Grateful for everything I have and everything I am

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

I was still a child when my father asked me, “Why did God make our young so much more helpless in comparison to the young of other animals?” He later explained that being helpless required us to receive much attention and love. What wonderful gifts from God! It takes much more nurturing to raise a human than any other species on the planet. Without proper care what would any of us become? At birth we are incapable of walking, standing or swimming. We come into this world incapable of cleaning, protecting, and feeding ourselves. We would literally die within days if left unattended. Many years after our birth we still need a great deal of attention just to make it through one day without harming ourselves. There are many important principles that my father taught me from this one important fact.

Without the love and nurture of others we are nothing. Without teaching and guidance we would know nothing. Everything we have, everything we can do and everything we know we owe. It should make us the most grateful and loving creatures in the world, no doubt it was God’s plan all along. Yet we often lack this grateful attitude.

Many have noticed an attitude of entitlement, the feeling that something is owed to us, or that everything we’ve gotten was supposed to have been given to us. Therefore, we don’t have to be grateful. But with this attitude we only cheat ourselves of the opportunity of recognizing what others have done for us.

We should be grateful for those loved ones that cared for us and provided throughout the years as well as those significant others who made a difference in our lives.

The biggest difference maker being God, He created us and has made a way for us to succeed. He blessed us with intelligence, talent and countless opportunities to develop them. However an even greater reason to be grateful is God’s love and mercy. While we deserved condemnation for our sins he sent his only begotten son, Jesus, to die on the cross so that we might have eternal life.

He is more than worthy of our gratitude. When we are grateful to God we are able to worship him in spirit and in truth and we are able to see what he has done for us, therefore our faith is strengthened.

An ungrateful life is a sad life where we would be unable to realize the love and care that has so carefully been spent on us. All that we have are gifts and the greatest of these come from God, our lives and our eternal souls.

Let us be grateful this holiday to all who have made a difference and let us lift a mighty praise to our lord and God.

Verses on Hard times

Verses by topic

Verses on Hard times

Romans 8:31

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Philippians 4:6-8

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Romans 8:18

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Psalm 50:15

And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Psalm 138:8

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Psalm 3:3-4

But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

Psalm 62:2

He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

Deuteronomy 31:8

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

For more verses by topic visit http://www.openbible.info/topics/

A life worth living

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

My father, Cecilio was diagnosed with cancer of the glands at the age of 22. The doctors after much treatment sent him home with little hope of surviving. However, my father was a man of great faith. He prayed and placed his life in God’s hands. This week we celebrated his 80th birthday. It was an awesome victory. I especially am grateful since I was born after he was afflicted with this disease.

My father’s life has always been one of great dedication and purpose, a life worth living and a life to be proud of. He was born out of wedlock and into poverty. At the tender age of 7 he was sent to work at his uncle’s store, the largest store in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. This young boy was rescuing his family who had fallen into financial ruin due to his stepfather’s sickness. It was there that he first learned administration and professionalism. He would take those lessons with him wherever he would go. By the time he was 12 his uncle would trust him to be in charge whenever he couldn’t be there. At 15 his family was doing better and his father, living in N.Y., was asking for his son.

Cecilio arrived in N.Y. not knowing English and without a H.S. diploma. He worked all kinds of jobs, learned English and went back to school. A lover of education my father would continue his studies until he obtained a Doctorate in Divinity.

My dad worked as a registered nurse and later as a hospital administrator. However that was only part of his life. He was ordained as a minister at the age of 23. He had started preaching when he was 12 and would often preach before large crowds. The Reverend Doctor Cecilio Melendez, founded a church in Puerto Rico, was president of a council of churches in NY and has been Pastor of our church for almost 40 years.

My father has lived everyday for the glory of God. He knew early on that every day is a gift. He has strived to do all he can with every opportunity. Serving God, by serving his fellow man has been the focal point of his life. Whether as pastor or nurse, my dad has served with patience, dedication and love. He has been a light in the darkness and a fortress in troubled times.

While we celebrate his life it is important to consider our own. Every day is a gift from God. We must cherish them. We should strive to demonstrate the love of Christ through our words and actions every day. Ultimately we must please Him who so graciously bestowed this incredible gift of life upon us. Let us make it one worth living!

Wow, Jesus is powerful!

