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I remember as a small kid drinking Kool-Aid. I liked it but the biggest drawback was the ton of sugar needed to make it desirable. That was before they introduced the pre-sweetened type. One thing I enjoyed was when the juice was almost all gone, as I drank, the sugary water would slowly pour into my mouth as I held the cup bottoms-up for a while. One day I was excited to show my mom what was flowing into my mouth. When she saw it, she said, “Ah, next time as you’re almost done, shake it some. So, the next time as I was nearing the end of my juicy experience, I remembered her words and shook the cup. It swirled around and I held my cup, bottom up high, closed my eyes to enjoy that sugary rush, and nothing came out! I was disappointed! I showed mom and she said, “Good, that is what you wanted, right?” I said “NO!” “I wanted more sugar, not less!” Now I had to wait for the next time!
Sometimes shaking things up doesn’t give us what we’re expecting. Jesus came to shake things up. Before His time on earth, people were like that sugar at the bottom of my cup: clumped, dissatisfied with their lives, comfortable with knowing that their parents had once served God, but satisfied that they didn’t really need Him in theirs. During their lifetime, they grew tired and bored with “serving” God. “It is weariness,” they claimed ( Malachi 1:13).
But when Jesus came to earth, He was known as a radical. He took matters He stirred the people, He challenged them to live the law more than simply know the law. He took things even further. He often said, “You have heard…but I say…”(5:38).
Why? Because He wanted the people to know that it wasn’t about being religious like saying, “I’m a Lion’s fan because my father was one, my mom, my uncle…” He wanted them to act like a lion, become a lion. In other words, live the law. Live the Word, etc. This Christmas, do more than be religious. Live like Christ. Give of yourself like He did. He gave His life a ransom for us (Matthew 20:28). He was born to shake things up. He’s coming back and He will definitely shake things this time around. You’ll want to be on His side when that happens.
“Whose voice then shook the earth: but now has promised, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also the heavens: (Hebrews 12:26). For those on His side, life will be sweet.
Merry Christmas!
God Bless!
Sam

The Big Job truck from Christmas, 1964

Kids love playing in the snow! Mixing fresh snow with what’s already on the ground for good snowballs is not uncommon. So scenic it is to see a field completely blanketed in snow and maybe a small cabin in the distance flanked by a few withered-looking trees. There’s a peaceful-quiet resting upon the land. Silence hushes over the scene. Like a silent movie, kids can be seen moving about chasing, jumping, diving, throwing, etc. looking like silhouettes against a blinding backdrop of the white, powdery stuff.
Our lives are quite the opposite: noisy, sometimes loud, hectic, stressful, and for sure, filthy, blotched with the stain of sin. A stain that cannot be removed by any effort known to man. Not even Ivory Soap with 99 44/100% potency could get the job done. God, however, has known for all eternity that only one stain-remover is “Highly” recommended: Jesus’ shed blood. How can blood remove sin? you might ask. How can something red remove filth? His shed blood covered all of humanity’s sins. His sacrificial love for you wiped away your penalties. He’s made you clean & whole. Jesus says, “Come, let us reason together, though your sins be red as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be as crimson, they shall be white as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). Picture that scene again. God’s grace upon your life is like a field blanketed in fresh-dropped snow; virgin snow-not a footprint in. It’s ready for fun. It’s ready for new experiences. Dive in, leave your footprints. Bask in the stillness, lay on your back and feel those flurries falling on your face. Enjoy the peace that only The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) can give. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
Make this Christmas not a Santa, reindeer, and elf-place, but a Heavenly Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit-¬¬place. As great as commercial Christmas is with all the colors and décor, the true meaning lies elsewhere: The birth of a Savior, Jesus, Emmanuel-God with us.

Merry Christmas!!

