Be Fruitful

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” – John 15:5

Whether it is asking for directions or asking for help to meet this month’s overwhelming bills, the human spirit by nature is a prideful one.  I’ve always struggled with this problem and I’m sure many of you do as well.  Why is it that we are willing to bend over backward and help those around us, but most times unwilling to accept help when we are in need?  Pride, embarrassment, and arrogance continue to drive a wedge between receiving God’s ultimate love and salvation and continuing to struggle in life’s daily challenges.

I remember once when we were on vacation, and decided to go for a hike along a river in Tennessee.  An hour into the 3-hour hike, up a 200-foot rocky pathway, Emma, then 3 years old would not give up.  It seemed as though every step she took on the worn path over the smooth stones her foot would slip and she would slide back.  Multiple times Lisa offered to carry her, but consistently the answer was the same, “I can do it myself”.  Her little fingers would grip the stone crevice and her little feet search for something to stand on, as the rest of us easily maneuvered over the rocky terrain.  Eventually, Emma and Lisa made it to the top where the rest of us had been resting and taking in the view from the highest point along the river’s edge.  They were able to get a sip of water and take a quick look over the edge before we had to begin the trek back down again.

Very much like Emma, at age 3, we all have so much confidence in our own ability and are unwilling to truly allow ourselves to rely on another, namely God, to see us through.  In doing so, we miss the wonderful views He has prepared for us.  Oh sure, we may get to the same destination that God had planned for us, but along the way, we will experience struggles, cuts, scrapes and many episodes of back-sliding.  God is not going to force Himself upon you though.  What you can do, is simply ask Him to help you, and then trust that He will.  Giving it to God and accepting the help that He is trying to give us makes the journey so much more worthwhile and spectacular.  There is no promise that it will be easy because there are moments of strengthening and growth that come from living a life for the Lord, but it will be more fruitful in His kingdom when you are done.

We are 5 weeks into the New Year.  How ripe is your fruit this year?  Remember, Jesus is the vine, we are the branches.  If we stay close to Him, our fruit will grow naturally.  It’s when we try to force something outside of our strengths and gifts that we struggle.  Now is a great time to focus on where God is leading you, what fruit should you bear.  Search your heart, break down the walls that you have built to keep God out and allow Him into those dark corners.  Then let His presence and wisdom flow through you to help you get the most from your life.  Remain confident and strong knowing that through God all things are possible and yet nothing of God is possible without His presence.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
You are an awesome God and we lift our hands to celebrate Your love for us.  Through Your grace and mercy, You have provided a path of salvation for each of us.  You have given us Your Holy Spirit to walk with us in every decision we make throughout the day if we would only ask for His help.  Help us to bury our selfish pride and arrogance and be willing to reach out to You for help in our life.  In Your name we pray – Amen

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Four Simple Words

“Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. “ – Psalm 32:10
 

In America, there are four consistent words on every coin and every dollar in your purse or wallet. I’m sure I don’t need to state them here, but I will just to ensure that we are all on the same page.  “In God We Trust”

The original 2c piece from 1864
first inscribed with
"In God We Trust"

It is evidenced by the sheer number of atheists and non-believers in America though that it is not a pre-requisite to believe these words in order to participate in the economy of this great country. How many times do we simply reach into our pocket and take out that crumpled up dollar bill or five spot and hand it over to another individual as payment for goods or services, without even considering what is on the piece of paper? There is no legal obligation to believe the words written on the US currency in order to spend the money, but I do believe it is important to understand how it got there.


 In 1862, Treasury Secretary, Salmon P. Chase published his annual report in which he was quoted:

“The distinct and unequivocal recognition of the divine sovereignty in the practical administration of our political system is a duty of the highest obligation. History unites with divine revelation in declaring that “happy is that people whose God is the Lord.” In the. exercise of political sovereignty our nation should honor him ; and now, in this hour of peril and danger to our country and its liberties, it is becoming to acknowledge his power and invoke his protection… The adoption on our coin of the motto “ God our trust,” or some other words expressive of national reliance upon divine support, would accord fully with the sentiment of the American people, and it would add to the artistic appearance of  the coins.”