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Imagine a horde of demons 3000 to 6000 large. It would look like something out of the Lord of the rings movie. Ugly and ferocious any normal man would flee. We would definitely believe them difficult to defeat even with a force equal in size. How do you kill a demon any way? Well Jesus came face to face with such a horde of Demons. They had possessed two men.

They were so extremely violent that no one could go anywhere near them. These demons upon seeing Jesus immediately began to speak. They were fearful and asked Jesus not to torment them. This wasn’t one demon. It was a multitude of demons, powerless against Jesus. Jesus ordered them into a herd of swine, what a pitiful fate for these demons. However they had no choice but to listen. (Matthew 8:28-34)

Demons were not the only ones who submitted to the power of Jesus. The disciples were once on a boat and Jesus feeling a bit tired decided to take a little nap. Then a terrible storm ensued and the disciples became frantic. They quickly sought out Jesus. Jesus calmly got up and told the wind to stop. The change did not come gradually. Immediately everything was calm. Nature itself had to obey the voice of the master. (Matthew 8:23-27)

Now comes the best part. A close friend of Jesus, Lazarus, had died. He hadn’t just died. He had been dead for four days. Therefore, there was no doubt in anybody’s mind that Lazarus was completely dead. Matter of fact he was laying in his tomb. Not a problem for Jesus. He simply said “Lazarus come forth” and death itself had to submit to Jesus. Lazarus surely got up. (John 11:38-44)

Now there are a lot of problems we are dealing with in our lives, perhaps some of them seem greater than a life threatening horrific storm, a legion of demons or death, but I am sure Jesus is able to rescue us. However remember what Jesus told his disciples “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26) We should ask of Jesus, but we must ask with faith, for he is certainly able!

Faith during hardship

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good,…. Genesis 50:20

When you are the favored son and daddy buys you really cool stuff, life can be like living in a dream; especially if daddy makes you a top manager at the family business, and places you in charge of your older brothers. This was the life of Joseph. He even had dreams about how his brothers were going to bow to him. Life was pretty nice. However his older brothers didn’t think it was that great. They sold Joseph into slavery and told their father he had been eaten by wild animals. Now this was a family with problems!

Life can certainly be unfair. Perhaps Joseph’s bothers had reason to be jealous, but he did not deserve slavery. Joseph did not ask to be loved more than his brothers. He didn’t ask for special treatment. When it comes to being in charge, Joseph really was more competent than his brothers and most likely deserved the elevated position. Perhaps what they all needed was some counseling and a family meeting where everyone could air out their concerns. Joseph was actually a good, faithful, intelligent son who deserved the admiration of his older brothers. Instead he found himself on a caravan of slave traders headed to Egypt.

Joseph is sold to a top general and quickly proves he is capable. He is placed in charge of the entire estate. Unfortunately the general’s wife takes a liking to Joseph and when Joseph rejects her, she makes false accusations and Joseph is placed in jail. By now each and everyone one of us would be absolutely furious. We would be screaming “Where is God in all this?” We would be thinking “I am faithful, hardworking and honest. I am talented, intelligent and I do a great job, how can life be so unfair?” But Joseph never complained. He was one of the greatest examples of faith in history. He must have known “that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).

In jail Joseph once again proves himself and is placed in charge of the other prisoners. He also proves himself a great interpreter of dreams. This ability made possible by the revelation of God.

Once pharaoh heard of Joseph’s ability, he was removed from prison and made to serve pharaoh. Joseph was then elevated and made the second most powerful man in all of Egypt. From that position he was able to save the nation of Egypt and his family during a horrific time of famine and yes his brothers did bow down to him. (Genesis 37, 39-45)

For many years life was certainly unfair for Joseph. At times we may feel like we are walking in Joseph’s shoes. But like Joseph we cannot lose faith. Nor can we grow angry with God or life. We must approach every hardship we go through as if it is a new opportunity to grow and become even better, because that is exactly the reason why we go through them. Remember God is not done; He is doing something great in each of us.

Stuck in a foreign land

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18

It takes a lot of nerve to stand up to a King and say No! But these three Hebrew boys had plenty of nerve.  It came from Faith; faith in a mighty God and a desire to be obedient to him.  Well I got some good news.  This same God is alive and well and we can still find our strength in Him.

