Finding Laughter In Difficult Times

It was Thursday, January 19, 1978 when Gil and I went to a Pet Land store somewhere in Far Rockaway on train to buy some fish for my aquarium.  It was 20 degrees out, and as we waited on the El for the train, we saw flurries beginning to fall which suddenly picked up strength.  Soon, we had wipeout conditions.                              

I remember placing my bags of fish inside my army coat to shield them from the cold blasts.  We were amazed at seeing two trains arrive on the opposite platform and as they left, they’d disappear within 40 feet from us into a cloak of white powder.  The entire train seemed to vanish right into thin air!  It snowed all evening and night, giving us 13 inches of snow next day!  What a great and beautiful day that turned out to be!

We live in a world covered beneath cloaks.  Some wear cloaks of make-believe, hiding behind luxury, prosperity and success, when in fact, they’re poor and maybe failing miserably.  Others operate out of cloaks of deception. Their world is a bunch of lies, scams, and what-ifs.

Look around and you’ll see sickness, thefts, attacks, and killings, while others smile, show-off, and spend thousands and millions on everyday trash, sometimes, just to make sure they don’t have to share their wealth with those in despair, or what some consider “low-lives.” A cloak hides their greed and selfish ways. Some cloaks are fashionable, others, eh…

Today’s New Year’s Day!  We dress up, eat, drink, celebrate, and make plans for the coming year.   With God’s help, we’ll survive 2025, and can impact the lives of others in a positive way.

Behind the cloak of life, lies the cloak of suffering and death.  Thousands didn’t make it to this new year.  Their lives were cloaked from tomorrow.  Are you living under a cloak of suffering?  Or hiding under the cloak of worldliness?  Satan is the master at tailoring cloaks.  He knows our size and exactly what he wants us to wear.

My wife’s older sister died at 7 a.m. this morning.  Did so in her sleep.  She suffered from a lot of health issues.  But the one thing that kept her captive for over a decade was the cloak of depression.  She saw the death of her mom, brother, son, nephew, and friends one early January several years ago when her older brother, fearing he wouldn’t inherit anything, invited them over for dinner & then set them afire with matches and gas tanks stashed under the dining table. He killed about six family members and one fiancé who came from the states to meet the family before marrying into it…he operated under cloaks of deception and greed. 

In scripture, the prophet Elijah wore a cloak as a symbol of his prophetic authority.  In 2 Kings 2:8, he rolled up his cloak and struck the Jordan River with it, causing the waters to part.  Almost similar in fashion, a robe of righteousness, covers God’s children (Isaiah 61:10).  Do you have a cloak?   God’s cloak covers His own: “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).

No one knows what lies ahead.  Why not be cloaked with God’s favor?  There are millions of people that die unexpectedly-only to awake and find themselves an eternity away from God, and there’s no redirecting!  They have lost all their opportunities here on earth.  In Christ, we are made alive in 2025 and beyond! Let’s see what lies ahead!  “You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever” (Psalm 30:11,12)!

Happy New Year!

God Bless!
Sam

Throughout the late 1980s, and into the late 1990s, we discovered a little mouse in our house.  This particular mouse, dubbed the Christmas Mouse, wore clothing, sneakers, and spoke with a high-pitched squeaky voice.

Christmas Mouse was discovered one year when I commented something like, “We have a lot of gifts under the tree this year.”  Mousy said something like, “Yep! 37, to be exact.”  My wife and I were surprised and asked, “How do you know?” “Oh, I crawl under and around the tree every night to count them,” she squeaked!  “You do?!” we asked.  “Yep! Replied Mousey.  “What if we don’t add anymore on a particular day? I asked.  “That’s why I count them; to make sure the amount is correct.”

Kids will be kids!  I was just telling my mom and wife of some of our tales when growing up.  My brother and I would sneak around everywhere looking for things to discover not just at Christmastime, but all year round!

May you discover the riches of His glory on this day.  Be it snowing, windy, cold, rainy, or as we have it, hot in the Caribbean, His gift to you of ETERNAL LIFE awaits to be opened today!  No one is promised tomorrow!  Sadly, thousands don’t live to see another day.  Stop scurrying around for hidden cheese!  Don’t count the gifts; Visit the gift-giver!  He knows how many Christmases you’ve lived and how many trees you’ve visited, as well as how many gifts you’ve counted when no one was watching!  But He knows!  He’s got His eyes on you!

Unwrap His love and forgiveness now!  Live the best Christmas ever!

