Look Within First

“For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” – 1 Peter 4:17

As I was driving just the other day, I noticed a car that had been pulled over by a local policeman.  It was a shiny metallic blue Chevy Corvette and the driver was a young man, who couldn’t be more than 20.  Quickly my mind raced to the conclusion that this young man must have been speeding and it was justified that the police officer would write him a ticket.

How much more guilty am I though.  It’s easy to look at someone else’s circumstance and think they deserve it, but it is so much more difficult to look at my own life and think the same thing.  We have a tendency to focus on the good things we do in life and hold actions up for all to see, yet keep our mistakes, unrighteousness and bad habits hidden away.  We can hide these things from the world if we are careful, but often times we lump God in with the world.

God knows our transgressions and our sinful nature.  Whether we try to hide it from Him or not, He is fully aware of our actions and thoughts.  It is important to bring these things into your conversations with God.  How can we begin the process of repentance, healing and eliminating the guilt associated with these actions if we’re not willing to put them on the table.  Once dealt with, we become stronger and more prepared to help others with similar problems.  We become agents of God’s mercies by going through the pain and suffering ourselves.

The Bible is clear - God will judge the just and the unjust in do time. I’d rather ensure that my sins and transgressions have been dealt with prior to that time, so that God can use me to the fullest to help others as needed.  Start today won’t you?

Prayer:
Almighty God,
We come before You, sinners and unclean in our actions.  Please forgive us for our unrighteousness and our deceitful ways.  Teach us, oh Lord, to walk upright and holy in Your presence in all that we do.  Help us to turn from our sins and look to You for strength against the temptation that lie at the door in waiting.  Our trust is in You.  In Your name we pray – Amen
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©Sondove Enterprises, 2011

Fake It till you Make IT

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”  – Ephesians 5:1-2

I watch as he fights dragons, saves the damsel in distress and rides away on his white horse to save the day.  He is your typical energetic little boy, who slides head first into home to win the game, crashes his car in turn three and still wins the Indy 500 and tries to swing high enough to go over the top bar of the swingset.  His imagination is vivid with characters, places and events that the rest of us sitting in the room fail to comprehend.  He is 5 years old and beautifully created in the image of God.  Yet, he imitates the characters in the fairy tales from bed-time stories and videos that he may have watched the day before.

I point this out to draw a similarity back to our lives.   We know God, recognize that we are made in His image and we stand in church with our arms raised and singing praises to our Lord and Savior.  Yet, so many times we walk out of the church building and spend the next 6 days imitating the world around us.  Someone once told me, “Fake it till you make it”, and as trivial as that sounds it is actually quite truthful in describing how many of us live our Christian lives.  We step forward to an alter on a glorious Sunday morning and amidst tears and prayers accept Jesus Christ into our life.  The single most important decision in a person’s life cause angels to sing in heaven.  Salvation is the point at which you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  The Holy Spirit (God Himself) enters into your heart and dwells within you from that moment forward.

As a person leaves the sanctuary after accepting Jesus Christ do they immediately know what it takes to be a Christian?  The answer is no.  The Holy Spirit becomes their guide, the Word of God becomes their instruction manual and for a period of time, they need to “put on” the image of Christ while they learn what it truly means.  Christians all over the world are learning at different stages.  Some are aged and yet still babes in their Christian walk.  Others are young and vibrant and full of energy to change the world for Christ.  Then there are the millions if not billions of us in the middle trying to figure it out.  Imitating Christ is our pathway to becoming the person God made us to be.

The Holy Spirit convicts of our wrong doing and advises us of His righteousness.  In building a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ through reading of His word daily, it becomes easier to imitate the Savior of the world.  Just as my 5 year old boy imitates his heroes from the books he reads I need to imitate my hero – Jesus Christ.