These men found themselves in a foreign land, ruled by a ruthless king who held all the power.  With just his word you could be put to death.  This same king decreed a law that had everyone bowing to a large statue. Seemed like an easy thing to do to stay alive. All you have to do is bow. But these young men were not about to compromise their beliefs in order to stay alive. They remained obedient to God’s word. Would the king have his way and send these young men to a horrific death!

Often we too are tested.  Pressure from co-workers, family, friends and even our spouses can be relentless.  We know better but it would be so much easier to just give in and get along.  Why not be just like everyone else, even at the cost of disobeying God’s word.  It’s hard to stick it out and be different. It’s hard to be the only one going to church, praying, believing in God and obeying His word.  It can often lead to rejection, isolation, insults or even persecution. But when we can stay faithful we will receive a greater reward.  For Christ is ever present in our lives. He fills us with a peace, a love, and a joy we cannot find in the world.  We also cannot forget that Jesus promises us a great reward in heaven (Matthew 5:11-12) for staying faithful in the face of persecution. Jesus also advises us to lay up our treasures in heaven “where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19-20)

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego understood that a greater reward could be found in staying faithful to God, than in compromising their beliefs, even at the risk of losing their lives. The King was not impressed and was true to his word.  Into the fiery furnace they went. Then the shocker, the three young men and one other were in the furnace and no harm had befallen them. When we are faithful to God, He is faithful to us.

When you feel like you’re in a foreign land and everyone is urging you to compromise, remember great will be your reward for remaining faithful until the end. This reward is no less than a life that never ends; a life with Christ.

The unknown God or the forgotten God

For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god…. Acts 17:23

Paul was surrounded by many of the learned men of his day, philosophers, and teachers; these men had come from all over the world to discuss a multitude of ideas including religion and philosophy.

They took Paul to the Areopagus to discuss God and religion.  Paul noticed all the many gods they had and then he found a rather unique one. He soon became fixated on the statue to the unknown God. Paul knew it was his God that was unknown to them.

Today there are still many gods. A god is what we worship.  We dedicate our lives to our god and we sacrifice to our god.  We love our god and think about our god all the time. Our god is loved above everything else. However for some this god may live in their back pocket, especially if it is money. Their god may live on the television screen or the arena, especially if it is a team.  Their god may live in the refrigerator, or on the golf course or even at the beach.  The priestess of their god may be their boss, especially if it is their job or career. Yet others worship at the feet of science, nature, Mother Earth, or the individual. However none of these are the true God; for He cannot be contained or limited to one place.  He was once the unknown God, but sadly, is now the forgotten God.

This is the generation that considers itself too sophisticated to believe in an almighty, divine God. For them creation is a fable; we simply came along by accident, except there is nothing simple about us.

Scripture says it best, “the fool has said in his heart there is no God.” (Psalms 14:1) Paul explains that God is clearly revealed through his creation, starting with us. (Romans 1:18-20)

We are surrounded by the most complex society that has ever existed, complete with computers, smart phones, GPS, satellites, rocket ships, drones, tablets and the list goes on and on.  All these have teams of designers, inventors, creators that spent countless hours perfecting their inventions. However the most complex creation does not come from an Apple Inc. factory. It is the one reading these words right now.  There is far more information, data, coding and tiny engines within our being, than can be found in any of the most complex inventions, proof of design. Yet we are to believe that we came about by accident.  It would be like blowing up a dictionary and ending up with Hamlet. 

There are many gods, we sometimes serve them unknowingly. Let us choose wisely. For there is only one God who speaks, listens, loves, watches, saves, has a place prepared for us and promises to never leave us.  He is our programmer, our inventor and creator.  His mark is upon our DNA, our minds, and even our souls. He desires to spend all eternity with us. Will you deny Him, forget Him or serve Him?

Basketball and God’s Wisdom

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Psalm 111:10

“He runs across the court passes to Johnson, he shoots from the three point line, he scores, they win, they win, and the crowd goes crazy!” Basketball is a great sport. You ever notice what a basketball player does. He runs, sometimes walks, throws the ball and dribbles. Most children can do these things. I am sure many would like to grow up to be great basketball players. In truth many are already on their way. They are learning each and every day. If they can just acquire enough wisdom for the game anything is possible.