And so began his quest to change the currency in the US to include the words, “In God We Trust”.  In 1863 he made a follow up request of Congress.
“I would respectfully and earnestly ask the attention of the Department to the proposition in my former report, to introduce a motto upon our coins expressive of a National reliance on Divine protection, and a distinct and unequivocal National recognition of the Divine Sovereignty. We claim to be a Christian Nation — why should we not vindicate our character by honoring the God of Nations in the exercise of our political Sovereignty as a Nation ? Our national coinage should do this. It's legends and devices should declare our trust in God — in Him who is the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”… “ God our Trust,” is taken from our National Hymn, the “Star-Spangled Banner.” The sentiment is familiar to every citizen of our country — it has thrilled the hearts and fallen in song from the lips of millions of American Freemen.”


Finally, in his 1864 Annual Report, he discussed succeeding in getting it passed by an Act of Congress to include the motto on the 1c and 2c coins, because there was no eagle on the back side.  This loop-hole in the 1837 coinage act allowed for the Secretary of Treasury to control the image on the back of the coin as long as it did not have an eagle or double eagle (gold and sliver coins) on it.

“The motto, “In God we trust,” stamped upon this coin, has been highly approved by the public, not only as improving the artistic beauty of the piece, but also as expressive of our nation’s reliance upon the “ God of Nations’’ in this hour of  peril and danger.
Why should this distinct and unequivocal recognition of the sovereignty of God, of Him who is “the King of kings, and Lord of lords” be confined to our bronze coinage ? The silver and the gold are His, and upon it should be impressed by national authority, the declaration of our nation’s trust in Him, “who maketh war to cease unto the ends of the earth, who stilleth the raging of the sea, and the tumult of the people.” Let our nation, in its coinage, honor Him, in whom is our strength and salvation.”

By the end of 1865, Salmon P. Chase, had convincingly worked to institute an Act of Congress to also get this included on the Silver and Gold coins.

By the 5th Section of the Act of Congress of March 3d, 1865. already referred to, the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, was authorized to place upon all the gold and silver coins of the United States, susceptible of such addition, thereafter to be issued, the motto, “ In God we trust.”

It took another 91 years to complete the task though.  In the 84^th Congress, under President Eisenhower, approved “In God We Trust” as our US official motto and that it be printed on all US Currency.   

“Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of  America in Congress assembled, That the national motto of the United States is hereby declared to be “In God We Trust”.  Approved July 30, 1956.  P.L. 84-851

So, when you think about the phrase being on our currency, realize that it is much more than just four words in print. It is the official national motto for the United States of America. Can you imagine if these petitions and bills were brought before our Congress today?  I fear that in our current governmental state that this entire idea would be denied. The anti-Christian movement in the US is accelerating at unheard of rates.  Just this last week, a proposal to remove “so help you God” from a witnesses oath before Congressional hearings.  Many schools and Government buildings have removed, “In God We Trust” signs.  Police are ridiculed and targeted for having “In God We Trust” stickers on their squad cars.

When this phrase was decided as our Nations Motto, it was truly believed and treasured.  Men and women were willing to stand up and strongly represent in a very public way that America is a country founded on Christian beliefs and principles.  There are adversaries here today though that are intent on altering that course of our history.  What are we going to do about it?

Join with me in standing firm with pride for our countries national motto and the men and women who had enough vision to know that a nation without God will surely fall. Be blessed my friends.





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Light in the Darkness

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.   Matthew 5:14-16

 

As the child looked up into his face, he saw the love of a stranger.  The smile through the bearded man, and the gentleness of his voice calmed any insecurities that the boy and his friends may have had.  Many people came to their country to help, but this man took extra time to kneel down and hug each child that came through the village that day, and even picked up a ball and played catch with a few of them in a dirt street nearby.

It wasn’t his first trip to their country, and hopefully it won’t be his last.  Each year his intention is to bring a little joy and support to children of impoverished nations and demonstrate God’s love by using the gifts he has been given.  In his last trip he’s gone to the Dominican Republic to help make a difference in the savage industry of Sex Trafficking in that country.  For the last 8 years he has used his popularity and visibility from a very large stage, to drive giving campaigns to provide food, shelter, education, clothing and the basic essentials of life to children in Zambia as well as right here in our backyard – the impoverished children in America. 



