My life experiences in the good times and in very difficult times will hopefully inspire, encourage, and motivate others to take time to laugh, reflect, and seek God when difficulties in life arise.
Reminiscent of my little cabin in the woods, I sit across my fireplace. Wrapped in an Indian blanket, I grab a ‘cuppa’ hot chocolate and a great book to read. Glancing out the bay window seat, the weather outside appears threatening. But before me, flames soar as a crackling fire displays irregular images upon the hearth. In the distance, faintly, I hear the radiator hissing. Tsss, tss, clang, clang go the pipes as little heat creeps into my rooms. But it’s the fireplace flames that provide real warmth and sets the ambience as the heat triggers the aroma of the cedar paneling surrounding me. Everything is toasty warm, and though I’m far from the boondocks, it seems like I’m there.
The barren trees outside remind me of the season I so love. I can see the winds galloping in the distance. A cardboard box is snatched and flown about like a lost kite. Up, up it flies before getting pasted to a building wall. For now, it’s safe, but another wallop, and it’s scattered about again, like our lives when untethered to the Lord.
“He makes the storms calm, so that the waves thereof are still” (Psalms 107:29).
The heavy snowfall blankets the area. Scarves offer little protection; as do umbrellas…But for me, taking refuge and shelter within these walls shield me from the harm and cold that lies beyond. I glance at my wagon wheel bench and take comfort in its ruggedness and in old collectibles: an antique Bible, worn saddle, Indian blankets, furs, and rifle which offer security at moments like these. Evening soon falls, darkness emerges, and in the midst of this storm, I return to my book about surviving internal storms. I take comfort and refuge in the One who created all things; the One who provides shelter in outside storms, as well as in those within us.
“God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
I have read poems and stories that are matchless. There are places that seem ageless, and works of art that are priceless. And there is human love, which is limitless. And then there is God and His everlasting love which is, selfless. His pursuit, tireless.
Where is our focus? Are our goals futile? Our pursuits selfish? Our motives self-centered? Are our accomplishments eternal? Will our dreams withstand the test of time? Can we even grasp the concept of time? Can our works endure the rigors of time? Can time outlast time? All we do occurs within time frames. Time dictates all things. It waits for nothing and respects no-one.
Time has existed for centuries, for eons. No-one controls it. No one stores it. No one detains it or advances it. In our lifetime there are so many things to do, we sometimes don’t get to them all, which may have prompted the late singer, Jim Croce, to write, “If I could save time in a bottle…”
We all would love holding, controlling, or manipulating time. As important and fleeting as it is; as priceless as it is, it isn’t endless. God controls our times which are in his hands (Psalms 31:15). He will soon cast time out the window, so-to-speak.
Time will be no more! Since sin will no longer exist, neither sickness; and death will not rule over us. Night will forever be gone and weariness abolished. Our ‘days’ will go on forever. Our current lives of suffering will seem but a speck in time which shall get brushed off, and then will vanish for eternity. Soon we will be with our loved ones and will meet billions of brothers and sisters in Christ. We’ll be able to communicate with each other without hinderance. Fellowshipping and worshipping will take place with the Godhead eternally with nothing but goodness. In a word, it will be… timeless.
I enjoy watching the movie, The Polar Express. From the train itself, to the action-packed ride, I think it’s a great movie. Towards the end, the main character, unable to hear the sound of the bell due to his unbelief, desperately cries out saying, “I believe, I believe, I believe.” Santa then tells him, “The true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart.”
So, we just celebrated Christmas and now we’re on our way to a new year. What will happen in your life the next eleven and a half months? Here’s a suggestion: Seek to find peace in your heart. However, if you realize you’re having difficulty doing so, because you’re not yet a believer and you’re not hearing God’s voice, then cry out to Him, “I believe, I believe, I believe,” and as you listen for His voice, He will tell you, “…If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved” (Romans 10:9). And so, you’ll have Christmas in your life all year long.
Where will that take you? Remember the conductor’s words, “When it comes to trains, it doesn’t matter where it’s going, it’s deciding to get on.” In life you need to board God’s train this new year. Guaranteed, as in the movie, you’re in for a ride zooming up and down as fast as lightning on the steepest and longest downhill ride of this world-with Jesus! Though, sometimes you’ll be docked in the train yard seemingly forever.