It’s the same for Christians. We would all like to be great women and men of God. But I for one know there is no comparing Sammy (yeah that’s me) to Moses. But we all can keep growing in the Lord. Where do we begin? That’s the easy part. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Psalm 111:10)

What does it truly mean to fear the lord? It means we are aware of his greatness and his might. We recognize that he is all powerful, knows all things and is everywhere. It also means that we are ready to submit to Him and trust in Him. We will obey Him.

When God first called Moses he resisted and gave many excuses, but he feared God and ultimately knew he had no choice but to submit. He then became a mighty instrument of God. He became a great man of God. But first He had to submit.

How can we do a better job of submitting to God? If we want to play on God’s team, we must study His rule book, also known as the bible. It contains all that God desires of us, and all the promises he has made and will fulfill. Let us commit ourselves to the study of scripture so that we may please God more and grow in His wisdom. We too can become great women and men of God and that’s better than shooting a three pointer.

Feeling a little bored? Warning you might be in danger!

And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.  And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.    2 Samuel 11:1,2

When we are bored it is easy for our imagination to start running.  Normally imagination can be a good thing. Imagination is the kind of stuff that leads to great things, like the automobile, the light bulb and the microwave.  Love my Microwave; food done instantly.  But sometimes it leads to thoughts that aren’t so nice. Like desiring your neighbor’s shiny new toys or planning ways of revenge. Now that is scary! Sometimes when we are bored we start doing things we shouldn’t do and looking at things we definitely shouldn’t look at. This was David’s problem.

David was the King and as such he must have had better things to do then just going for a stroll around the roof of his palace in the middle of the night.  The bible explains that David was supposed to be fighting a war. (2 Samuel 11:1) But instead sends his general to do all the work.  There he was feeling a little bored, contemplating his neighbors and he sees her. Bathsheba was beautiful and taking a bath. This is where we hope our hero does the descent thing and turns away.  Perhaps go looking for one of his wives, grabs her and tells her how much he loves her. No he stays watching. Boredom led to danger and it led to sin. He desires Bathsheba and decides he must have her.  Bathsheba gets pregnant while her husband, the soldier, is away fighting for David. David sets him up to die and marries Bathsheba.

Hopefully none of that happens to you. But temptation will make its entrance when we have nothing better to do.  Being busy can actually be a great blessing.  If you’re not, then my best advice is get busy.  Paul warns against  laziness and advises us to work hard. He also warns of the destructive actions of idlers. (2 Thessalonians 3:6-12)  Solomon said “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” (Proverbs 10:4) He also said “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. “ (Proverbs 16:3)   Peter encourages us to use our gifts to serve one another. (1 Peter 4:10-11)  So be productive in the Lord!

Now God does direct us to rest. That is why we have the Sabbath. But we are supposed to keep it holy. So the work can stop, but the praise doesn’t. That is when we dedicate even more time to the Lord.  This is time to pray, read his word and recognize what God has done. We then contemplate on all that is good. Paul said it best.  “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”(Philippians 4:8) Not on our neighbor’s possessions!

I will admit that temptations come to all of us, even when we are working hard. But it’s a whole lot easier to fall when we are just waiting for the Devil to get our attention.

A lion in your living room

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1Peter 5:8

Imagine a lion in your living room.  No escaping that beast if he’s hungry. Guess what’s for dinner? The Bible says the devil is like a roaring lion looking for whom he can devour. He is looking for lives he can destroy.  He will use any form of temptation, whether it is drugs, alcohol, illicit sex, crime, violence or some other immorality. His goal is to take you as far from God as he can, heap as much guilt and corruption as he can on your life and when you no longer think you are good for anything he has you right where he wants you.

Judas Iscariot the most famous traitor in history was one of the devils most famous victims. He was a disciple with a great responsibility.  He was the treasurer. He was a witness to Jesus’ great power. He had seen him raise the dead, give sight to the blind, calm the storms and feed thousands with a small lunch. More importantly he had seen the Master’s compassion. He had seen Jesus cry, have mercy for the sinners and show extreme care for the needy. But he sold Jesus to the high priest. The temptation was just enough.

30 pieces of silver was the price of our savior or the price of a slave according to (Exodus 21:32). What would it take for us to betray Jesus? Jesus said “If you love me, keep my commandments.”  (John 14:15) If we truly wish for Jesus to be the Lord of our lives we must obey his commandments. We must obey what he teaches in His word. This can be difficult but the reward is great. What could compare to eternal life?