Prayer:
Loving Father,We are Your children and long to be in Your arms.  We thank You for the Holy Spirit to reign in us as we walk this path.  Thank You for the Word that fills our minds, hearts and thoughts with the image of Your son Jesus Christ.  Help us to be imitators of His love, peace, sacrifice and servants heart to all that we meet, so that Your grace might be felt amongst all people.  In Your name we pray – Amen
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©Sondove Enterprises, 2011

The Greatest Gift

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” -Acts 4:12

The great prophets of the Old Testament - Joseph, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Daniel, Zachariah, Malachi, Micah, to name a few, each had provided previous Kings and rulers with insight and communication from the Almighty. In 8 B.C. though, four hundred years had passed since the Lord had spoken to them. The children of the Lord felt lost, they cried out to the Lord with no answer. The Priests, Pharisees and Sadducees held true to the Mosaic Law of the time and had created separation between themselves and the children of Israel. The Roman government had stepped in and taken over control of the land of Judea and ruled through taxation and a military fist of oppressive control. Families continued to study the scrolls and read the prophecies of old. There were stories, that had passed down from generation to generation, of personal accounts with the prophets of old.

They were waiting for the Messiah. The one promise God had made that would put an end to their suffering and usher in a world of peace, love and God’s reign on earth once again. I imagine they struggled with unanswered questions, much the way we do today. Why was He taking so long? Why couldn’t He put an end to the oppression and enter them into His peace? Did God abandon them? Where was God in their plight, how could He allow them to be held captive for so long? Two thousand years have passed and not much has changed.

When Christ came, He fulfilled the prophesies, yet they refused to believe. There are those still waiting for God to deliver them from bondage in this world. They are still holding on to the truth of the early scrolls and scriptures of the One that will come and take away their pain. They wait on the Messiah, prophesied so many years ago. They have chosen to refuse the birth of the Jesus Christ of Nazareth as that event. With so much knowledge of the scriptures and prophecies, they were blind to the event as it happened in their very midst. God had stated through Isaiah, that men would be blinded by arrogance, piety and the evil one. We see that fulfilled through the very act of the Pharisees, Sadducees and Priests in the New Testament writings.

So, here we are with our own prophetic writings from John the Apostle in Revelations. Telling us how Christ will return to escort us into eternal paradise with God the Father. How many billions of people will miss it when it happens? So many today have heard the message passed down from generation to generation and told through the scriptures. Yet still, having heard the truth of the scriptures, some refuse to recognize Him as Savior and Lord. Will they stand by when He returns and even in His presence refuse to acknowledge Him? People are being blinded by the evil one once again. It is upon you and me to help them see the light and realize the truth in the scriptures. We can either sit by and allow them to miss His glorious return, or we can step out and share His love with them, that they might also celebrate in eternity with us.
Do you want to make a difference in this world? Take the initiative to share the Christ child with as many as you can. Make it a part of your family tradition to tell the story of His birth, His life, death and resurrection and of His return one day to take us home.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We come before You filled with love for the lost, the blind and those that are in denial. We ask to be Your voice to them. Give us the courage, wisdom and confidence to speak out on Your behalf as we await the return of the Christ, the Messiah. Let Your light shine through each of us to bring the love, compassion, peace and grace of the Christ child to those we meet and come in contact with. Give us a boldness to stand up for Your word as the plan of redemption and present that to the masses this year. Help those who hear Your word be touched deeply and emotionally drawn to a closer understanding of Your presence. You have given us the Messiah to save us from the evil in this world, let us not refuse His presence once again as in days of old, and let us help them see His truth and glory when He returns. In Your name we pray. - Amen

What Would You Do With It

“Someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying.  Like tomorrow was a gift, and you’ve got eternity to think about, what would you do with it” – Tim McGraw lyrics

We take so much for granted in this life.  The very fact that our feet landed on the floor this morning is a blessing that most of us never consider.  The fact that you can breathe without assistance, hear, see and speak are other examples of the simple values in life we daily overlook.  I watched a 16 year old young man, named Scotty McCreery, take the stage back in January, proud of his roots, his faith and his deep country voice.  I proceeded to watch him over the last 4 months continue to live up to the integrity and character of a strong follower of Jesus Christ.  He has never hid his faith from the audience and millions of viewers watching American Idol each week.  Just this week Scottie was announced the winner of American Idol 2011, after singing Live Like You Were Dying with Tim McGraw.  His exact quote after being crowned the winner was, “I have to thank the Lord first, He got me here.”  This young man, stood on one of the biggest stages and in front of the biggest audience around the globe and proclaimed to the world his faith and belief in God Almighty as his strength.