God Bless,

Sam

Growing up I think most of us went through the same things: wanting to look older when we were young, and trying to look young as we aged. Decades ago, I read from a newspaper columnist a reply to a concerned reader, a young girl, about her age. The reply was something like: Don’t be afraid to say you’re 14, you’ll be 21 for many years to come…. We’re concerned with our looks-which is normal, however, some people are obsessed with it. I remember hearing comedian Phyllis Diller saying something like: This afternoon I noticed my panty-hose had fallen and wrinkled around my ankles-then I remembered I wasn’t wearing any! Yep, most of us want to look “Forever Young.” Don’t think creams and ointments are going to change anything in your appearance! Yes, they’ll help, but aging is inevitable! Things can help us look young, but no one has dibs on staying young. I recently sent my cousin a picture of one of our past Christmas dinners and she wrote back “Was that at your house, we all looked soooo young!” I replied, “Yes it was, we look so young because we were young!” The picture was from Christmas 2000.
We can see a TV character and instantly recognize how they’ve changed from a few years before. Change, transformation, aging, whatever we want to call it, will happen to all of us. The fountain of youth dried up in the Garden of Eden. It did so when sin was introduced through disobedience to God’s Word, to His commands.
Wouldn’t you like to retain your good looks? Wouldn’t it be great to keep all your teeth, all your hair-in the right places, all your smooth, young-looking skin? Wouldn’t it be great to feel no pain? Imagine being 648 years old and being able to see things in the distance just as well as when you were 12? Imagine your skin being wrinkle-free at age 18,000,962, and being able to remember everything you learned? Imagine recognizing everyone you know?? But WAIT!!! If this offer sounds too good to be true….it isn’t!! That’s right!! Not only is this all possible but that’s just the tip of the (soon-melting) iceberg! Render your life to Jesus NOW, serve Him, and He will grant you ETERNAL Life!! You don’t have to wait until you “kick the bucket,” to “pass on”, or to “drop dead” to begin your free subscription to everlasting life! You’ll start now and if you die before He returns, you’ll flow right into it from the moment you breathe your last breath on earth. He is the Fountain of Life. He’s not available in cream, ointment, or even pills, but you can drink His Living Water and you can eat the Bread of Life. Just call His Name and tell Him to abide in your heart. Make room this Christmas in the inn of your life, invite Him in to the inn of your heart. That will be your best Christmas present ever!
Look me up at the gathering table in heaven. I’d like to hear your story.
Merry Christmas!!
God Bless!
Sam

It’s a nice song by Carroll King. Anticipation keeps us on the alert of things being waited on. As the saying goes, “A watched pot will not boil.” While we’re busy looking at the clock or waiting by the phone for a call or text to come, time seems to lag. My mom says that when I was 4, I asked early in the afternoon when Santa would come. She told me he’d come in _the night. But I didn’t quite understand that. She then said, “After you go to sleep.” So, it was a no-brainer for me, I put on my PJs and she asked what I was doing. I told her I was going to sleep! It was 4 pm!
Sometimes we want to speed things up. We want to expedite them; we want to rush them. Some things we need allow to happen at their pace. Take Thanksgiving Day. We actually have all day to thank God for His manifold blessings-and trials. If we’re in a rush, we can begin thanking Him beforehand-anytime we please. In fact, start now.
Christmas is around the corner and maybe you’re thinking of how it isn’t here yet. It will be here before you know it! Make sure your reasons for rushing it is for worshipping Him. The first thing the Magi did, was not give Him all the treasures they had brought. Most of us would have done that. We would have wanted to impress Joseph & Mary with the gold, incense, and myrrh. We would have said, “Ehh, what-da-y’all think??” “Nice, heh?” “We’ve brought them from hundreds of miles away…” But instead, they worshipped Jesus even though He was a baby that didn’t understand what was being said or what was going on. Worship is what the King deserves. Later on, we can share gifts and food, etc.
He’s in no rush, never has been. Galatians 4:4 & 5 tells us: “But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his son made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” God is always patient.
He has all things under control. Our times are in His hands (Psalms 31:15). Relax, rest, & slow down. Now, hurry up and get yourself ready for the birthday of the soon-coming King of Kings and LORD of Lords!
God Bless,
Merry Christmas!
Sam