Caution: sometimes you’ll feel like you’ll be jumping the tracks when things get tough, but He’ll always be there to hold your hand on the train ride. Because you believe, you’ll be able to hear the trumpet sound which only His sealed believers will hear. And, at the right time, He’ll welcome you into His presence, not at the North Pole, but beyond, at His heavenly home.
Snow covered the ground. Freezing winds cut my face. I stooped lower on my bike protecting my eyes-the only thing exposed on my face. The balaclava kept me warm. Whistling winds whipped around me howling over the dark-grey skies. Lonely trees in the distance echoed winter’s presence. Slowly riding by, I could see the oncoming frost and cold blast. Battling the frigid cold my thoughts raced to a crackling fire in the living room fireplace. Back to reality, in spite of the onslaught of gusts, flurries, and cold, I pressed-on to my destination enjoying the otherwise silence that only snow can bring.
The act of giving comes from the love of God. All humans have a portion of God within. Many don’t know it. When we give, whether we know God or not, we’re imitating Him. At the start of 1994, our NY-based church, Metro, added a second-story to their storage room to fit their Christmas stockings. They had had 39,000 stockings for boys and girls, and were expecting to double that number by the next year, which they did. We were allowed to take some for kids we knew or to distribute. I calculated enough for my students, all the kindergarteners ,and first and second graders. Each group picked a day and time to visit our room, receive a stocking (red for girls, green for boys), and to have their class picture taken in front of our tree. A few teachers also joined in! My students, in addition to having their pics taken also received gifts from me. And all Paraprofessionals would yearly receive a huge Rome apple-the largest I could find. I’d shine it up and pass them out. Additionally, each student was allowed to bring to class their favorite stuffed animal to have by their side each day during the Christmas season-regardless of their grade (first -fourth). Because God has deposited His goodness in us, in general, we’ve inherited inklings from Him to give to others. God’s the most generous being in/out of this universe. We give to be like Him. Givers love to give-every chance we can! This new year, be a giver (or give more)! You’ll get unbeatable satisfaction! God loves giving and loves a cheerful giver (original rendering: God loves a hilarious giver- 2Corinthians 9:7)! Merry Christmas! Sam
After gifts were added, students and groups posed in front of tree
It was on the evening of January 14, 1978 that the guys on the block were headed to a small party at Edgar’s house. Edgar grew up with us, along with his two brothers. The day was frigid cold at 32 degrees and the roads were all iced-up. Light snow was falling. Sidewalks had fresh-fallen snow, actually, 13.7” of it and the air was sharp and frigid. As we walked, the winds bit our faces. As silence filled the air, Gil and I headed to Edgar’s apartment. The rest of the guys would arrive later. There, in a crib, we saw Edgar’s new baby boy. Wow, he had the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen!
We chatted a while, drank and ate, as music played in the background. Later, we headed out. The weather kept us from getting gifts, but our presence did due-diligence. Whether small or big, parties are good for mingling, and, if it’s Christmastime, for exchanging gifts.
Though no one knows the exact time of Jesus’ birth, we do know of the events that transpired. Probably a year after the first Christmas, Wise Men from the East journeyed in search of the Messiah, Jesus, and after being guided by a star, found Him nearly two years after His birth. I know this may seem odd because it’s not what ‘tradition’ teaches, but it’s what the Bible says.
It is also possible there were up to a hundred Wisemen in the group. Scripture never mentions three wisemen; tradition does. Check it out:
“Now when Jesus (Yeshua) was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wisemen from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him” (Matthew 2:1-3).
Verse 11 reads: “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold and frankincense, and myrrh.”
Notice a few things:
1. Jesus was already born.
2. He was found in a house, not the manger
3. He wasn’t a baby but a child.
4. They worshipped Him, not Mary
Scripture says:
“Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wisemen, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wisemen” (Matthew 2:16).
The reason King Herod had children ages two and under killed is because Jesus would have been in that age range when found by the wise men and the lapsing time. Herod wanted to kill Jesus, which isn’t too different from what man wants to do today. In the spirit of the holiday, Christ has been killed off by Santa. Santa gets all the glory. Afterall, “Magical things happen at Christmas through Santa,” they say. Man tries everything possible to silence Jesus’ followers and His message of salvation. Think of it. Commercialized Christmas is prettier and more festive than a poor and humble couple with a small child in unappealing quarters. The manger had no colorful lights, no background music, drinks or food, and no Christmas tree. Not much of a party…
But the Wise men found the savior! And the first thing they did? No, they didn’t give Him gifts! Instead, they knelt and worshipped Him! They acknowledged His Kingship. They didn’t even worship Joseph, just the child; the Son of the Most-High God.