This song from Tim McGraw speaks volumes in our lives today.  Every day we are given from the Lord above is a blessing and needs to be treated with as much respect.  We are given the opportunity to live for Him and His purpose on this earth, and it is our choice to use it or lose it.  I have stated in previous Daily Thoughts that time is linear.  We look at a clock, a calendar or day-timer and think about time in cycles, but it’s not cyclical at all.  The very seconds you have just spent reading these words will never be given back to you.  Each of us are on a journey called life and what you do with every one of the 86,400 seconds in a day should be considered a precious blessing from God.  From the moment you were born you will have 29,200 days (assuming an average lifespan of 80 years) to live for God.  It’s funny to me how often times people who are given the news of a terminal disease change their life and become more loving, caring and forgiving of others.  So many times, the receipt of this negative news drives changes in an individual’s life to make them the person they always wanted to be. 

The choices you make, the people you influence and the love you share in life will establish the legacy you leave behind.  Have you noticed how people find God quickly when a doctor tells them the end is near.  Yet these same people hear the same message from the pulpit and street corner preachers, and do nothing about it.  If you were given the gift of starting over, would you spend more of your time with the One who created you?  Would you dedicate more of your life to fulfilling His purpose?  I know I would.

Why not start today, and live like you were dying, because in the big scheme of this linear life you are.

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©Sondove Enterprises, 2011

You Never Listen

“And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."   – Luke 22:42-43

I’m sure you’ve been there.  Needing something desperately, at the end of your rope, no way out and filled with despair.  Hitting your knees, and lifting your words to heaven in the most earnest prayer possible, you ask the Lord to help.  I’ve been there myself, crying out to the Lord for a specific answer, knowing in my heart that it had to be in God’s plans.  I waited patiently for His answer, for the circumstances to miraculously change and my prayers to be answered.  Time passed and no answers, no changes in the situation and if anything it had gotten worse.   

Unanswered prayers are on the lips of all of God’s children, some for our good and some for our growth.  I have found that often times when I am discouraged and impatient with God’s timing, is when I am focusing on my own desire for the prayer to be answered, not on His will.  Do you believe that God has an eternal perspective and not a moment by moment perspective?  If so, if you believe God to be omniscient, then you must understand that just because we want something, it might not be in His will.  This is the hardest part.

 What we don’t see in our myopic view are the halo effects of the Lord’s response.  As an example, you might be praying for a miraculous healing of a loved one’s illness.  Could the Lord reach down with His healing hand and remove the sickness, cancer or infirmity?  Instantly, if it were within His will to do so.  But, it may not be.  So, why wouldn’t it be within His will?  What if, hypothetically the medical practitioners could be influenced through the circumstance and come to a relationship with Jesus Christ as a result?  Or if your relationship with the Lord is strengthened, and you become more dependent and accepting of His control and power as a result.  You see how the perspective of the Lord is bigger then the circumstance that is right in front of you.

So it was with our Savior as captured in Luke 22^nd chapter.  Jesus Christ knelt and prayed that the cup be taken from him.  Knowing that He would be captured, beaten, tortured and die; He prayed that the Lord find another way to solve the problem if possible, so He would not have to endure it.  God, in all of His Sovereignty and loving control said, “No, my Son.  As much as it hurts Me to say no, this is My plan of salvation for mankind.”  As a father of 5, and grandfather of 2, I could not have that much courage.  I could not make a decision to watch my own flesh and blood be beaten, tortured and crucified.  I would fight with every ounce of energy I have, even to death, to protect and keep them from suffering. 

So, what if God had answered Christ’s prayer and decided to save His Son that night?  The plan of salvation, grace and eternity would have been halted at that moment.  The halo effect of God’s decision that evening before Christ’s arrest has covered your sins, mine and the worlds ever since that glorious day of His resurrection.  God knew the eternal plan was more important than the immediate desires of His Son’s heart and left that prayer unanswered.  This must be kept in perspective as we look at the prayers that we lift to our Heavenly Father.  We do not see the halo effect of the outcome when we look through our eyes.  So, although we may not like it and it might even hurt (emotionally or physically), we must trust and have faith that God is in control and He will work all things for the good of His kingdom.