Merry Christmas!
Sam

House Mouse

Interesting that this fell on Christmas week! There’s a time for all of us to declare peace in our homes, in our neighborhoods, our workplace, and in our lives.

Since man lives in turmoil, God knowing it, sent His only Son to break confusion and the chaos surrounding us.

God came wrapped in swaddling cloths, ready to take on the world.  He entered earth in an unexpected fashion.  Although everyone enters through birth, His, was so different that the religious leaders were caught off guard.  He came via way of a virgin.  Therefore, no one suspected He’d come since no rich husband was known. 

They awaited news from some princely family where they’d be invited to a feast ladened with riches galore.  They probably couldn’t wait to lay their gold coins, trinkets, and clothing at its crib. Pomp and Circumstance would be the number played as they’d make their grand entrance.  They’d bow at the applause of the common people as they’d enter a palace to view and pay respects to the newborn king.  Each, presenting a costlier gift than the previous person. Someone, no doubt, wanted to present a fine Arabian horse, while someone else, would bring gold-studded sandals, and another, a diamond-encrusted shawl.

But as usual, God had other plans! When no one was looking, where no one would dare to stay, much less, look, God made His arrival.  Without any human hoopla, He gently took His place amongst the “humble and noble:” The shepherds!  He came to the lowly.  He came to the poor.  He came to those who’d believe in miracles!  Jesus came in the humblest possible way: A delicate fragile infant dependent upon His earthly parents and God’s faithfulness to guide His every step.

But before His entrance into the world, some 600 years earlier, God had plastered a marquee with an upcoming announcement:

“For unto us a child is born.  Unto us a Son is given; And the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6,7).

 Man’s life is riddled with sin, trouble, confusion, doubt, shame, and inner wars fighting for his soul.  The Father made His way to earth through His Son, Jesus, to undo the works of Satan and bring us everlasting peace within our lives.

May this Christmas be a Time of peace within your walls, and most importantly, within your soul.  Welcome Jesus into your life today.  He won’t come down a chimney wearing a red suit.  But He came down from heaven as the ultimate gift to mankind, later to die and shed His red blood for you.  He is your peace. 

And He says, “Come now, let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red as crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18).

Under the tree there’s a wrapped gift for you with your name on it.  It’s time to celebrate Jesus’ birth within your heart.  May His peace fill you the way vanilla potpourri’s scent fills a room from end-to-end.

It’s now the Time and Season to celebrate Peace On Earth

God Bless!
Merry Christmas!

Sam

“WAR, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing, I’ll say it again…” The line by Edwin Starr says it all well.  War isn’t good.  The song was originally intended for the Temptations to sing, but it was decided to have Edwin sing it as they wanted to alienate themselves somewhat from it being an anti-government issue.  It is a great song, though.  And although we may not like war because so many people get hurt and killed, war is a part of life.  God says there’s a time for it, so, it must be important.

People can take anything to an extreme.  Decades ago, a well-known religious denomination decided that the hymn, Onward Christian Soldier needed removal from their hymnals because war had no place in the church and Christian lifestyle.  But they were dead-wrong!  Everything about following Christ is about war.  That’s where so many people will get deceived by the enemy, because religious leaders will come proclaiming peace to everyone within a false church, and people will flock there.

The Church, the body of Christ-the one that identifies with Him, the one that listens to His voice and follows Him, is at war every day, all-day-long.  Every day we are called to war in prayer against the enemy.  Every day, we wage war in the heavenlies against dominions, principalities, against the forces of darkness.  We’re at war against the Prince of the Powers of the Airs.  “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm” (Ephesians 2:2; 6:12). 

The body of Christ wars against everything that opposes itself against the Most-High God for the souls of men.  Satan and his demonic host are on a nonstop quest to deceive people, to sift them dry of God’s truth and understanding so they won’t get saved.  Eons ago, Satan led a revolt in heaven and took with him one-third of all the angels, “which have been kept in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day” (Jude 6).  BUT WAIT!! It’s going to happen again!  Satan likes to take his battles straight to God and God will kick him out for good! Check it out:

“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found anymore in heaven.  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:7-9).

Heavenly war is always active.  Once, in the past, when the prophet Daniel prayed, his answer was immediately issued, but the demonic Prince of the kingdom of Persia, withstood God’s messenger for 21 days until Michael, one of the chief princes, went to his aid (Daniek 10:13).

And, what’s on the horizon for us?  Soon, the forces of darkness will gather for a most important war.  “They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings-and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers” (Revelation 17:14 NIV).

