Finding Laughter In Difficult Times

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I recently read two stories in the news filled with Thanksgiving charm.  Pouring out our life for others is the epitome of God’s selfless love.  These are the type of stories that have God written all over.  When you read them, you immediately think of God, and you feel Him.  Recent stories like that of Jamal Hinton and Wanda Dench, and Jaylan Lockhart and Guy Miller are really inspiring.  They truly set the stage for what true love and respect is.

I’ve been following Jamal and Wanda’s story for several years now, and it’s always inspiring.  It all began when Dench sent Hinton an invite-message by error-meant for her grandson. He asked if he could still attend anyway, and she consented.  What does, and doesn’t’ make it such a great story, is that she’s white-American, and he’s black-American (African American).  Of course, that shouldn’t be an issue at all, and it isn’t.  But in today’s world filled with hate and violence, being of two racial backgrounds and becoming family at the time of Thanksgiving, makes a great imprint in our lives, and demonstrates that love surpasses racial/cultural differences.

Although, after 8 years of meeting face-to-face, this year was different for Wanda Dench due to cancer treatments.  The fact remains that she was willing to receive him into her house and family, and her was willing to attend and become part of her family too.  Love and respect, caring and honor go hand in hand.  He’s a great young man with a great head on his shoulders in the midst of a falling apart world.

In another story, Jalan Lockhart was doing his postal rounds when he saw Guy Miller (75) lose balance, fall and hit his head.  Lockhart quickly turned around, got help, went to Guy’s aid, and made sure he was taken care of.  Afterwards, Mr. Miller invited Mr. Lockhart over for Thanksgiving. 

As in the first story, different nationalities played a part in this story too, with Miller being a white male and Lockhart, an African American male.  In both stories, bonds were formed, friendship forged, and strangers became instant family members.  To the one whose life is saved, caring on behalf of others, means everything.  Acceptance is the first step in loving others.  Mrs. Drench gained a “grandson” in Jamal, and Guy gained a life-saving family member.  Everyone’s family instantly grew through acts of kindness.

Loving God begins with loving others.  Yet, hundreds of millions of people will wonder why they won’t be invited, not to Thanksgiving, but to God’s House (forever) for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7). “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen” (John 4:20)?  Simply put, “No love for others, means no love for God, and no love from God.” In other words, “You ain’t goin.”

Thanksgiving is the season for being grateful to God, and these two families are. This is also the time to display love to others-another point in these stories. If we can’t stand others, and we can’t love others, we’re missing all of God’s message: “Beloved, love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God” (1 John 4:7).

The world needs more caring people and stronger bonds between strangers.  Thanking God and loving His creation, go hand in hand.  Lip-service doesn’t jibe with God-no matter how holy one considers themselves to be.  It’s all about doing it. You have to live out your salvation.  “The proof is in the pudding.”  Hmmm, think I’ll have some now with ice cream.

Happy Thanksgiving, again!
Sam

Recommended song: Teach Me How to Love, Debbie Boone (Choose Life)

Most of us at some point in our lives have been in freezing weather conditions.  The cold blasts nearly take off one’s ears and nose. Hair feels frozen solid, while hands and feet are like blocks of ice and losing movement.  Yet, some people like being frozen while others, not so much.  On the topic of frozen, let’s move inside a second.

Last night we were watching an episode of Foods that Made America. It dealt with Thanksgiving and of course, with turkeys. In the early years, how to make a frozen turkey maintain its juices, was a feat not understood at the time. Through trial and error, it was solved.  Turkey, overall, is a dry meat, especially, its white meat.  The topic prompted my wife to share a cooking tip as well as a memory I’ve previously shared.  

My wife shared a basic difference between how some Americans prepare their turkeys and how overall, Puerto Ricans prepare ours. “Some Americans will defrost their turkeys, season them, and refreeze them again until cooking time,” she said.  “We, on the other hand, defrost them, season them, and refrigerate them until cooking time.  This allows for the juices from the seasonings to spread throughout, allowing for a juicier-tasting turkey,” she said.  At that moment, we both remembered our friend, Mrs. B. and laughed! 

See, Mrs. B. is American living here in Puerto Rico for decades. When she came to our Thanksgiving dinner several years ago, she was delighted and thrilled at the delicious taste of my wife Viv’s turkey gravy! She couldn’t get enough of it! The meat was soft and tender and rich in taste.  Before leaving, Mrs. B. took home some gravy in a plastic container, and after removing everything from her purse, she stuffed it there.  “When I got home, some of the gravy had spilt in the purse!” she shared. “I wasn’t going to let that go to waste-uh, uh!” she said.  “I tipped the purse over and drank that juicy gravy!” she told Viv. It was a good laugh!