Prayer:Almighty God,
Creator of the Universe and all that is within it.  We kneel before You with our hands raised and our hearts open to Your will in our life Lord.  We humble ourselves to know that You are in control and that we do not understand the mysteries of Your ways.  We trust that You are working all things for Your good and that it may not align with our desires and plans in this world.  We accept that You are Sovereign and we are here for Your glory, and that in all things You will be praised.  In Your name we pray – Amen.

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Times Haven't Changed

“Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us”

How much more true is this statement today than the day that it was originally stated?  Technology, convenience, comfort and luxury have set us apart from God to the point that there is a feeling of independence from the Creator of the world.  Every single day we take for granted that we are here not because we chose to be here, but because He chose for us to be.  Consider the very life that you are trying to fulfill and the goals you are trying to achieve – are they focused on the will of God Almighty or on your personal acclamations?  

Over and over again, the scriptures tell us of God’s divine plan.  Yet some struggle each day, wondering what their purpose is.  If it is God’s purpose you seek in life, than take it upon yourself to pursue it.  Matthew 28:19 tells you clearly the purpose of your life – “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.”  Must we chose to complicate His message by interjecting our desires into the task at hand?  God’s will is articulated through Paul the Apostle in 1 Timothy 2:3-4 which states, “..in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” and again in Titus 2:11, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men”

I am driven by the same confusion, and unwillingness to give up my fleshly desires to truly pursue what I know God wants from me.  Do you question what it is that God wants you to do, or like me, are you comfortable in your own pursuit of your desires to actually take Him up on His?  We have a tendency to over-think these questions in life because of our pursuit and desire to achieve worldly success.  In doing so we have become self-sufficient and less dependent on God in our life.  The more independent we become in life, the less effective we become on fulfilling God’s purpose in our life.  Just as Abraham Lincoln stated in his prayer in 1863 (quoted above), nearly 150 years ago, we have become intoxicated on our own success and lost sight of God’s grace.  In the end, this will be our demise as the body of Christ. 

Therefore, take a stand and look to God each day for His direction.  Not for show, but in thoughtful and diligent prayer.  Seek His counsel in decisions, actions and pursuit of success.  Make yourself available to execute His will in your life.  This is what Paul and the disciples of Jesus Christ discovered in the early church.  They were willing to give up their desires and live for God.  We need to rekindle this spirit of apostleship in the world today.  Are you in or not?  Don’t over-think it, it requires an answer - yes or no.

Prayer:
Almighty God,
Forgive me for walking away from Your purpose in life.  Forgive me for putting my needs before Yours and not trusting in You. Help me to continually focus on Your kingdom and spreading Your truth.  I long to serve You in this world and bring You glory through my works.  Let my hands and mind be busy with Your purpose, Lord, that others might come to know You as their Lord and Savior.  Thank You for grace that covers my unrighteousness and grants me eternal peace with You.  In Your name we pray – Amen

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©Sondove Enterprises, 2011

It's a Daily Choice

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2

I recall a story from many years ago about a duck, yes a duck.  As the fall months were coming to a close, the ducks from the North would take flight and soar upon the winds to their destination in warmer climates for the winter.  In the spring, these ducks would fly north again with their flock to spend the summers in cooler climates.  One spring as the flock was flying north; one particular duck glanced down and saw a barnyard filled with tame ducks enjoying each other’s company.  He decided to separate from the flock and swooped down to check out the barnyard.

There he found wonderful corn and the comfort of shelter in the barn.  He decided to stay for just a day…and then two…and a week…and eventually months passed.  The duck was happy, eating all he ever wanted, lying around the barn and just being lazy.  Then one day in the Fall he heard in the distance the quacking of ducks flying south.  Looking up, he saw the perfect ‘V’ formation and something inside of him stirred.  He had a sense of joy and a desire to join his friends on their journey.  He flapped his wings and said his goodbyes to those around him.  He slowly began ascending, but got no higher than the barn roof, before he dropped back into the barnyard again.  He thought to himself, “Oh well, this isn’t so bad; and the food is good.”

After that, the duck would hear the wild ducks fly over each Spring and Fall.  For a while he would look up and dream when he heard them.  He would dream of joining them, but all of the eating and lying around with the others had made him soft and heavy – impossible to fly again.  Eventually, he didn’t even notice them when they flew over, and he became content in living out his life captive within the confines of this barnyard, awaiting the day when he would be taken to the butcher.