In a nutshell, today is the day to wage war in our prayer closets, on our knees, on our beds, and at our tables against the devil.

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse.  And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.  His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns…He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God…And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11-13,16).

This is the time to war, not against people, but against the demonic forces fueled by Satan.  Never let up, “be sober-minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Let’s hear that battle-cry!!

God Bless,

Sam

My, my, how many things we hate! Kids hate chores, husbands hate throwing out the trash, doing dishes, or cooking, some women hate doing laundry, some even hate cooking, men hate shopping, some people hate change, some hate socializing, kids might hate homework, etc.  But there are some real serious and justifiable things we hate in our lives and relationships. We’re to love one another, not hate each other. However, there are things we’re to hate like abuse, cheating, lying, etc. Unfortunately, we sometimes allow certain hateful things into our lives.  

We embrace things and customs God hates. God wants us to love our neighbors, but not to love this world.  That doesn’t mean not care for it.  It means not to love it above God, His plans for it, or to love its ways and what it offers.  “Love for the world is enmity with God” (James 4:4).

God expects us to hate all those things He Himself hates. We’re not to hate people!  Although we tend to make all types of distinctions of sins, to God, sin is sin; period. God doesn’t classify us by saying, “OK, please, all adulterers stand here; All liars, next to them.  Murderers, I want you here by my side.”

All humanity is conceived in sin and therefore worthy of death.  But God loved us to the point He redeemed us through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross and resurrection.  Sin separates us from God who is holy.  We are to hate sin but love the sinner.  When we begin to hate all fornicators, gays, thieves, etc. we stop demonstrating God’s love.  We’re to love people into God’s kingdom.  We’re not the ones who change anyone.  God does. He draws people to Jesus (John 6:44), and Jesus saves them. No one goes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). The Holy Spirit transforms our lives by convicting us of sin (John 16:8).   Does He want sinners to continue on their destructive paths? NOT AT ALL!  But loving them draws them to Christ who changes our lives.  It’s not for us to beat down others! It’s not for us to beat up on others either!  If we justify that, then, it’s perfectly well for others, including God to beat us up too!  Because we were once walking in sin too– “For as such were some of you” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

We’re to love what He loves, and the way He loves, and we’re to hate what He hates.

“These six things the LORD hates, seven are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community” (Proverbs 6:16-19).

These seven things are contained within one verse, but there are hosts of other things He hates.  He hates mockery, adultery, fornication, beastiality, homosexuality, pornography, perversion, boasting, gossip, etc.

God is definitely love, but He’s also a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29).

After Moses received God’s laws, 250 people led by a man named Korah went up against Moses. They accused him of several things.  Moses wanted the people to know who was really chosen by God to lead the nation, and told them they’d all find out the next day.

 “And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron saying, ‘Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment…And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods…and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation…And there came a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense” (Numbers 16:20,21,32, 33,36).

 Bottom line: A Time to Hate is an appropriate time to hate everything that opposes God and His standards.  If we agree with Him, we must stand on His side like the Israelites who feared God did.  Stand on the other side, and God’s wrath will swallow us up.  Why?  Doesn’t God love me and know my heart? The answer comes in one verse: “God is not a respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34). He has no favorites, and makes no exceptions to His standards and judgments.  Play with fire…get burned.

Until next time,

Sam

With all the things to do in life, God designated a time for us to love.  There are probably more love songs than just about any other type out there, except, maybe, heartbreak! But let’s give heartbreak a break!

Watch any documentary or any TV show where people have suffered loses whether through violence, death of a loved one, or natural disasters like fires, tornadoes, or hurricanes, etc.  and when strangers show up to help in some tangible way, there will always be tears of appreciation, of humility, and gratitude from the owners for those helping hands.  Whether it’s counselling, embracing, building, or lending a hand, or ear, love is always appreciated.  Those receiving aid never ask, “Are you republican or democrat?”  Or “What’s your religion?”  Simply, because love knows no bounds.

When love shows up, knocks at your door, and you let Him in, you may very well be entertaining angels (Hebrews 13:2).  When you and I have suffered any type of loses, help knocked at the door of our hearts.  Love came wrapped not only in a blanket, but in flesh and blood.  He didn’t ask who we were, or what our beliefs were; He already knew!  But it doesn’t matter anyhow, because God loves us whether we realize it or not.  He loves us whether our lives are falling apart, or intact. 