Like a tornado that’s miles from touchdown, or an impending snow blizzard about to hit, or even the dark skies just before a volcano erupts, such darkness and gloom can overwhelm those around it. Such has been the spiritual condition of mankind for centuries since sin entered this world. Warnings from God through prophets and judges went ignored. Not even a universal flood which wiped out over a billion people could cause humanity to turn from its sins and bow before the God who made them.
Some two thousand years ago, the gloom of darkness continued to hover over the minds of men. Ritual-after-ritual would not take away the act of sinning. They sufficed for the moment. They appeased God’s requirements. But a spiritual hunger remained. A darkness loomed. A thirst for more of God lingered within the human soul.
In this darkness, God sent His Son to be born of a virgin-the only way to keep sin out of the picture. With the virgin-birth came Hope for the world. Jesus, AKA. Emmanuel, God with us, saw and knew the pain of darkness among men. The Prince of Peace was here. He came to change the lives of men at that very moment, and in the long run.
Years later, Jesus would proclaim, “If anyone is thirsty let him come to me….I am the bread of life…I am the light of the world…” These words He shared because only He could meet those needs in mankind. True Christmas is Christ come to the world to save its most precious inhabitants: you and me.
Merry Christmas!
God Bless!
Sam

What’s life like up in the mountains away from most of civilization? Let’s see. Last week, beginning on Sunday, November 7, power went out in the evening all the way through to Monday morning: 17 hours total of running our backup generator. Power gets restored. Lasts less than four hours. It goes again for 19 hours, 45 minutes until Tuesday morning. Two and a half hours later, gone again. Fixed again, and gone again. This time for 26. 5 hours.
Before power left, I was feeling my throat itching. Next day it was pretty bad. By the third day, I knew I was sick. With the generator going, my wife and I had to run down to get more diesel. Finally, Weds, Nov. 10, power was restored for good. Restoration came after 7 p.m. and since the generator continues running for 100 seconds after power returns, the neighbors down below were holding their breaths. Suddenly the generator turned off and I could hear a bunch of neighbors say, “YAY!” and clap as it was now official our ordeal was over. It’s interesting that our generator always performs a 5-minute self-diagnosis Thursdays at 1 p.m. I’m pretty sure that when it went off some neighbors may have thought: “Not Again!!”
The cold however, is still going strong-12 days later as it pours outside. Finally healed after a total of 17 days. Nevertheless, we thank God for our generator-and for His protection. How was your week? Remember to thank God for the little stuff too, runny nose, cozying by the fire, tv movies…etc.
Today we’ll be enjoying our traditional yellow (red) rice with pigeon peas (gandules), turkey, gravy, pasteles, green peas, green beans, carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, pumpkin pie, apple pie, brownies, ice cream, Ruffles, etc. and wash it down with Pepsi/water.
“O give thanks to the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. O give thanks to the God of gods: for his mercy endureth forever. O give thanks to the LORD of lords: for his mercy endureth forever. To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth forever. And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth forever. Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth forever”
(Psalm 136:1-3, 24, 25).
God Bless,
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sam

    Some years back on TV I watched all these strong guys play around with heavy duty things.  Some wore refrigerators and stoves as knapsacks. Others, like the Flintstones, lifted car frames and walked around like we did with empty boxes as kids on Romper Room.  They carry truck batteries, pull trains, toss steel or cement balls like marbles for fun.

    These are the guys you can picture at a counter laughing and telling jokes.  One is on your right & the other on your left.  As the jesting continues, one places his hand on your suspenders and the other pats you on the back causing you to go flying through a wall while your drink flies up in the air and when you reach the end of your sling, your suspenders snap you right back like a jet in time to catch your cup and take a drink! “GOOD, EH?”  they say as you gulp and try to recover from your sudden trip.  When they give you a high-five, they send you flying through windows and landing across the lawn. 

   Yep, they’re strong alright. They have legs built like concrete pilings, bulging muscles, and necks larger than my thighs.  But what if there was a different type of contest?  What if there was a “Weak-man’s Competition?  Something only for weaklings. 

   Can you imagine?  Who would win?  Let’s see.  You’d have the Q-Tip lift, the Match-Car lift.  They’d lift toothpicks, matchsticks and probably cry, howl, or faint from paper cuts!  They’d have to see who could toss a Frisbee and have it land completely behind them. Or who can carry a few whiffle balls!