You may or may not have heard of him in the news over the last 5 to 10 years.  He’s a huge star in L.A. and in Dallas, where he was born.  He’s 30 years old, but mature well beyond his years in a loving, philanthropic manner.  In Zambia, he’s built two orphanages for children to have a place to call home, and to get the care and nurturing they need as they are growing up.  After they graduate High School, he and his wife help them get into University with scholarship grants.  His and his wife’s desire is to help children realize who Jesus is and that He came to save them.  It’s that simple, it’s that important.  Nothing else matters in life.  His career is just a means to help others get a step up in life, where the world is trying to press them down.

 I call out this specific individual as an example in today’s world, where he has chosen to make a difference and let the world see the power and glory of God almighty.  They aren’t looking for the glory to themselves, but I can’t leave it unsaid.  Clayton and Ellen Kershaw have chosen to take the light the Lord placed in them and shine it in very dark places around the world. 

Sure, he makes millions in his unbelievable MLB career with the Los Angeles Dodgers.  This causes most of us to then write it off as not relevant to our life, because we don’t make that kind of money, or have the ability to do all of those things.  The reality is that we do have the ability, but we choose to focus on our limitations rather than the unlimited power of God to use us.  You see, Clayton uses his Major League platform and visibility to drive awareness to his giving campaigns.  Most of the funding is from donations from others, and engaging with mission companies, churches and ministry campaigns as beneficiaries of the funds.  This expands the use beyond what he and his wife alone could do. 

You have a gift to share, it’s the time in your life to step up and do it.  Clayton Kershaw is one of the most decorated pitchers in the MLB for the last 10 years, but his real passion is seeing children come to Christ and breaking up the horrific industry of sex trafficking, that destroys young girls all over the world.  Forget about your career and income for a minute.  What is your real passion to help others in this life?

God has given you a light in the darkness.  You are expected to share that light with others in need.  You don’t have to go to Africa or the Dominican Republic to make a difference.  Go to inner city Detroit, Houston, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas, etc. and find out how you can help a local mission group there.  Get engaged and make a difference in your own town, to impact just one life.  For if you did that it creates a ripple effect where that one person can engage with another and so on and so on.  Use the platforms you have (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) to start a movement.  Get a GoFundMe account to provide blankets for homeless or to setup a food line.  There is no limit to God’s resources to help you make a change in this world other than your own mind.  If you’re not thinking about helping others, than you should be. 

Sitting on the sidelines is one way to spend your life, but the return is very narrowly focused.  Getting into the game and impacting others with your time and resources has a very broad opportunity of influencing so many others to see the love of God.  Please carefully consider this and take that step.  If you want to discuss ideas, or hear of opportunities to get engaged, send me an email at Sondove1@Yahoo.com or message me on FB at https://www.facebook.com/rpalmer1.
     



www.kershawschallenge.com

www.ijm.com

 

 

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You Can’t Have That

"The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him."  - Exodus 15:2

Imagine that you come home from a vacation on Saturday afternoon to discover that a tornado had completely wiped out your neighborhood while you were gone.  Sticks, boards, sheetrock and shingles lay all over what used to be the front yard of your home, as well as all of the homes around you.  The swing-set is gone, the pool sidewall is cracked from the tree that fell in, the shed you and your son built with your own hands is now a pile of twisted wood and metal.  Your loss is 100%, not a single thing is salvageable - not your brand new car in the garage, your big screen television, your computer, your appliances, your beds, your furniture, your photo books, your old video tapes are all either destroyed by the fire that ensued after the tornado hit or they were washed away by the fire hose and torrential downpour that occurred after the twister hit.  Walking up to the pile of rubble, with your only possessions in hand; I ask you – Can you still praise God?

  I propose that most of us would be looking heavenward with 2 things on our mind: "Thanks to be alive." & "Why me God?"  Both are legitimate thoughts, but which of the two are more aligned to God's expectations?  "Have no idols" rings a bell as a pretty strong statement from our Creator.  So consider what sits between you and God?  It's so easy to put things between God and oneself.  If something is taken away from us and our life becomes shattered because of it, then we have to ask "Was this object more important than God?"; "Am I still capable of living out God's plan for my life without these things?"; “Can I still love God when everything else is gone?”