Those we choose to hang out with have an influence on us whether we recognize it or not.  The human mind will associate “normalcy” to the events and actions that we surround ourselves with most frequently.  Over time the choices we make and the activities we partake in are rationalized against the actions of those we are associating with.  If we choose to hang out with others that are Christ minded and focused on growing in Christ, it is highly likely that our choices and lifestyle become stronger examples of Him.  Contrast this with a choice to associate with those that are far from Christ and our life will begin to emulate their choices and lifestyle and this becomes acceptable.

Living the life of a Christian is not something that can be turned on and off when we so choose.  It is a commitment, a covenant between you and the Almighty God of the Universe.  Every single day we must wake up and choose to follow Christ this day.  Challenges and situations will certainly arise throughout the day, and we have to make the choice to abide in Him in our actions and decisions.  Much like the duck in the story above, if we choose to become complacent in our thinking and our actions, it is very easy to convince ourselves that life is good enough.  The desire to follow Christ decreases over time and eventually we allow ourselves to become trapped by the worldly perspective; awaiting the judgment day, without fear or concern.  Make the choice each day to live for Christ and all that implies.

Prayer:
Almighty God,
We are creatures of habit and easily influenced by others.  Build in us a strong heart for You and a longing for serving You.  Open our eyes Lord, so that we might see the error of our ways and turn from these actions to once again pursue You with a passion.  Forgive us Lord for our complacency and renew Your spirit within us.  In Your name we pray – Amen
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©Sondove Enterprises, 2011

Complete Transparency

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7

A common word circulating around the board rooms, meetings and discussions in the business world recently is transparency; “We need complete transparency for this to succeed.”…”I will be transparent in my intent and communications.”  These are common phrases heard in the corporate halls and business discussions today.  What people are trying to do is build the confidence of those they are engaged with.  This one simple word sends a message that I am an open book, I will share everything I know with you and you can trust that I have no hidden agendas.  Unfortunately though, we find that actions don’t always substantiate the best intent of our words.  It’s nearly impossible to enter into any negotiation, business deal or even friendly discussion completely transparent.

We all have a tendency to formulate a perception of who we want others to see us as, and we put on this façade when we are in certain audiences.  How many times have you been in the middle of a heated discussion and the phone rings?  Upon answering the phone, does your demeanor change into a more pleasant tone, even a joyful happiness as you interact with the person on the phone, and then immediately back to anger again when you hang up.  Another example is the event of getting ready and going to church on Sunday morning.  I’ve often found in our home there is absolute chaos getting everyone fed, washed, dressed, out the door without forgetting something and then trying to keep the kids from arguing about something or another on the 15 min drive to church.  If we are running late, the chaos is amplified and the frustration level grows.  Yet as soon as we walk up the steps and shake the greeters hand, I have a big smile and “God Bless You” attitude, despite the amount of frustration that might be within.  Face it - putting on happy is something we all know how to do when the situation requires it.

Whether it is being completely transparent and open with your communication, or putting on a happy face when you aren’t truly happy inside, God knows exactly what’s in your heart and soul at every moment.  When God sent Samuel to choose the next King of Israel, Samuel had a preconceived notion of who he would be looking for.  After all a King should be strong, wise, experienced and confident in himself.  God was quick to correct Samuel’s misconception, for God doesn’t look at the outside appearance, He looks at the heart.  All 7 of David’s brothers were older, wiser, stronger and more experienced in leadership and war.  David was the smallest of the lot, and had been a shepherd his whole life.  God saw into this boy’s heart and knew that his faith, love and compassion for God Almighty set him apart from the rest.

You might be aged a little more than some, perhaps not as experienced as much as others, or perhaps you lack any confidence in your abilities at all.  God sees what’s inside of you and knows the state of your heart.  There is no need for transparency with God or need to put of a façade – just come to the Lord with an open heart to love Him, glorify Him and serve Him.  He will use those who have a pure heart for Him.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We take down the walls around our soul Lord and open our heart to You.  We know that you can see what is in our heart and know all of those things that don’t resemble Your creation. Search my heart Lord and cleanse me from within.  Create a new heart in me Lord that will serve You.  In Your name we pray – Amen
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©Sondove Enterprises, 2011

Where Did He Go?

“Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.” – Matthew 24:40-41

Throughout history there have been unusual sightings, things that could not be explained away and rationalized by the human mind.  People claim to have seen UFO’s, aliens, Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot.  Some have seen crop-circles in open corn fields, craters left by alien space ships landing on the earth and there is an entire heavily guarded military compound known only as Area 51 which contains many abnormal examples of other worlds.  There is always an explanation offered by our public officials as to the sightings and most times they are contrary to the belief of those making the claims.

So, one day, the Lord Jesus Christ will return and take His children home.  Captured in scripture multiple times; Matthew 24:30, John 14:1-3, Acts 1:11, 1 Corinthians 15:52 (just to name a few); the event of a rapture is predicted and known by most that have any basic knowledge of Christianity.  When that day occurs, and I believe it will, think about the reaction of those that are left.  What will the news anchors say?  What will those in Political power say?  How will the remaining people explain away the disappearance of millions (if not billions) of people?

Will there be an awakening of the spirit when this happens?  I often think about the Sunday after the rapture, and wonder how many people will be sitting in the pews seeking answers from God as to where their loved ones went.  Praying for the safe return of their friends and family, still unable to accept the fact that they were taken up by the Lord to an eternity in the presence of God Almighty. 

Matthew 24:40-41 gives us a visual example of what that day will be like, and the question that you have to answer each and every day is which one of the two are you.  If you believe that Jesus Christ will return, when is the right time to begin preparing?  How long can we postpone readying ourselves and the world for His return.  Each of us in our own way are biding time, knowing that the end is inevitable, yet living our daily lives as if it will never come.  I urge you to take time today and contemplate where you are in your own walk with Christ in preparation for His return.  From our Lord’s own lips; “For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:38-39)  We have been advised, we have learned from childhood, we have had time to prepare and the Lord has promised to return.  God’s word is truth, and His promises are a covenant between you and He.  Trust in His word and ready yourselves so on that day, in that flash of light eternity becomes your home.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Forgive us Lord for our complacency.  Your word has given us direction and provided a plan for our salvation.  You have told us of the coming days and advised us to prepare ourselves, yet we still move about life in our worldly manner.  We believe in our heart that the rapture could happen at any moment, yet we live as if it never will.  Convict us this day Lord to right ourselves in Your eyes and set our paths straight, so that in the day of resurrection we will be taken up with Your Son.  In Your name we pray – Amen


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©Sondove Enterprises, 2011

No Other Love

“We love because he first loved us." - 1 John 4:19

Such a simple statement, yet filled with depth and wisdom. Where does love come from? It is an emotion, a very complex emotion, that I propose is inherent at birth. But can someone grow to love another? John's words here are reflective of the Christian claim to love God. This verse, in context, is surrounded by questions posed by John around our ability to love God if we cannot love those around us.

As parent's we teach our children that they shouldn't say, "I hate her (him)." because hate is such a strong passionate negative verb. The act of hating builds a wall of anger in the personality of the owner. This wall of emotion prevents us from fully experiencing the joy and love of the Lord. For to fully appreciate His love and reciprocate in like manner, we must be able to love other's first.

God's love is defined by the highest standard imagineable. Completely unconditional in character. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that can separate you from His love. On the other hand, we struggle daily with the conditions that are wrapped around relationships, emotions and actions of those we say we love. It is impossible for us to fully comprehend the depth of the word unconditional. The closest thing possible to understanding God's love for us is the love of a parent to their children.

A miracle of God happens on the day a baby is born into a family. As a father of five I can affirm that nothing measures up to the first time I held my child in the hospital room. The unbelievable emotions cannot be captured in words. Looking into the eyes of your child, you discover the dependency that exists between a parent and the child. Both are dependent upon the other for a love that will endure all things that may come in life. Unknowingly, unable to see into the future, at that very moment, a father commits to his child to always be there for them, to always love them no matter what, to protect them, to raise them and teach them with integrity and moral values. I believe a baby, less than an hour old, is able to form a trust with their mother and father that is built on the foundation of this love. Otherwise how is it that a baby will find comfort in their arms and none other from the moment it is born. This love will draw and hold them together for their entire life.