   These are the guys that get sand kicked in their faces all the time.  They’re the ones built like toothpicks, in fact, they’d probably snap easily.  They’re the ones whose muscles droop down the farthest and they would probably be the most impressive!

   There would be the paper airplane flying competition, house of card building, carrying the least amount of water droplet in an eyedropper, and we can’t forget the ultimate swimming-  pool noodle challenge where individuals would battle opponents “to-the-end” from a height of 2 inches off the ground for the prestigious All-Around Weakling Award.

   Our society is all about strength, mighty deeds, great looks, bodies to-die-for, stiff muscles, stiff hairdos, chiseled jaws, buns of steel, etc.

   However, God isn’t impressed by all that, at least not for His kingdom.  He doesn’t want our strengths causing us to think we have saved ourselves or that through our power and self-sufficiencies we have acquired our salvation.

    Man, in general, wants to be in control.  We want to show off our accomplishments, how long we can hold our breath, how long we can pray for, how much we know, how holy we are, etc. Those things lead us to believe we’ve reached God because of things we’ve done.  It separates us from others who have done less. God wants our dependency on Him alone.            

   He did the sacrifice. He bore our sins. He died for us-we didn’t.  Therefore, our strengths are of no value to Him.  Neither is our wisdom, though He’ll use these later in life once we acknowledge Who’s in charge.

     Scripture tells us “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom; and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong; He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. Let him who boast boast in the Lord” (1Corinthians 1:25-31).

If we’re going to brag, let’s brag about what God has done in us, not how strong we are or how amazing we were to resist a temptation, etc.

   I don’t want to sound as one who has a flaky (potato) chip on my shoulder, but come on, I’ll arm-wrestle you, just don’t squeeze too hard.  I don’t want to break a nail.

God Bless,

Sam

About twelve years ago, my wife and I were at a Disney Park when a “total stranger” came up to me and greeted me. I stared at him wondering if I knew him. After asking how I was doing, he explained where he knew me from. We had worked together for a short time, maybe for a year, at an elementary school in Brooklyn, NY.
I looked hard at him but nothing rang a bell. I’m good at names and at remembering people, events, etc. But this man was no one I knew…he then told me he had gained tens of pounds. OK, I thought. Then I looked up at him and that’s when he told me he used to have hair some 15 years earlier when we worked together. Little by little I began to construct an image and to remember him.
Ever run into someone you think you may have met or known from the past? From another life? Another planet? From your dreams, but just can’t quite put your finger on?? As they’re yapping away, you’re not hearing much, you’re trying to place them somewhere. It’s normal.
My wife and I have enjoyed watching Undercover Boss-a TV program where CEOs and bosses dress up or down with varying disguises to infiltrate their own companies to see what goes on. All of them give up their comforts in the likes of thousand-dollar leather chairs and/or mahogany desks, for jeans, overalls, regular dresses, etc. to go pack items, drive fork lifts, etc. Some, have been criticized by their very workers for their incompetence in their new assignments. The bosses soon learn how difficult most of the work is.
In almost every episode, the bosses come across workers with special situations such as having a special-needs child, facing foreclosure, or having lost a loved one, etc. One particular show shared a young manager of a coffee/doughnut business who was very successful. As both manger and boss spoke about the secret of his success, the manager looked out across the glass door and pointed to a bridge saying that it all began back there. Puzzled, the boss asked what that meant. The young man shared how he had been homeless living under that bridge for 2 or more years unable to get back on his feet. Everyday he would visit the very shop he now managed for coffee and would ask the manager to hire him. After a while, he did. He now treated every client with respect, not forgetting where he came from and grateful for being hired. Mr. Boss could not believe it.
Each boss ended up calling those workers to the headquarters for a brief meeting. They didn’t know why they were summoned. Sometimes, the bosses would be recognized, most times they weren’t. Most of the times the bosses gave out tens of thousands of dollars to those workers facing hardship for medical reasons, for a vacation, for education, etc. One guy even gave a young mom over $250,000 for a new home!
Scripture shares a very similar story. Two thousand years ago, God in His infinite wisdom took on flesh and came to dwell amongst us (John 1:1, 14; 1Timothy 3:16). He was unrecognizable. He didn’t wear a wig or overalls, not even fake tattoos. From a Spiritual being, He became a man subject to everything human. Those He came for had no clue He was the very God they worshipped. He was the very God they prayed to, the very One they taught their kids about. He knew by heart every scripture they referred to because He was the very Word they studied. (John 1:1, 14).
Just as the undercover bosses left their comforts, Jesus left His glory, His riches, and His throne to live with us. Scripture tells us that He emptied Himself-Kenosis from the Greek (Philippians 2:7,8). That means He put aside His equality with God, the Father to complete His task. He knew once finished; He’d gain it all back again.
Jesus knows your trials and mine. If you think you need to tell Him yours, go ahead. He’s listening. He has blessed us with all types of gifts, trials, and blessings.
Like the TV program, He’ll be calling you for a meeting. Which will you hear Him say? “_ Well done, good and faithful servant,” or “I never knew you: depart from me, you who work iniquity;” (Matthew 25:21; 7:23)
This Undercover Boss, the Unrecognizable One has been revealed to the world over two thousand years ago yet many have never seen Him. His identity is revealed throughout scriptures (“Search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And you will not come to me that you might have life” (John 5:39).
Talk to Him just as you talk to anyone else. No need to yell or scream or to get religious in your talk. No need for “Thou or Thee.” He speaks and understands your language-even your silence. He knows your heart. Invite Him into your life that you might get His life into yours. He will make you a NEW person. You might like or love yourself, and think you’re OK, but God says, “There is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10). On the other hand, the “YOU” you may not like, the “YOU” you might hate, even the ugliness in your life, Jesus will wipe clean and give you a brand-new start. Live for Him.
God Bless,
Sam