The devil’s plan is to steal your reward.  He desires to tempt you with what little he can offer you. And everything this world has to offer is little in comparison to the kingdom of heaven. Judas’ betrayal was secured for 30 pieces of silver. He would end his life by hanging from a tree. He lost everything. He was devoured by the devil. None of us has to end this way.  Don’t let the lion feed on you.

The bible offers us a sure fire way to build our strength so that we can defeat the Devil. It is found in prayer and the study of scripture. “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

He was a people pleaser

Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.” John 19:4

Nothing wrong with being a people pleaser, life is so much simpler when everyone is happy.  I am sure Pilate felt exactly the same way.  Pilate was prefect or governor of the Roman provinces of Judea, Samaria and Idumaea. This meant he was the supreme power and might of Rome in these provinces.  His decision was final. He held this position for 10 years.

Jesus was brought to Pilate for one reason and that was to be crucified.  The high priest did not have the power to execute a criminal and needed Pilate to pass sentence. Therefore Pilate had a man he did not arrest in his possession.  Pilate questioned Jesus over and over again and could not find anything wrong with him. Did he do the right thing? Did he let Jesus go? Pilate was too concerned with pleasing the crowd and the high priest.  He decided to check with them first.  The crowd screamed for his crucifixion.  Pilate still tried to please everyone and brought out Barabbas, a known criminal, and informed the crowd that he would release one.  The crowd shouted for the freedom of Barabbas instead of Jesus.  Pilate had two choices. Please the crowd and the High Priest or do the right thing and free Jesus.

Pilate had Jesus, an innocent man, beaten 40 times with a whip designed to rip his skin off, with bits of sharp bones and metal balls, and then crucified him.  Pilate went down as one of the most famous people pleasing politicians in history.  He was literally moved by the crowd in his actions and did not consider the possibility of doing what was right.

In our lives we too must often make decisions based on whether we should please someone or stick to our convictions and do what we know to be right.  Pleasing others sure can make life pleasant in the short run, but living with the guilt of having done something wrong, just to satisfy others, can become a burden too heavy to carry.

Perhaps it is more important to please the one who always has our best interest at heart, and desires for us to do what is right, regardless of the consequences.  This would be God.  Instead of a people pleaser, we can be a God pleaser.

Humility is required

And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel… 2 kings 5:15

He was a mighty warrior known throughout the ancient world, respected by everyone, feared by his enemies and loved by his countrymen, and King. The bible described him as a mighty man of valor who even God seemed to favor. He was General Naaman, commander of the Syrian army. He had been successful against Israel and had taken at least one captive that the bible mentioned, a young servant girl.

Naaman had one terrible flaw, that was rather disgraceful. He was a leper. A terrible disease that attacked the skin, destroyed limbs and eventually killed its victim. Naaman needed help. How humiliated he must have felt, but it was about to get worst. His lowly Hebrew servant girl showed compassion and revealed the only solution possible, a miracle from the God of Israel.

Naaman would have to admit that the Syrian gods and their priests were of no use and instead went to the King of Israel, his enemy, in search of a man of God, a true prophet. Apparently, for God, this was not humiliating enough.

When Naaman finally does track down the prophet Elisha, he goes right to the front of his home, and most likely expects an honorable greeting. He was after all General Naaman. Naaman may have thought Elisha would fear for his life and grant him anything. However Elisha does not even leave his home to say hello. Perhaps he doesn’t have the time or was too tired to make the effort. Elisha simply sends his servant with a prescription for Naaman.

Naaman was outraged at first. However to Naaman’s credit, perhaps showing why he was such a great general, heard the servant and took his advice. It was not going to be easy. Elisha through his servant told Naaman to go and wash himself seven times in the filthiest river in Israel, the Jordan.

This mighty general humbled himself and obeyed the orders. Seven times he went into those dirty waters and when he was done he was miraculously healed. Naaman went a step further and recognized that the only true God was the God of Israel.

Naaman discovered many lessons that we all need to understand. First God is powerful and can supply our needs when no one else can. Second God often does not do things the way we want it to be done. Naaman wanted Elisha to wave his hands and be instantly healed. Third God may want us to take an action on behalf of our faith, as Naaman did when he took seven baths. Lastly Faith may not be the only requirement for a miracle. God may also want humility. These are a few lessons for us to consider the next time we ask God for a miracle.