  So often, our lives get wrapped around things and become distracted from the One that seeks our attention. When that is the case you need to honestly look at how much you are missing out on from God in order to give your attention elsewhere.  If it is that easy to cause separation between you and God, don't you think Satan will use it?  I propose that the more things you are centering your life around, the more opportunity you are giving Satan to own your life.  Center your life on God and at the same time create a stronghold against the will of Satan's attack.  Then when tragedy does happen and you are left with only the clothes on your back you can look heavenward and state with confidence, "Okay God, here we go" and mean it.



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The Love of a Father

 

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” - Galatians 6:1-2

 

As the sun descended against the April sky, surrounded by the clouds over the great Pacific Ocean.  The waves began crashing harder and farther up onto the golden sands of the West coast beach.  Those with their toes in the sand, began shifting chairs and umbrellas, trading them in for sweatshirts and blankets.  In the distance one could hear the loud music start to carry across the vastness of the beach.  Lights were flashing, and the bass coming from the speakers was almost deafening, as it caused one’s heart to beat in rhythm.

As the sun set upon the horizon of the deep ocean blackness, you could hear waves lapping against the rocks and legs of the piers and jutties extending into the water.  Bon-fires were cropping up across the length of beach as people began to gather around each one.  Averaging 10-15 people per fire, they all sat staring at the flame or looking out upon the dark unknown before them in the ocean’s depths.  Most were in their teen years or early twenties, with a couple of more mature younger folks hanging out with younger partners. 

Couples and acquaintances cuddled under blankets near the fires.  Here or there you could find a few strumming their guitar, or beating a drum in the night air.  Some singing, but mostly just a methodical beat drifting off into the air in a manner of praise to the gods of fire and darkness.  Then the drugs and alcohol started being passed around, and a haze of vapor and smoke began to settle over the beach.  With the sun over the horizon, inhibitions were abandoned and the partying had begun.  Dancing ensued, followed by unmentionable activities between strangers as the swell of unabated desires fueled by the jeering and calls of those gathered around.  It was quickly becoming a celebration of debauchery, and the evil of the world was evident everywhere.

On the hill above the beach a single man stood quietly.  He held a sign on a pole above him, that simply said, “You are my beloved child, and I still love you.  Please come home.”  Tears covered his cheeks, as he stood alone in the cold.  In one hand he held onto a small doll, that had once belonged to his beautiful little girl many years ago.  In the other hand he held a blanket and a small bag of clothes.  He sang softly the words from a lullaby that he had sang to her so many nights as she grew up, but in the partying and uproar, his words fell silently upon her ears.

You see, she had ran away nearly a year ago, taking his ATM card when she did.  She proceeded to nearly empty his account before he could disable the card.  Now, here she was on the West Coast, living life wildly and just having fun.  The money had long dried up, resulting in her needing to beg and trade each day for food and fun.  She had ignored him when he called a few times and wanted nothing to do with his judging attitude upon her life.  She wanted to live her life for herself, and aggressively went out of her way to avoid his principles and nurturing guidance from her youth.  Rebellious in every action, she was trying to get as far from his beliefs as possible.

Yet, once he discovered that she came to this beach to party almost every night, he began showing up to watch the sunset from afar, praise God and watch over his little girl.  He stood there with hope that could only come from the Father above, to make sure she knew that his love had not wavered and that she was welcome back into his home.  His heart burst every night as she would glance his way, shake her head and walk away with her arm around someone. 

As the night wore on, the fire faded and the wind slowed down.  He stood at his post diligently, lovingly, patiently and watched as the crowds began to dissipate.  He watched as she emerged from under a blanket with two others, adjusting her bikini back into place.  Then another came over and grabbed her by the arm to pull her to him.  She pulled back and yelled something at the kid, to which the kid slapped her hard across the face, knocking her to the ground.  Then he called her inexplicable words and everyone laughed at her, spit on her and kicked sand on her.  She lay there by herself, as they all began to walk off together, laughing and carrying on. 

She lay near the burnt ashes of the fire, sobbing into the crook of her elbow.  The fire embers provided some warmth, but the chill was setting in as she lie there in her bikini.  She knew she had nowhere to go.  Her roommate had kicked her out a month ago for not having any money to pay a portion of the bills.  Closing her eyes, she curled into a fetal position and cried herself to sleep in the cold. 