One of Satan’s greatest lies is getting us to believe we’re doing so well, that we don’t need God’s help.  But the all-knowing God (Omniscient God), saved us before we were born and before we knew hardship or luxury.  In fact, most of us who have friends or know people, are willing to defend them and vouch for them if we believe they’re innocent of a charge.  If we think they’re good people deserving some respect, we’ll stand up for them.  But if they cross us, betray us, talk behind our backs, we dump them.  But God overlooked all OUR faults and still decided to have Jesus die in our place so that we might live with Him at His place.

“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare die.  But God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:7,8).

That’s Love!

“Rushing waters cannot quench love; rivers can’t wash it away.  If someone gave all his estate in exchange for love, he would be laughed to utter shame” (Song of Solomon 8:7 CEB).  Nothing can ever stop it!  Why not?  Because “God is Love” (1 John 4:8).  The greatest of all gifts is love and that’s God Himself!

Love wraps bandages on injured people.  Love cared for a wounded, near-death Jew on the Jericho Road (Luke 10:25-37).  Love opened the eyes of the blind (John 9:6). Love caused the lame to leap with joy (Isaiah 35:6)!  Love went to the cross not for good and sinless people; but for vile, sinful, lying and murderous people.  You might draw the line here thinking, “Now wait just a minute boy, I ain’t no chicken, I says, I ain’t no chicken, boy; I’m a rooster.” Oops! Wrong line!  “Now wait just a minute!! I never killed anyone-yet.” That may be so, but you and I were not loving God.  We had ordinances written against us.  Meaning, we’re born guilty.  Many believe that had we been at the cross, we would have been cheering the soldiers on.  We were hating Him before knowing Him.   We surely weren’t loving Him: “We love him because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). “There is no one righteous, not even one: There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God” (Romans 3:10,11 NIV).  “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15).

Love took our sins upon Him becoming unrighteous so that we as sinners could take upon ourselves His righteousness.  “For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Love endured lies, accusations, disbelief, rumors, betrayal, abandonment, loneliness, shame, nakedness, and complete brokenness for us.  Ultimately, Love conquered sin and death at the cross.

Were this just a love story, we’d get Hallmark to feature it on TV. This is a death and life story.  It’s the only story letting others know that although they’re spiritually dead, they can be resurrected.  In other words, it’s not a story to remain within books to be read by few.  No, it’s to be shared with the world. It’s meant to bring joy to the world. Let’s love others.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him, shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).

God Bless,

Sam

I’ve shared on other occasions, I’m not much into speaking. Occasionally, I talk at home with my mom and wife, but that’s about it.  But with my wife lately, it’s felt somewhat like one-way conversations.  I’ll be watching TV and she’s either on her Kindle or on her iPhone reading away. When I speak, or ask questions, I get a lot of “Sure, Yeah, Uh-huh.”  Now and then she’ll look up and give me stares as if trying to catch up on my last words.  Hmm…Those are great times for me to ask, “Hey, can I order this?”  Should I buy????”  “Did you know we need…?”  In the hopes of getting a response like, “Sure, yeah…”

Reminds me of a radio commercial from NY some thirty-three years ago.  The man asks a series of questions such as, “Honey, have you seen my coat? (Honey): “In the closet Dear.”  (Man): Where did my gloves go?” (Honey): In the closet Dear.”  Man: Have you seen my scarf?” “In the closet Dear.” “What happened to my boots?” In the closet Dear.”  Hey, where would you like to have dinner tonight?” “In the closet Dear.”  I recorded it and played it for our worship leader, Mike about 2 decades ago.  He was 6’5” tall, and could never find his musical things.  He was always asking his wife, Belen, where all his things were; one-by- one.  Her reply was always, “Mike!” It’s in the black bag!”

Now, there are people that are nonstop talkers!  The type you can hang up the phone on, pick it up again a minute later and they’re still yapping away!  Reminds me of the title of an old song, Thank You falettinmebemiceelfagin (Translation: Thank you for letting me be myself again) by Sly and the Family Stone. This was way-before rap was out.                   Then there are some people whose words run all in one sentence as in the old McDonald’s commercials: (twoallbeefspecialsaucelettucecheesepicklesonionsonasesameseedbun).

YEP! We were tongue-tied! Everyone on the block was trying to get it right!

But God wants us to speak up when called for.  We can’t always stay quiet.  That’s why He’s designated a special time for speaking.  Let’s clear things up.  Let’s not leave unspoken words.  

He had His special time too.  Think of it:  When God speaks, He creates. He spoke the world and almost everything in it into existence, although, He did form every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air, as well as man (Genesis 2:19) with His hands!