As a teacher in New York, I remember having a few special assemblies where an invited company of artists and story tellers would come and performs plays and share stories through shadowboxes. They were very interesting. Who doesn’t like shadows?! As kids we used to play with them. We’d take a few steps and our shadow would be in front of us. Sometimes it was on our sides or behind us. Sometimes it was short and other times, tall.
There are people who like to imitate others-impersonators, and that’s good. Back in 1972 the guys on the block would enjoy watching and then talking about the TV show, The Kopycats. It was a show where actor/comedian Rich Little and others would impersonate characters of the day including presidents like Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. Then, there are other people living under the shadows of others. By under the shadows, I mean they don’t seem to have a life of their own. They eat, drink, sleep, and imitate a particular person to the point that they’ve lost who they are. To the point that they have no life. They’re obsessed. They’re living under the shadow of someone else.
In life there have been great people willing to live in the shadows of someone greater because they’ve wanted the other person to succeed or to shine without them getting in their way. It is said that behind the great reformer, Martin Luther, there was his friend Phillip Melanchton who was somewhat the opposite of what Luther was like. While Luther was ‘On the go” always energetic and outspoken, Melanchton helped him by tempering his energetic ways. That’s commendable, wanting to stay out of the spotlight.
Bette Midler’s song, Wind Beneath My Wings says,
“It must have been cold there in my shadow To never have sunlight on your face You were content to let me shine…”
It points out how a behind-the-scenes person is content to empower someone else while simultaneously staying in the dark. Yet there are others wanting the spotlight, to the point they stop thinking for themselves.
In life there are shadows that follow us! They don’t walk through our front doors and take a seat. Instead, they are shadows of troubles, of pain, of gossip, of injuries, of hurt, of guilt, etc. David Crowder Band sings (Shadows featuring Lecrae) of “When shadows fall on us, We will not fear, We will remember the cost (of the cross),” and will rest in its shadows. He shares how God will bring dark into light. There’s no need to fear shadows if we understand the cost of the cross and the purpose behind the sacrifice.
In the book The Shadow of the Almighty, Elizabeth Elliot, wife of one of five young missionaries, Jim Elliot, shares the experiences they encountered on their mission trip among the Auca Indians of Ecuador in the mid-1950s. From initial contact to being brutally murdered, she shares how their lives were hid under the shadow of Almighty God. Despite the shadows, God had a purpose in this (apparent) tragedy. It’s a must-read book or must-see movie (End of the Spear).
Since life casts all types of shadows on us we need to remember a larger one was cast upon Christ as probably the entire host of hell was upon Him making sure He died millions of times over, so He would never be an issue to them again. Though He died for tens of billions of people, he died only once: “But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12). Though it cost Him His life, we can be confident He will remove all shadows haunting us, and only His Light will be present in the age to come.
If you’re living under someone’s shadows by pretending to be that person, come out! God has endowed you with sufficient gifts and abilities to stand on your own. If you’re working behind the scenes, not wanting that person’s glory, great! God will recompense you in due time. However, if you’re fearing shadows of turmoil, failure, lack of confidence, hide under His Wings (Psalm 17:8). Cast your fears upon Him, run into His arms like a child runs to a loved one. He will catch you and will hug those fears away. To be under His Shadows is to be safe within His arms. Do not live under someone else’s shadows. Live under His Shadow. “He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).
God Bless!
Sam

Ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao-tzu said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” It’s so true! We tend to think, “A thousand miles?!” Are you crazy?? and won’t want to even try. Just the thought of all that walking can cause our feet to swell! There’s something about a walk-short or long. Like walking around one’s neighborhood or in a park or a lake, or down abandoned train tracks. A line from the 1972 song, Ventura Highway (America) goes, “Chewing on a piece of grass walking down the road…” conveying a relaxed, worry-free feeling that comes with a brisk walk. It’s one I can relate to when, in high school I would walk with a piece of grass 2 ¾ miles to school in the mornings and back home after track practice.

In a different type of walk, there are thousands of people out there saying they have “tried” Jesus, but He didn’t work out. Most likely, those people tried Jesus according to a church group’s rules or from a solo perspective. From a church group, they tried keeping a to-do list as well as a not-to-do list. From a solo perspective, most would say they tried their best at being good and pleasing God. Neither way will bring satisfactory results. When trying to follow a list one tends to want to get it all done as fast as possible.
Walking with God is not a walk in the park. It’s a journey. It might be a thousand miles or it may be several million miles. The point is it’s not mileage points that count, or how many miles-to-the gallon one gets. It’s about the walk itself. This is a lifetime commitment. Like marriage, your life and understanding will change the longer you walk with your spouse, or in this case, with God.
We can’t rush a lifetime walk. We can’t condense it into a few weeks and then expect miraculous results to start pouring in.
Enoch’s walk with God was so pleasing to Him that God translated him to heaven without dying (Genesis 5:24). With Elijah, God sent a chariot of fire with horses of fire and without dying, Elijah went to heaven in a whirlwind (2Kings 2:11). Since no one else has had this type of experience, it’s not likely you will either-unless of course, we’re around when God calls us all home in the Rapture of the church! In this walk with God there will be many obstacles. We need to keep our focus on Jesus. It’s not about getting rich, having great looks, being popular, or knowing it all. If we do have these features, great, but they’re not important at this point. So, what is? It’s your integrity, your commitment to God and others. It’s about faithfulness to God and to those depending on us. It’s about truthfulness. It’s about worshiping God and believing in Him.
In the movie, The Walk the true-story is told about Philippe Petit’s daring attempt to tightrope walk across the brand-new NY Twin Towers in the 1970s. If you watch the movie, you’ll see as all obstacles are cleared from his mind and how his focus becomes clearer as he sees his goal: the other side. Similar to our daily obstacles and tumbles in life, Philippe tunes out every sound below and is able to lie on his back and rise to his feet with nothing to hold on to. He was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of walking in the heights.
You and I can walk in the high places too. “The Lord God is my strength, and he has made my feet like hind’s feet, and makes me walk on my high places” (Habakkuk 3:19). Our life is not in this world. Our walk is in the spiritual realm where our battles also take place. But we can’t walk with our heads in the clouds and ignore our feet in the world. We need to be real here on earth. But our focus needs to be in heaven. When we serve Him, he translates us from here to the heavenly realm. (God) “has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13,14). Begin your journey.
God Bless!
Sam