Soon after, she was startled as a blanket softly fell upon her shivering body. Her eyes were blurry as the tears filled them.  She slowly turned and looked up.  There he was, kneeling over her, with her doll in one hand and a bag in the other.  She slowly sat up, wrapping the blanket around her shoulders, she lifted her eyes to stare into his face.  He handed her the doll and pulled the blanket tighter around her.  His words echo in her mind to this day, “I love you, please come home.”  She fell into his chest, sobbing deeply, expressing why she didn’t deserve to come home.  He held her close, running his fingers through her matted hair, her body convulsing as the tears flowed. 

The next words from his lips were the most important words he could ever voice.  “There is nothing you can do to make me stop loving you.  I am your father and will always pick you up when you fall.  Come home and let’s talk about it in the morning.”  To which she replied, “Can we go now?”  He handed her the bag with a change of clothes he took from her room at the house.  He lifted her up from the sand, carrying her back up the hill, where he lay her gently on the back seat of his truck.  Covering her with the blanket, he shut the door and gave her the privacy to change into the sweatshirt jeans and tennis shoes.  He lifted his head to the heavens and praised God for returning his little girl to him.  He then started the car, turned the heater on and drove them the 110 miles back home, singing her favorite lullaby the whole way home while she slept in the back seat.





Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you so much for the love you have given to us.  An immutable love that is poured out upon your children despite our transgressions and sinful nature.  We are loved in an unmeasurable manner and provided a grace that is so undeserved by our very existence.  Please stand near me and strengthen me as I parent my children and influence others.  Let your love be in my words, to gently restore the faith of the lost and help those that are blind see once again.  My joy in life is to share your gospel, give me the ability to share it with your blessing.
– Amen



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A Man of Courage

 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” – Acts 4:13




On Monday, in  America and many other parts of the world, we stopped to honor Martin Luther King Jr.  His legacy has been recorded as standing up for the civil rights and equality among all men and women regardless of race, color, religion or sex.  An impassioned man with a cause to improve the lives of the impoverished and disenfranchised through means of non-violent measures and activism, rather than violence has set him apart from many leaders in history.  Whether you agree with his principles, his religious views, his activities or his anti-war beliefs you cannot question that this was a man who knew from an early age that he was able to make a difference and pursued it with enormous courage.  He was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee.  From his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech the night before he concluded with this quote:

“And then I got to Memphis. And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers? Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. So I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord” – M.L.K. Jr

Most remember his “I Have a Dream” speech from Washington, but I have been drawn to his Mountaintop speech because it paints a picture of serving God and fully trusting that God has a plan for those who are willing to step out of their normal life and into His will.  I look at those in history that have stood courageous for the Lord and ask myself why.  Peter and John were fishermen, very common men by all perspectives in the day of our Lord.  We read of Peter’s wife, but have no record whether John was married or not. 

When called by the Lord, they gave up their lives, security and followed Him.  They are no different than you or I in that they had commitments, they had bills, they needed food, clothing, shelter and to provide for their families.  Yet, somewhere in their heart they knew that serving God was a bigger calling and their faith extended beyond what was apparent and visible.  We feel the pull to do more, we feel the urge to do something to help others and improve the lives of those who are misfortune.  Then we get into our car and drive to the mall or to the theater or Starbucks. 

I’m guilty of this every day.  I get up, put on my best business attire, step out the door kissing my wife and children good bye.  I spend the day in a beautiful office building working on very real problems in the world of technology and corporate growth.  All the while asking myself what am I doing for the least of these?  What did I do to leave a legacy for my children to aspire too?  How did I change the world for all of our children?

What if Martin Luther King Jr. had not taken an interest, at the age of 18, to step out against injustice and for equality, building his entire platform on the love of God?  Where would this world be if this man of courage had simply chosen to live as his forefathers and their forefathers had lived? 

It takes courage to change the world, and I am asking each of you reading this today – where is your courage?  The issues we face today will not solve themselves, we must stand up for God’s love to become pervasive throughout the world.