While some people prefer frozen, some of us like it plenty juicy, and soft and tender.  Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks to God for all His plentiful blessings, as well as a time for stirring up great memories and making new ones!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sam

About twenty years ago, we were at our local K-Mart store and my wife happened to win a turkey!  Problem was, K-Mart didn’t carry turkeys. So, we were sent on a wild turkey hunt.  We drove out several miles, about 20 or so in search of our “FREE” grand prize.  Found a local K-Mart that would honor the coupon, but they didn’t.  They sent us to another location which wasn’t the place either.  Supposedly, we were looking for a K-Mart that was a Super-store with fridges and a full grocery department.  Seemed like that turkey was flying away whenever it saw us.  Finally, we found a huge K-Mart store and we both said, “After getting the turkey, we’re shop at this place!” It had so many things to see!

We first wanted to make sure the elusive bird was in its cage.  So, we headed to the back and found the fridges! Yay!  All were empty!  Boo!  Finally, someone took the time to explain to us where the meat was really at.  After explaining the various right turns, left turns, by the statues, near the bridge, and after several traffic lights, we’d find it.  I asked what store we would be looking for, and were told, “You’ll pick it up at ECONO Supermarket.” We couldn’t believe it!  ECONO is a few stores down past our neighborhood K-Mart!  With another one even closer to us!

“Forget about checking out K-Mart,” we said, and “flew” back home to grab ahold of this bird and clip its wings before it’d fly away again!  We were so tired, and couldn’t believe the journey we had been on!  From Canóvanas, we ended up somewhere in Caguas running around like a turkey without its head!

Sometimes we might have a hard time coming up with things we are thankful for. Maybe they vanish from our thoughts.  Like our turkey, they might be just beyond everywhere we go.  If it helps, we can write down all the things we’re thankful for.  There’s health, life, friends, family, shelter, jobs, and of course, a God who loves us.

Maybe you’ve been on wild turkey chases too; heck, you may have strayed from home on several occasions trying to find your free and perfect gift.  Guess what??? It’s right there near you!  It’s within your neighborhood!  God is as near as the breath in your nostrils.  He’s as close as your heartbeats!  People try Eastern Religions, Transcendental Meditations, Cults, Sects, Alternative Lifestyles, Variant Philosophies, even Genderism; only to realize those venues don’t offer what they’re after!  Their free gift of salvation has always been down the block. Salvation isn’t religion!  It’s a relationship with the living God!  And He won’t send you on an impossible hunt!  He’s legit!  Accessing Him, is even easier:

 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:20 NIV).

Jesus is right at the door of your heart. Open the door and let Him in! In fact, today for Thanksgiving, He can be your invite! So, set out a plate for Him!  Bon Appétit! Add Him and His presence to your Thankful list!

Happy Thanksgiving!
Sam

There’s a time to get all sorts of things: Get a car, get a job, a house, a mate, or a life. God wants us to know it’s alright to get things that are needed or essential.  Sometimes, we don’t know what we ought to get. In those cases, God provides some answers.

“Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.  Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.  The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.  Though it cost all you have, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:5-9).

To get by in life, we need to get wisdom.  To deal with life’s issues, we need to get understanding.  So, where are we suppose to get these? At ALDI’s? At Costco? At your local Mart?

Again, God comes through:

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10 NIV).

Fearing the LORD, that is, acknowledging He is LORD over our lives; reverencing Him, is the beginning of wisdom.  It takes a lifetime of walking with Him (daily) to acquire the guiding principles He has for us.  Spending time with Him, the Holy One will bring us understanding. It’s like being certified in a field of study to be ready to meet life’s challenges in what we’re prepared for.  Being in His presence prepares us for each day ahead.

So, since there’s a time and a season for everything under  heaven, getting to know God, that is, His heart, His desires, His plans for us, and His stance on life’s ever-changing views, requires setting aside time to talk to Him.  He’s not dead!  YEP!  He listens!  He speaks! He’s always attentive to us. In fact, just as there’s Caller ID, God knows when your call is coming through! So, get in His face!  Tell Him how you feel.  Pour out your heart to Him NOW!  You won’t hurt His feelings. Get up and shake yourself loose. Get rid of “everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1, 2a).  Get wisdom and get ready for the next special “time” coming up.

God Bless,

Sam  

So, you’ve hugged until someone had to pry you apart.  You shed your last tears of joy or sadness, and now it’s time to let go.  There’s a time to say, “Now that I’ve held you, let me step back and look at you.”

That’s what God does: He’s looked at us from before creating us and has thought of how much joy we bring Him.  We can’t figure out why because we don’t see ourselves as He sees us. If we’re honest with ourselves, we know there’s nothing good in us.  Yet, He sees us outside of our sinful nature and as the perfect beings that He originally created us.