You and I can speak in ways that uplift others and honors Him as well.  Easier said than done! But it’s needs to be done.  We can speak blessings and encouragement upon others.  Our words can speak life to a “dead” soul.  They can speak hope to a dying and hurting world.  God’s coming soon and it’s time to be ready before He speaks again!

“When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again, I will shake not only the earth, but the heavens also” (Hebrews12:26).

YIKES! He’s serious, and won’t be stuttering! Let’s listen to His voice!

Sam

Recommended Song: Hear My Voice by Lisa Bevill (God Calling)

Believe it or not, there’s a time to shut up!  Our students at school (in PR) did not know how to be silent!  I’d tell them when they were born, they didn’t utter goo-goo, ga-ga; they spoke sentences, fluidly! 

It is said that Silence is Golden.  It is! It’s a time to contemplate.  It’s a time to dwell on thoughts, on ideas; a time to reflect on life (Reflections of My Life, 1969by Marmalade). Silence hushes out distracting noises.  It welcomes solitude (Song of Solitude (Terry Talbot).  It allows serenity with God; Oneness with the Holy Trinity.

Ever sat in silence before a crackling fire, or by a window watching snow fall?  Ever sat in the snow in perfect silence?  It is so gentle; you can’t hear it. Yet, God speaks in the silence!  He speaks to our hearts!

Scripture welcomes silence.  It tells of when Job lost his ten kids, livestock, and health.  It tells how his friends went to visit him.  Job 2:11-13 says, “They cried out in lament, ripped their robes, and dumped dirt on their heads as a sign of their grief.  Then they sat with him on the ground.  Seven days and nights they sat there without saying a word.  They could see how rotten he felt, how deeply he was suffering.”

If only they had remained in silence!!  But as we know, not everyone can!  At least for a few minutes!                                                  Did you know people have recorded “songs” of nothing but silence?!  People paid for them only to hear several minutes of nothing!! Some artists even provided extended versions!!  It’s the kind of “music” I could snore to!

Does God care about silence?  Duh! That’s why it’s in His word. Scripture tells us:

“But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him” (Habakkuk 2:20).

Yes, we worship Him and we sing to Him, but we need to always remember whom we’re talking to and how to behave ourselves before Him.  We need to reverence Him.  Check it out:

“Quiet, everyone!  Shh! Silence before God.  Something’s afoot in his holy house.  He’s on the move! (Zechariah 2:13MSG).

Simon and Garfunkel in 1964 sang, Sounds of Silence on how we don’t communicate as we should with those around us.  God waits to hear us-even when we sit in silence!  He knows our thoughts and our inner concerns!  “Well, shut my mouth!” some have said.

Today, we sing Silent Night, Holy Night.  All is calm, all is bright. It paints a scene of calmness when snow gently falls and we’re within warm walls by a fireplace entranced by blinking Christmas lights enveloping us, and for a moment there’s peace around us.

 When all is lost or gone, can we still worship God? Some people think they always need cymbals, guitars, and drums as the only means of worshipping God, not so. The question, “Can you praise God when all is taken away?” is what prompted Matt Redman to write the song, A Heart of Worship. As the lyrics say: “When the music fades/All is stripped away/And I simply come/Longing just to bring/Something that’s of worth/That will bless Your heart….I’m coming back to a heart of worship”

Silence is so important, that in heaven where “..The four beast… rest not day and night, saying Holy, holy, holy LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8) worship God incessantly, suddenly cease as there was silence in heaven for thirty minutes (Revelation 8:1)!  

Today is the time to be silent not just to those around us, or to situations on all sides, but before God also.  Amen!

Get your vocals ready!
God Bless!
Sam

Whether one rends their clothing, rends friendship with the world (James 4:4), or God rends the heavens, it’s now time to put things together.  It’s time to sew or mend.

Recently, I texted our youngest daughter about a picture my wife and I were looking for, which I know I had sent. Unable to find it, she sent me this message:

“Would it be on you and me thread?  Me, you and Mami thread? Me, you and Milky thread? Me, you, Milky and Andy thread?  Me, you, and Andy thread? Me, you, Milky, Andy, and Mami thread?”

I responded with, “I can’t find it on any thread! Not even the needle!”  Talk about finding a needle in a haystack!