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Always Be Ready

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9
 

 I love college basketball, especially when my favorite team is contending for number one in the rankings.  This morning I wanted to share the story of a young man, Andy, who was on the small side. He stood just over 5 foot and weighed just over 100 pounds. He tried out for and made the Freshman basketball team at his high school, and everyone knew it was more out of pity than talent. It was a small school and the competitiveness was less emphasized than the camaraderie between the boys. The coach of the Warriors had a strict philosophy that every boy would play at least one quarter per game.

  They went through their season with only one loss and sure enough he had played his one quarter per game and that was it. Andy had never scored a point and frequently was avoided by the other boys on the court at the same time. It came to the championship game against their arch rivals from across town. The coaches philosophy for the night was to let Andy play the first quarter and they could spend the next 3 quarters catching up. This had worked for him all season and he was sticking with it.

  The plan was working just great until mid way through the 2nd quarter when their star point guard fouled out. As the boys gathered around the coach, Andy stayed on the bench. He had already played his quarter and was comfortable in his role of sitting out the rest. The coach assessed the situation and looking towards the bench told Andy to go check in. Andy looked startled and reminded the coach that he had already played. The other boys begged the coach to put in one of the other boys instead. The coach walked over, knelt down in front of Andy and with all seriousness in his voice said, "Son, you were put here for this purpose. We need you to help this team win the championship. I need you on that court."

  Andy checked into the game, and proceeded to score 13 points, including the game winning field goal for the championship. The coaches confidence in this young man vaulted him to levels he had never previously achieved. Likewise your heavenly Father has given you everything you need to be a champion in your life. Over time and through hard work practice trials you are learning to hone your talents and gifts for His great work. In due time He is going to ask you to get in the game and when that happens, you need to be ready.

  Perhaps that's today, perhaps it is in the near future, or even years down the road, but you are here for a God given purpose and this world needs you on that court. Do not lose patience as you wait for your Heavenly Coach to call your name.  Continue in the word, continue strengthening your gifts and talents so you are ready to jump into the game.  Be blessed my friends


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Silently Addicted

“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’” –Isaiah 41:10

 

Who are you trusting in?  For if it is any but the Lord, than you have established a barrier between you and Him.  The message from the very center of the scriptures is to take refuge in the Lord, not to trust in man (Psalm 118:8).  We have created separation from the Lord in our pride and arrogance in thinking that we have this life under control.  Do you not realize that tomorrow, everything you have can be taken from you.  Fire, floods, tornado, violence and theft are just examples of every day occurrences in this world.  There is no written by-law that says you will not suffer from these things in your lifetime.

Therefore, when we put our trust in things, in people and in ourselves; we are destined for disappointment and suffering at some point.  We’re all familiar with the story of Job.  If not, you really should take the time this week to read through that book in the Bible.  It’s right after Esther and right before the Psalms.  Job was a wealthy man by the standards of that day.  His house was filled with love, laughter, and joy.  His pastures were covered with livestock and his barns were full.  It was all taken away in a matter of days and he was stricken near death with sickness.  Everything he had been blessed with was lost and all he had left was his God, and that was enough.

Is God enough for you?  If your family were lost tomorrow in a tragic accident.  If your house burned to the ground, including your computers, TVs, cell phones and tablets.  Your insurance doesn’t cover it and your bank accounts are frozen to cover the loss.  You lose your job the very next day and as you leave the parking lot you run out of gas.  You have no money in your wallet, nowhere to go and no way to get there.  What will you do?  You are now homeless, penny-less, out of work and then you find yourself breaking out in a skin rash that covers your body with sores. 

I realize it seems extreme, but there is nothing in this world that cannot be taken from you.  We have become so dependent on the world around us and trusting in our own capabilities to solve problems in life that we have become vulnerable to the evil in this world.  We have turned from trusting in our Creator for our daily bread and our livelihood and taken the responsibility upon ourselves.  We must examine those dependencies in life and ask ourselves what happens when it’s gone?  Are you dependent upon your spouse, your children, your parents, your siblings?  Are you dependent upon a job, a mortgage, a creditor, a vehicle?  Are you dependent upon an ATM machine, a grocery store, a cell phone, an internet provider or social media giant?  How did we get here from where we were when Christ died on that cross?