A repentant tax collector

“Today salvation has come to this house” Luke 19:9

Zacchaeus was the most hated man in the Jewish town of Jericho. He had managed to steal from most and take from all. He provided the Romans with a bounty of wealth and property. He was of course the tax collector.

This hated tax collector had become aware of the arrival of the great prophet, some believed to be the messiah that was promised to Israel long ago. Zacchaeus was curious, perhaps even hopeful that this great man may be able to help him in some way. It is typical for those of us in need to see Jesus as an answer. But Zacchaeus most likely did not lack for anything. This seemingly materialistic man, who had cheated the poor people of Jericho, must have realized a spiritual need, a sign that he was ready for repentance.

Jesus upon seeing the tax collector hiding in a tree, immediately informs him that he would be visiting him in his house that day and that he must come down from the tree. However Jesus never makes mention of Zacchaeus’ sins until Zacchaeus does something truly wonderful.

He admits to his wrong doings and humbly tries his best to make up for all he has done wrong. He tells Jesus “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” (Luke 19:8) He is filled with guilt and understands the pain and suffering he must have caused others. This is why he does more than just offer to pay back what is rightfully owed; he offers to give them 4 times the amount. This extra amount is punishment he is placing on himself. Zacchaeus is truly repentant.

True repentance comes with a sincere recognition of wrong doings. It is absent anger, the type of anger that can follow being caught. Anger is also absent because we do not seek to blame anyone else but ourselves, and we wish to make amends as quickly as possible. We do not believe ourselves worthy of forgiveness, instead we are grateful to be forgiven. Unlike a judging crowd or a group of Pharisees, Jesus saw his heart and recognizes true repentance in Zacchaeus. He says “Today salvation has come to this house” (Luke 19:9)

Zacchaeus provides us all with a mirror to reflect ourselves in and check to see if we are truly repentant of our sins. It is wise for us to take a long look and be sure. Our salvation depends on true repentance that is absent anger and excuses. Most importantly we will receive forgiveness gratefully, knowing we never deserved it.

Lost, but Found

for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. Luke 15:24

He watched as his beloved son just walked away in the distance. The pain was too much to bear. What challenges would his son face? What dangers, especially carrying such a large amount of money. It was half of the estate. His son had just made a horrible demand. “I want my share of the inheritance now. Give it to me,” he shouted. The father reluctantly gave in and now his son was gone.

Every day he must have watched and hoped, trusting in God to care for his son. If only he would return. He would most certainly be forgiven.

A long time passed. No doubt that kind of money took a while to spend. But then on the most glorious, wonderful day it happened. He barely recognized his son. But surely it must be him. Beneath the rags, that thin young man was his beloved son. The father could not contain himself and quickly began to run. In no time he had reached his prodigal son and took him in his arms.

The boy was sorrowful and soon expressed his shame. He had wasted all of his inheritance and had betrayed his father. He recognized that he was no longer worthy of being called his son and hoped he could be a servant. He was truly repentant. The father, forgave him and not only welcomed him back as his son, but began one of the greatest celebrations the family had ever had.

If any of us were to turn from God this is how he would receive us back, with love and mercy. God presently waits for those who have gone astray and if any are willing to return He welcomes them with open arms and celebrates. The joy felt in heaven as on earth is indescribable, for each and every soul that is saved!

To go to church or not?

Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Psalm 84:4

It was Wednesday evening, and after a long day of work I was tired. However, it was time to head over to rehearsal. Why was I going? Was it to please the chorus director, my sister? Was it so that I could be heard? Did the chorus need me? The answer to the last three questions were no, no, and no. Why was I going?

I was going to worship God! I fought with myself. “Sammy you can worship God at home. You don’t have to go to church.” There was just one problem with that argument. If I stood home I wasn’t going to worship God.

The distractions that we are bombarded with when we are home are tremendous. We have all sorts of entertainment, chores and of course the demands of other people. Perhaps our favorite distraction is the bed or sofa. Some place to just lay back and rest, a power nap that last 2 hours. But didn’t we say we would worship God.