Having embraced us at the cross, having bled for us, and having been scourged, He took the nails before refraining from that embrace. In fact, it was His love for us that held Him on the cross. From a human perspective we can blame the Roman soldiers or the religious leaders for His death.  But both groups, and neither, was really responsible.  They were pawns in Satan’s hands as well as in the Father’s plans.  It was pure love that led Him there.

 With everything completed, He died in our place. But that was not the end!  Thinking on that great and marvelous heavenly reunion where He’ll embrace us anew throughout all eternity, He took back His life, and rose from the grave; never to return there, ever!  

So, like me, you may not be a hugger.  I’m sure you have your reasons, as I have mine.  So, why don’t I like embraces or hugs? At least here, in PR, at our church, when we were new there, back in 2001, when the pastor would tell us to go around and greet others, people went around hugging each other every week.  And every week, I was invisible to them.  They’d hug the person on one side of me and then go right around me to the next one.  They’d say, “Excuse me,” and go to people behind me or in front, but always ignored me.  Didn’t even say, “Hello.” 

Now, I know, some of you will think, “And that’s at church?!” The answer is “YES!!” But though I didn’t like it, I learned not to bother with it. I accepted the fact that I was not accepted.  I’m not a social person anyway, and if people don’t want to hug me, then don’t.  I don’t want hypocrisy.

Whether we naturally avoid hugs, or whether there’s a reason there, I’m sure there’s coming a day when all will be different. One thing’s for sure: Jesus’ embrace will be completely different.  It’ll be genuine and we’ll feel His strength, His overwhelming love, and the Father’s hands as well!  When there for all eternity, the Godhead’s embrace will melt every heart.  For now step away!  Refrain from embracing! Time to move on and let go!

God Bless,

Sam

Recommended video/song: Reason by LaRue

This one’s a tough one for me since I don’t like being embraced or embracing others.  Aside from my wife and three kids, I really don’t care to embrace or get embraced by others.  If I meet someone new and I sense we’re going to actually greet, I put out my hand to shake theirs. I cringe when someone lunges at me with a hug. I feel like, P-O-W! I think that’s where Batman & Robin got it from!  They fought crime and hugs!

A few days ago, my wife gave me a great big hug.  It felt good! I’ve hugged my oldest daughter a few times, (she also happens to dislike hugs), and the last time I did, it was like, one second long!  We both recoiled, like, that’s long enough!  If you’ve ever watched Mr. Monk on TV, there’s an episode where he reconnects with his brother, Ambrose.  When they hug, it’s more like each gives the other an invisible pat!  Very short-lived.

I do know there are benefits to embracing.  The warmth from another can be reassuring.  People in pain or experiencing loneliness, need to be held.  Being embraced, even for a few seconds conveys caring or sympathizing.  Something we can do is give others a hug from God.  We let them know He’s there to comfort them.  I’d like to think that when God was reconciling the world to Himself, He was embracing us, or drawing us near to Himself.

If you’re seeing someone you haven’t seen in a while, or  sending off someone you love, an embrace will do the job. Of course, there need not be a reason for embracing as in this (Puerto Rican) culture!  People hug and kiss every time they meet; day-after-day, with everyone they encounter.  I keep away! 

So, after embracing, now what? After counting your blessings, you’re on to the next special time.

God Bless!

Sam

Sometimes, people drift apart; even families separate. Growing up in the early 60s I felt a closeness to my family.  We lived in apartment 9 and my aunt lived in apartment 7.  She and her husband

My five older brothers dropped by often had 10 kids!  You read that right! Ten older kids.  The youngest was probably 8-12 years older than me.  Some, had kids of their own, which played with me.  A few years after the father died, they moved away, and a cousin moved in. I always had someone to play with., creating a close-knit atmosphere.  When my parents moved to Puerto Rico in 1984, they received lots of visits there from other relatives.  After my father passed, a few years later, the families ties were gone.  Although we visited our relatives, practically none visited us.  Been that way for about 30 years.

Families and friends can move away leaving us feeling empty. In fact, on more than one occasion, we received the “Good-bye Calls” from friends/family telling us the good news they were in our neighborhood and would love to have seen us, but were leaving tomorrow or were at the airport heading home.  Yeah, right. Those were courtesy calls in case someone who knew both parties would tell us, “Hey, you’ll never guess who I just saw…”

I’m pretty sure you’ve had your share of ghost family and friends. Maybe everyone’s walked out on you.  Or, maybe you can’t wait for others to leave you alone.  Life can be very tough.  Yet, there’s “A friend that sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).  Jesus is the Friend that will never abandon us.  Through thick and thin, He’s always faithful.  Others will move away, die, betray us, deny us, blame us, treat us like trash, thrash us, even leave us to die; but Christ will sweep us up into His arms and tend our hurt and pain.