Over 2 thousand years have passed and in that time frame the gospel has been watered down to something that we use for convenience rather than something we depend on.  God is viewed as the “Big Guy in the Sky” looking down like a puppet master, rather than our Father and Lord.  The message of Christ has been changed along the way to a To-Do list item rather than a lifestyle.  The fall of mankind started with a single bite of an apple, but has transcended into a life where evil is accepted and tolerated rather than challenged because of our weakness and unwillingness to stand up for righteousness.  So, again I ask you; “Is God enough for you?”  Could you give it all up today if He asked?   Recall in Matthew when the young rich man said to Him, “All these things [commandments] I have kept; what am I still lacking?”  Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”  I propose to you than many of us are silently addicted to the ways of this world, just as this man was.

In looking at your goals and resolutions created in the last few weeks, did you honestly address what’s keeping you from pursuing those things?  Would they change if you created those lists assuming you had nothing to your name?  No car, no money, no home, no job, no cell phone, no internet, no family.  What would you do for God today?  Put aside your self-righteousness, pride and arrogance.  It’s just you and God taking on the world.  What will you do?  Write it down as we discussed the other day.  It makes it much more concrete and actionable when it’s written. Think big, for our God is the Creator of the Universe and cannot be limited by our materialistic thinking.   





© Sondove Enterprises, 2019
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Keeping Your Promise

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” – Galatians 6:10

Here we are 21 days into the New Year, 2019.  How are the resolutions coming along?  Still on track, still remaining consistent and committed to achieving the goals that have been set?  Each year the majority of us will sit down and think through the areas of our life that we would like to improve.  Some of the most common resolutions involve losing weight, time management, eating healthier and loving more.  This is not a new phenomenon, it has been going on for centuries as we come to the end of one year and look for new beginnings; a chance to wipe the slate clean and start over.  If you think about it, January 1^st was just another day; no different than December 31^st or January 2^nd.  Yet, within each of us there was a sense of renewal and an increased commitment to change certain things about our life that we may be unhappy with.

I propose to you that this not need be a once a year experience, and that every day you have the opportunity to start afresh in the Lord.  Walk in His light each day, and know that He will walk with you if you so choose.  Set goals for the day and then reconcile nightly on the achievements.  Start small, a few key objectives for the day and then progress to larger, farther reaching goals.  If you don’t have a journal or place to record these goals, than I highly suggest you buy one today.  It can be as simple as a spiral notebook, just something to record your thoughts and write down your daily goals.  This gives you the ability to review throughout the year where you have had success.

Secondly, lift these goals to God each and every day.  Ask Him for the help to achieve these goals and share His message with others.  He is your strength when it seems you cannot reach or live up to the targets and commitments you have made.  The Holy Spirit living within becomes your accountability coach, reminding you of what you are trying to achieve.  Keep in mind that the whole point of a New Years resolution is to improve one’s self and to become a better influence on those around you.  The opportunities are there every day, you need to decide how you are going to pursue them and then lean on the Holy Spirit to help you fulfill them.

A daily list might look something like this:
1.  Today, I resolve to refrain from using vulgar language
2.  Today, I resolve to listen intently when others are speaking
3.  Today, I resolve to eat more healthy foods – vegetables and fruit; rather than sweets

It’s important to realize that God’s love is not dependent upon you achieving this list each day.  He will not love you more if you are perfect at keeping your resolutions, than He does if you fail at all of them.  The goal here is not to do good things to be worthy of His love, it is to improve your character and your focus on Him.  His love for you is unchanging regardless.  Go ahead, make a list for today and let’s get started on a great 2019, there are still 344 days ahead.



© Sondove Enterprises, 2019
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Judas Next Door

"“They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?" ” - Matthew 26:22   

Why is it that we aren’t able to deliver on everything we commit to in life?  Perhaps it’s only me, and you have figured it out.  Often times with full intentions of good, I have committed something to someone, and not been able to live up to their expectations, or my commitment.    I hate making promises and then falling short of delivering on those promises, especially when it comes to my children and wife.  They deserve a father that is reliable, a man of his word and filled with integrity to always prioritize them before the trivial things in life.  Yet, often times the unforeseeable happens and the soccer game is missed, or they are late to an event because of me. 