Lots of threads, no needle, therefore, little sewing!  Scripture tells us there’s a time to stitch things up. We can’t just rend and rend.  There must be a time to sew things up.  Every one of these topics, confirms there are two sides to every coin.  Life isn’t only about the good all the way, or the bad forever.  There’s a combination of both. Lots of people can’t cope with life because maybe they’re used to always having things going their way.  They don’t know hardship.  Some may not even know what labor/work is.  Maybe everything’s been handed to them.  When trials come, they fold.

On the other hand, some people are so accustomed to everything going wrong, they can’t fathom a change.  That’s why these “Times” were written; to give us hope.

Well, our son had a girlfriend-an extremely jealous one.  After seeing a picture of another girl on his phone, without asking who she was, etc. she took a pair of scissors and cut up about 65 of his jeans, like those with more holes than material!  There was no way to sew those guys up!  She may have started the holey pants movement!  I think buyers say, “Hey, I’m gonna buy me some holes with denim on them!” Maybe they’re a good example of rending and sewing!

But that’s a tragic cultural thing here.  Unlike in the states where 2-3 people can go for a cup of coffee, or where people can have friends of the opposite sex, that doesn’t happen here.  Even as boyfriends, each knows they’re bound by unwritten laws that stipulate “you’re mine until I say so, and God help you if you’re with anyone else.”  That’s why one reads so many tragic stories of females gone missing and the number one suspect usually being the ex.

So, we can repair relationships.  We can mend old ways.  Mending fences, or patching things up with others can be the start of something good.  What about sewing our torn ways with God?  Adam and Eve failed Him!  They disobeyed His command to stay away from the Tree of Good and Evil and when they realized their sin, they were ashamed and sewed fig leaves to hide their nakedness before God (Genesis 2:16; 3:4-7).  So much for becoming like God knowing good and evil!  We can do better now that we know the consequences of sin.

God also wants us to be wise in how we sew/mend.  The Bee Gees sang, How Can You Mend a Broken Heart? And, Fanny (Be Tender with My Love) (1971, 1975 respectively).  Let’s mend broken hearts!  But what about MY broken heart?  Who’s going to mend it?        “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.  The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken” (Psalms 34:18-20).                              He’s got you covered. Find your thread!  Sew with knowledge.  If that’s your gift, sew with joy to the Lord!   Laugh! He’ll have you in stitches!

God Bless,

Sam

Recommended Song: Song Of A Broken Heart by Casting Crowns

A time to rend refers to taking apart or to tearing. In the Old Testament, when someone said something ridiculous, outrageous, or blasphemous, religious leaders would often rend their garments in disgust or as a sign of the seriousness of the offense.

There’s a time to rend; to break away from stumbling blocks. God wants us to rend from things offensive to Him.  He wants us to know there’s a designated time-slot, if you will, to take a stand against everything opposed to the Gospel, and tear it off you.  Rending unhealthy relationship, isn’t easy.  Breaking from everything around us that maybe at some point in our lives made us comfortable, but now cause us to blush, is difficult to part with. It usually means turning away from old friends and acquaintances; even changing our old habits and ways of thinking. In a nutshell, rending becomes a defining moment in our lives.  The BIG question becomes: Is He worth giving up all these things for? Or, is He as unimportant as the guru two states over? 

Things that hinder our spiritual growth need not continue reigning in our lives. God tells us “I am the True Vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away: men gather them, and cast them into the fire” (John 15:1, 8).  It’s time to rend from our lives things that don’t benefit us and ought to be burnt off.

A lot of people think they can sweeten up God with their good looks, suave ways, smooth talk, etc.  What many don’t realize is that, just, sweet-talking isn’t going to work with an irate parent, It won’t with God either, because when He shows up at the end of our lives, He’s coming with fire and judgment.  The time for sweet stuff is now while we’re under His Grace and Mercy-and comes through by means of repentance on our behalf; not when indignation and destruction will be served:

“They too will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.  They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb” (Revelation 14:10)

If He spared not important people, such as King Saul, where does that leave us without Jesus’s intersession?  In the previous post, we saw he was disobedient to God-which brought about unexpected results:

“And Samuel said to unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day and hath given it to a neighbour that is better than thou” (1 Samuel 15:28).

Yep, God stripped Saul of his kingdom and gave it to a man of obedience; to a man after His own heart: David.

So, let’s rend with those seemingly unimportant, but life-changing issues which turn out to be important ways which hinder our growth.  Remember that He’s on His way with His rewards (Revelations 22:12), and, where will that leave the unsaved and enemies of God?

“Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!  As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you” (Isaiah 64:1, 2 NIV)!

YIKES!!  You DON’T want to be on that side of the fence! Time to move on!

God Bless,

Sam