In Hebrews 10:25, we are encouraged to go to church where the brethren can motivate each other. Psalm 84:4 mentions that those who dwell in God’s house are blessed because they are forever praising God. David counted it a blessing to be in God’s house forever (Psalm 23:6). It is in church where we can most freely worship God and put aside everything else this world has.

The next time we find ourselves in a battle with ourselves, as to whether we should go to church or not, we’ll just grab our car keys and head straight out the door. We won’t look back and we won’t stop until we have safely arrived at the temple, where we will praise our God and thank Him for the refuge that is our church.

A simple plan, march and shout

So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat….Joshua 6:20

The city wall was tall and thick, perhaps 13 feet thick (http://www.bibleplaces.com/jericho.htm). The city, Jericho, was ancient and filled with experienced soldiers, the bible described as “mighty men of valor” (Joshua 6:2). The proud people of this great city must have felt secured, armed with fine soldiers and a mighty wall. However God had promised this land to the Israelites. Surely God would give His people an ingenious plan filled with an incredible strategy never heard of in the ancient world, a brilliant military campaign that generals would be studying centuries later; not exactly.

God decided to give them, what amounted to virtually no plan at all. All they had to do was march around the city. The Israelites must have become the laughingstock of the ancient world. What was wrong with these people? Did they think that marching alone would bring down such a wall? Perhaps they could stomp their feet really hard and the earth would tremble just enough. How many Israelites must have questioned God and their leader Joshua after the first day of marching? They had marched around an entire city. They must have been tired. Day two through day six, they had to do the same thing. Then on the seventh day God’s request was even more challenging and hard to trust. He asked Israel to march around the city seven times, blow their trumpets and shout. We can only wonder  about the number of Israelites that were questioning the sanity of this plan.

However the majority of them must have believed. They trusted in God, while Jericho trusted their mighty wall. The wall lost. It came down and the Israelites took the city completely defeating those men of valor.

The plan might have been simple, but it wasn’t the plan or the marching that defeated Jericho, it was God. In our lives we must face constant challenges, and perhaps a more elaborate plan might be more comforting, but God remains our true source of strength and in the end He is the one that will give us the victory. Should we put away our brains and never try to plan or strategize? Of course not, but when all the planning in the world fails us, perhaps it’s time to depend on God. Sounds simple, however, that’s what we need to bring down a mighty wall.

The finest work of art is you!

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14

How many of us enjoy a visit to an Art museum? It is filled with treasures, wonderful creations, to tickle the imagination, move the heart and inspire the weakest among us. We analyze, judge and discuss for hours and only hope for more creations at each corner as we walk through its halls. But the beauty of this world cannot be contained in an art museum. It only begins there. In truth there is art all around us. We see it in the city landscape, finely kept gardens, modern parks, buildings, bridges and countless other structures. Now for my taste there is beauty that is greater than all of these. I would happily choose the view of gentle waves crashing along the shore, or the endless array of colors scattered across a forest in the fall. I would stand in amazement before the greatest Mountains and I am easily humbled below the heavenly stars. For the greatest artist of all is God Himself.

What is His greatest work? Not the oceans, the moon or the sun. We are his greatest work! The complexity of man is beyond our imagination, some scientist estimate that a cell’s DNA contains about 4,000 books of 500 pages each of information. Consider how much data is actually stored within each cell and each human being. Consider the uniqueness of each person in appearance, in spirit and especially in imagination. We truly are a wonderful creation.

We should find joy and comfort in knowing that we are God’s greatest work. We are truly a treasure for our creator. He does not look away from us. He watches over us and hears our prayers. He works in our lives for our good and has our eternal future planned. He has no intention of being separated from us.

Paul wrote: 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39) Jesus himself said “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

How much value does our creator place in us. He paid for us with the blood of His son Jesus Christ. Therefore our value is priceless and cannot be measured. Any thought or word that would demean our value and worth is simply a lie. Do not be fooled, we are the greatest work from the greatest artist and our value cannot be measured!

Bible trivia

Test your bible knowledge

Click on the link below to go to my trivia game page!Enjoy!

