 6:2).
Growing up, I remember reading the short fortunes that would come with Bazooka gums at the end of the comic strips (remember those?). One said, “Wear a different face tomorrow and see what happens.” Great advice. Here’s something a bit better. Give your life to God and he will dress you in righteousness: “And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 5:24).
God will dress you with His holiness-a new suit, if you will. Friends and family will be surprised when they “bump” into you. You’ll be a different person. Some will want you to be the way you used to be, to sing the songs of old. They’ll want you to return to the old man. They’ll boo you. That’s ok. You can walk off the stage of the old life and on to a new platform.
The ugly sin that we inherited at birth will get replaced by God’s love and grace. It won’t be temporary, but eternal. Not just for the “picture- moment,” but for as long as you continue to honor God and to walk in obedience to His Word and will. You’ll graduate to becoming a New Creation” (2Corinthians 5:17).
Start this year following His dreams and the future He has for you (Jeremiah 29:11). In fact, get drafted into His Army, into His Kingdom.
God Bless!
Happy New Year!
Sam

Author, my mom, little brother (back), brother Ruben

Most People associate love with the month of February, but real unconditional love comes in December. Christmas exudes Agape love. It’s perfect, pure, and sacrificial love. It expects nothing in return. Two centuries ago, love came down from heaven to live amongst us. God became man to redeem man. Love came wrapped in a blanket. It came in a baby’s cries. Love came in the most-humble of ways. Mary didn’t travel 80-100 miles in a luxurious limousine to a 5-star hotel suite. She traveled the distance by animal over rough terrain to a minus 5-star inn. Nazareth wasn’t a high-end place either. It was considered lowly, as in poverty, as in filth. It was looked down upon as a ghetto. Hence, Nathaniel said, “Can anything good come from Nazareth” (John 1:46). Humanity loves the high places. We love accolades. We love recognition, we like the pat on the back. We like entertaining to the point that we might get invited back. We give to get. We love working to get somewhere. We work to gain. There are plenty of exceptions, but in general, that’s us. That’s where Christianity distinguishes itself from all other religions. God made sure Jesus, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the richest-ever, laid it all down to be born in the most-humblest of places, a manger. He had the most-simplest accommodations, His birth was witnessed by the lowly: shepherds and animals, and had His arrival obscured versus headlined in the local papers(!).
True love, God’s love, doesn’t sound a trumpet for the things it does. True love flourishes in obscurity. It thrives amongst the most-needy, it honors God in obedience, it doesn’t seek its own, it sacrifices for the needs of others, it doesn’t grumble if its quarters are an inn-a smelly inn. True love is willing to die for others. As missionary leaders at our church in Brooklyn, N.Y. our pastor made it clear we were to donate to, or help those individuals/organizations that couldn’t in any way pay us back. God came wrapped in flesh. Walked humbly amongst His creation. He shared His love everywhere He went. He healed the sick, delivered the demonic-possessed, forgave sins, and did the ultimate: showed the world how much He loved them by willingly laying His life for us all. Christmas is the time of love. Whether you’re outside making snowballs, inside baking muffins, roasting lechon, wrapped in a blanket by the fireside watching the snow covering the earth, cooking for 1 or for for 100, or out in the Caribbean kayaking, wrap your arms around God and thank Him for Jesus. Wrap your love around those you meet. Lay your life at the tree like Christ did. See humanity the way the Godhead does: lost souls needing a Savior. Celebrate this Christmas with renewed hope, and perspective. God knows all your needs, hurts, and wants. He also wants you to understand that life is more than what we perceive or touch. Feel the needs and hurts of others and do your best to meet them. That’s true Christmas. Those are the finest gifts.
“Whoever shall confess that Jesus (Yeshua) is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love; and he that dwells in love, dwells in God, and God in him” 1John 4:15, 16).
Merry Christmas!!

God Bless!

Sam

Christmas tree 2021