How miserable Judas must have felt, at the last supper with Jesus in the upper room, when Jesus dipped his hand at the same time.  Judas reaction in Matthew 26:25, was one of surprise – “Surely, not I, Rabbi?”  Yet, we read on in scriptures that Judas indeed was the one who betrayed Jesus to the Jewish leaders, for a sum of 30 pieces of silver.  We later learn that Judas gave the money back and committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree.  What about the other disciples though?  I would propose that they abandoned Jesus as well in His hour of need.  Peter denied him three times, John and James could not stay awake while Christ prayed.  Where were the disciples while Christ was being beaten, scourged and carrying His cross through the streets of Jerusalem?  Why was a foreigner, Simon from Cyrene, chosen to carry the cross of Christ after He had fallen?  Where was Matthew, Peter or John during that stage of Jesus suffering?

How are you doing with your walk then?  Has there been a time in your life where you also turned your back upon the Lord?  Daily we must wake and acknowledge Jesus Christ as our risen Savior and Lord.  Daily we must recommit our lives to His path and plan of salvation.  Daily we must choose to do what’s righteous and avoid the temptations that surround us.  Living the life of a Christian is not something to be taken lightly.  I believe there are many that would say they accepted Christ and put a check mark in that area of their life, yet, will never step up and share that faith with another person.  They are completely comfortable in their own salvation without worrying about those around them – their spouse, their children or friends.  This is no different than the disciples we look at on the night of Jesus betrayal.  To Christ’s face, in our prayer times, we will boldly state “I Love You Lord”, yet those words get stuck in our throat when confronted with a challenge from someone else.

We must learn as the body of Christ to take a bold stand for our Savior in all circumstances – work, play, at the dinner table, doing chores, in our finances, on the ball field or in the gym.  For, if we are not willing to stand up for Him at the crossroads of our life, we are nothing more than betraying Him and turning our back on Him.  I pray that you are not in this state my friend and that you are fully committed and on board with the Savior and Lord of the world.

PRAYER:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Your Son Jesus Christ.  For Your incredible plan of salvation through His death on that cross and the glorious resurrection.  Thank You for Your forgiving grace and mercy for our clumsiness in evangelizing Your word.  Help us Lord, to be stronger, more confident and filled with Your Spirit during those times of faith challenges in our life.  Where our flesh is weak Lord, give us strength; where our mind is distracted Lord, give us purpose; where we are hesitant to follow Your Spirit within us, give us courage and swift feet.  We long to live for Your purpose and spread Your good news to the world.  In Your precious name I pray – Amen.


© Sondove Enterprises, 2019
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R-E-S-P-E-C-T

"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” – James 1:19-20
 

As children we learn that it is polite to let others finish speaking before we do, that it is rude to interrupt another person as they are speaking.  How many times have you been interrupted by a young child with something that is completely off topic and unrelated to the current thread of a discussion?  It’s a difficult lesson to learn for most children, because the mind of a 6 year old can only focus on one thing at a time and “big people” take too long to say what they have to say. There is a maturity that involves respecting one another that evolves over time but is essential in life. 

One of the biggest issues this world faces today is the lack of respect we have for one another.  I believe that this has been lost amongst the masses as individuals think more about themselves and less about others.  There is a universal standard called the golden rule which comes from the scripture in Matthew 7:12 that teaches us to treat others as we want to be treated.  Yet, many of us will continue to pursue gain at the expense of others in our actions and communication.  This sense of entitlement has become a significant influence and even a barrier in our society’s ability to truly love one another the way God intended us to love one another.

James words seem simple and logical, but continually they have become a stumbling block for most people at some point in life.  Just as we were taught as children to respect our parents and adults and not to interrupt, we need to continue to focus on this principal as we mature.  Respecting others is a fundamental element of a follower of Jesus Christ.  We do not have to agree with others words, actions or character elements but we must give them the respect that comes from God the Father.  His love is immutable, that is never changing, and equal amongst all people.  Consider His love for another individual before making a judgment on their words, action or character.  We must all learn from James to respect one another and be slow to anger, allowing God’s righteousness to surface in our actions


 
© Sondove Enterprises, 2019
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