Can we trust God more than the train?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; Proverbs 3:5

There I was speeding through the Bronx on an elevated train way above the ground. Children were playing and having a great time. Mothers seemed relaxed and contented. The driver of the train was nowhere in sight. But I was happy as can be and without a care in the world. I figured I was 100% safe. No reason to be concerned with who might be driving the train, his or her physical condition or capabilities; I was not worried about the condition of the train or the old tracks. What could go wrong? I trusted the construction of a system whose parts in some cases dated back to the 1800’s and an anonymous driver. As a species we are actually more trusting than what we think. We trust our waiters, our cooks, our babysitters, and our doctors. However when it comes to God how often does our trust fail?

Why do we doubt God even if we have experienced his power first hand? The Israelites had experienced the power of God who liberated them from Egypt with a mighty hand. But when they came face to face with the giants in Canaan they could not believe that God would provide a victory. Sarah had experienced the protection and guidance of God but upon being told that she would have a child, also did not believe and only laughed. I have also doubted God and yet I have personally experienced God’s blessing and care. Why do we spend so much time doubting?

Perhaps part of the doubt comes from our own feelings of inadequacies. The Israelites felt small next to those Giants and Sarah was sure she was too old. Often in finding our faith we must come to grips with the reality that when we cannot continue the fight, our God can. That when the problem is too great He can solve it and when it is impossible for us it is still possible for Him. The giants were thoroughly defeated, and Sarah would rejoice to see her baby born.

Everyday God is acting in our lives in miraculous ways. Let us trust Him. He is more reliable than the NYC subway system and has been around a whole lot longer. He is not anonymous and hears you when you call. He arrives on time and will definitely take us where we need to go.Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; Proverbs 3:5

There I was speeding through the Bronx on an elevated train way above the ground. Children were playing and having a great time. Mothers seemed relaxed and contented. The driver of the train was nowhere in sight. But I was happy as can be and without a care in the world. I figured I was 100% safe. No reason to be concerned with who might be driving the train, his or her physical condition or capabilities; I was not worried about the condition of the train or the old tracks. What could go wrong? I trusted the construction of a system whose parts in some cases dated back to the 1800’s and an anonymous driver. As a species we are actually more trusting than what we think. We trust our waiters, our cooks, our babysitters, and our doctors. However when it comes to God how often does our trust fail?

Why do we doubt God even if we have experienced his power first hand? The Israelites had experienced the power of God who liberated them from Egypt with a mighty hand. But when they came face to face with the giants in Canaan they could not believe that God would provide a victory. Sarah had experienced the protection and guidance of God but upon being told that she would have a child, also did not believe and only laughed. I have also doubted God and yet I have personally experienced God’s blessing and care. Why do we spend so much time doubting?

Perhaps part of the doubt comes from our own feelings of inadequacies. The Israelites felt small next to those Giants and Sarah was sure she was too old. Often in finding our faith we must come to grips with the reality that when we cannot continue the fight, our God can. That when the problem is too great He can solve it and when it is impossible for us it is still possible for Him. The giants were thoroughly defeated, and Sarah would rejoice to see her baby born.

Everyday God is acting in our lives in miraculous ways. Let us trust Him. He is more reliable than the NYC subway system and has been around a whole lot longer. He is not anonymous and hears you when you call. He arrives on time and will definitely take us where we need to go.

Giant slayer

 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17: 45-47

For many days the giant stood before the mightiest warriors of Israel. He shouted insults and challenges. Surely one of these brave soldiers would be willing to stand up to the giant. But in the Israelite camp there was nothing but silence except for the sound of beating hearts, racing from fear. But this day would be different because a young lad, not a soldier, happened to be in camp delivering food, and he would decide to take a leap of Faith.

Trusting and waiting on God is necessary and often a good practice but sometimes a decision or a challenge stands before us and we must take action in faith, especially if others are at risk. An entire nation was in danger of being enslaved, someone had to take action.

David gathered a few stones and came before the giant trusting in his God. It was not exactly blind faith, since David had fought a lion and a bear. Still this man was a renowned warrior, who also happened to be over 9 feet tall. David could not even carry his armor. But David with much courage challenged Goliath and warned him that he would fight him in the name of The Lord the God of Israel and that He would give him the victory. David ran towards Goliath and with his sling flung a stone. Goliath fell to the ground and David acting quickly cuts the giant’s head.

David like everyone else could have easily given into fear. It is easy to be frozen when facing dangers or challenges. However David was a man of faith. When it is time to take action, we must act, and demonstrate the faith we have in God, believing He will give us the victory.