“Though my mother and my father forsake me, the LORD will take me in” (Psalm 27:10).

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?  Though she may forget, I will not forget you” (Isaiah 49:15).

In general, people may have distanced themselves from us; likewise, we also may have moved away from God, yet, with open arms He awaits our return.

“Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 1:3b).

“For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return unto him” (2 Chronicles 30:9b).

Come on, return to Him NOW!

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD” (Psalm 122:1).

Close the gap!

Sam

How’s your week going? I can say I think we’ve had about two full weeks of running water since July 28.  Every 2-3 days, there’s a “reason” for not having water.  If it’s not because there’s no power where the water pumps are located, then it’s due to broken down parts or it’s due to heavy rains, or cleaning out the system, etc.  We’re glad no hurricanes came this year.  However, we’ve been getting storming weather.  We recently relocated our 1600-gal tank from the bottom of our road, to the top. It went from completely empty, to full-to-the-top after three rainfalls.  Honestly, we can depend more on the rain, than on the city for water.  And last night, it rained even harder than all the previous nights!

God has promised to send us rain and latter rain (Joel 2:23).  In my understanding for our times, the early rain meets our needs while the latter rain speaks of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit blessing us with God’s favor.  The emptier we are, and the dryer our spirits, the more God can pour in.  Sometimes, we’re running on empty and really thirst for His filling us.  Jesus satisfies our thirst for all things spiritual.  He’s the only fountain; the only water-source that quenches our thirsts.

Maybe you’re religious.  Maybe you observe the law and fulfill all the requirements, yet, still feel dry within.  You KNOW there’s got to be more, but you don’t know where to find it.  Scripture contains promises and mysteries that only Messiah could fulfill.  Jesus met them all!  According to Biblical scholars, He fulfilled between 300 and 570 Old Testament prophesies, including some 48 specific Messianic prophesies (https://firmisrael.org).

If only the Messiah could fulfill certain prophesies, how could a charlatan come through with accuracy?  How could a poor, unlearned, everyday young man, be so knowledgeable in the Word? Truth is, He came, the world missed Him.  Good news: He can still be found.  “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).

God’s hidden scriptural messages revealed the hidden Messiah.  Unravel His mysteries now.  They’re embedded in the Old Testament; particularly, the book of Isaiah (Chapter 7:13,14 and Chapter 9:6,7; chapter 53).  He’s the Savior of the world, and waiting for you to open the Book of His life and receive Him into your life.  The Man of Living Water (John 7:37, 38) will pour Himself into you, and will satisfy your thirst for all time.  That’s a lot more than 1600 gallons!  He’ll fill you to overflowing.  Wait for the latter rain-the gift of the Holy Spirit in your life.

God Bless!
 Sam

We’re midway through To Everything There Is a Time and A Season (Ecclesiastes 3).  God has established seasons of life for us all; periods of adjustments and trials to prepare us for His Kingdom. Everyone pays a price for following Him. Going through the trials with Him by our sides, and with our focus on Him, will get us to His presence where we’ll live in heaven eternally in peace without pain or tears.  Out earthly trials will seem trivial compared to the joys and splendor of heaven.  We’ll forever be in His presence in the midst of His angels and all His glory never to get sick again or be bothered by evil.

Review the first 14 “Times” and think of how precious our times with Him can be as we soon delve into the remaining 14.

“My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me” (Psalm 31:15).

For now, I’ll share regular posts.

God Bless!

Sam  

Decades ago, watching a log cabin being built on a TV show, Home Time, the lady, Joanne Liebler was gathering stones for the fireplace hearth when she said something like, “How ironic that decades ago, these stones were discarded off the property, and now we’re collecting them for a fireplace.”  The stones that had once been cast away, were now being gathered.

Look at it as acquiring new clothing; just a bit heavier!  And, since it’s stones, now is the time to gather them. As I previously wrote, there are stones of remembrance; markers of new events in our lives, as in new beginnings. They’re like a height chart for kids to see if they’ve grown. It’s time to gather stones of good memories.  It’s time to forge ahead.  God’s always at work.  He’s not stagnant.  He’s always on the move.

In 1 Samuel 7:12, it is recorded that on one occasion as Samuel was offering a burnt offering to God, the Philistines sought to attack Israel, but the LORD intervened. Samuel then gathered a stone and “set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Up to here, the LORD has helped us.”

God is here to help you all the days of your life as long as you give Him your life and your heart.  In fact, one stone you don’t want to gather, is a heart of stone.  We’ve all had one at some point.  “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you: I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).

God is near as you gather stones together.

God Bless,

Sam

Recommended Song: No Stone to Throw-Sierra