This Christmas season whether you party or not, gift or not, whether it’s freezing, snowing, or you’re in the Caribbean, remember the true meaning of Christmas is giving. God gave us His most beloved treasure-His Son to save us. He gave us not a hundred kings not even three; but One; The King of Kings (Revelation 19:6)! If you too have been traveling long and far, and have seen His star (signs in your life that you need to find Him), He’s here! Worship Him! Then lay your treasures (your life, hopes, dreams, and your family) at His feet.
I remember the many years going Christmas shopping with my parents. In the early years it was for toys for cousins, brothers, and nephews. As we grew older, we shopped for clothing. I remember the cold and the winds beating upon us as my brother and I waited for our parents in front of a building stoop on Moore Street. My parents would return loaded with gifts, drop them off into a large box we had, and then return for more. One time, we probably waited two hours all bundled up. We then had to walk home lugging the loaded box.
At home, the coats, scarves, boots, and gloves came off. The nice heat from the radiator warmed us up. We’d have hot chocolate while our parents had coffee. The gifts were then wrapped, labeled, and placed under our tree.
Thousands of years ago, God went shopping. In fact, He’s been trying to get us back to Him since Adam and Eve sinned, but we have rejected Him ever since. He’s sent prophets, kings, and judges, but we’ve rejected them all. Two thousand years ago He sent His Perfect Son to look for us poor lost souls. In spite of the cold, the snow, the ice, the frost, the wind, and the sin that thwarted man from making his way to God, Jesus searched for just the right gift to take home to the Father. The Godhead concluded All of humanity deserved being taken back to the Father.
And so, Jesus paid our ransomed price! The cost was not cash, credit cards, bars of gold, silver, or even crypto! The cost called for perfect, untainted blood- an impossible price for man to pay, but God in His infinite wisdom was able to pull it off through Jesus’s life and perfect blood; untainted by sin. The Perfect Lamb of God, Jesus, through the virgin birth, entered humanity but without sin.
Thirty-three years later, He laid His life on the cross after saying, “I’ll take them all” (John 3:16). And so, He died for us all taking our souls to the tree and nailing us and our sinful nature to the cross. He then presented us to the Father.
However, not everyone wants to be wrapped in the blood of Christ! Not everyone wants to be presented as a gift to God! Some people think they’re too good-they think they can make it on their own-but they CAN’T DO IT! And others think they’re not good enough. They think He doesn’t want them. But you’re the perfect gift for the Father! He loves you unconditionally! That means YOU are precious to Him No Matter What you’ve done or where you’ve been! Give yourself to Him, He’s made you righteous through Christ.
“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).
This Christmas, will you place yourself under the tree? Will you lay down your life as a sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1)? God has a new name for you (Revelation 2:17)-might even be scripted on a stocking hanging on His fireplace…
I love Christmas colors of red, green, and gold Against a backdrop of white; I’m sold! Love the bells and Christmas balls,
The crisp fresh air as snow lightly falls! I love the trinkets and items of old, They calm my nerves, let it be told!
Sparkling lights glimmer signs of hope, Lifting my spirits, helping me cope. My tree they infuse with serenity and calm It’s truly therapeutic; what a balm!
I love the cold outside And the warmth from the fireside Sweet smells of apple and cinnamon Beckon people to stop by and come in!
Christmastime is unequalled in beauty! With blizzards and snowstorms in all their fury. Warmth, coziness, family and friends, Timeless memories that’ll never end.
Antique décor of years gone by Pull my heart and cause me to cry Tears of joy and satisfaction; Of Christmastime gatherings Amidst all the distraction.
Wonderful colors reminiscent of Christ’s birth, Who left heaven’s glory for this fallen earth. Red for His blood, green for renewed life, Gold for His crown of victory over death! White for the purity of all that it’s worth!
I love the silence that envelopes me As snow-swirls dance forever free! Christmastime is here! With Christ, there’s nothing to fear!