If you are a parent and have experienced this depth of love at that birth of your child, you know that there is no stronger love. The child that came from your creation, is bound by the blood that runs through their veins and the fills their heart, mind and soul. This mind that contains the capability to experience the emotion of love equally with their parent. This love between a child and their parent is the closest thing we have to compare to the love God has for us. Even then, it falls well short of His love. For you see, as much as we try to live our lives with an unconditional love for our children, the possibility is there for that emotion to be altered. There are limitations to the love, whether we would acknowledge them or not, that exist between one human and another.

So walk with your head held high today, knowing that God cannot love you any more or any less than you He does at this very moment. His love is the only love that is completely unconditional and consistent without rules. Wrapping your head around this concept should lift you to an all new high, that the creator of the universe loves you. Wow.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,Thank You for loving us, despite our unrighteousness and sinful nature. Your word tells us that You are love, and that we are to love one another in the manner that You first loved us. Help us Lord to put aside our differences, prejudices and bias to just love each other. Today I lift my prayers to Your for strength and courage in this area of my life, and ask that Your love is made evident to all through me. In Your name we pray – Amen

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©Sondove Enterprises, 2011

Is It Today Lord?

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” – Mark 13:32

For centuries people have predicted the return of Jesus Christ.  Yet, if we are to take God’s word as truth, and absolute in that truth, than we must come to the conclusion that Mark 13:32 is truth.  This being the case, May 21, 2011 may or may not be the day of Christ’s return; just like today, tomorrow or Dec 12, 2012.  In Daniel 12:9, God seals up the prophetic scrolls until the time of the end.  So what is it that drives mankind to figure out God’s timing?  What causes us to need the answer to this question?

I propose it’s one of two things. 
   1) We are trying to control God to our convenience
   2) We are looking for the end to come quickly in order to avoid the troubles of today

By putting a firm date on the table, we are making a statement to the world – “Look how smart I am.  I have figured out the end of the world.”  This brings all the attention back to the person making the claims and away from the God we serve.  Secondly, There are over 6 billion people in this world.  Less than 40% claim to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, and an even greater percentage than that would boldly claim that He is not the Son of God.  The salvation plan of the Lord is offered to ALL man-kind.  If indeed the world were to end this week, well over 60% of the inhabitants of the world would be “left behind”.  This is a far-cry from God’s plan of salvation.  Granted the word of the Lord has been communicated in countries far and wide and presented for acceptance in most areas of the world.  It is the choice of the individual to accept this message as truth or not, God is not going to force His hand.  But, let us keep in mind that there are still tribal nations in which the word has never been communicated.

The importance around the question, “When is Jesus coming back?”  isn’t to prove that the Bible is truthful and authentic, it is to ensure that God’s children are ready.  Because we do not know, regardless how scientific and mathematic the calculations are; we should assume it could be any day.  There are certainly evidence from the worldly news that would indicate that the end-times prophecies in Daniel, Isaiah and Zechariah are upon us.  This should only strengthen our resolve to focus on the truth and prepare the way for the Lord’s return. 

As a great song-writer once quoted at a concert, “I know vengeance is mine, doest sayeth the Lord, but I just want to be about the Lord’s business.” – Rich Mullins (1997)  I want to be about the Lord’s business in my life as well.  Doing the Lord’s business is why we were born.  Nothing else really matters.  You were conceived, you were formed by God’s hand, He breathed life into your soul when you were born and He has an intentional plan for you upon this earth.  When we struggle to find our purpose in life, it’s because we are focusing on our plans for our life and less on His plan.

We complicate our own life by focusing on worldly things and taking our eyes off of the One who created us.  When He returns, and He will return, what problem in life will you be working on solving?  The latest financial analysis, the stock market declines, the latest forecast numbers or project plan at work, …  I want to be about the Lord’s business when He returns, don’t you?
Think about it my friend and ask yourself where you’re heading in life, and if you really think arriving there will bring you closer to the Lord or not. 

In peace and love – Your Brother, Rich

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©Sondove Enterprises, 2011

The Proudest Moment

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” – Mark 16:16

There are certain things in a person’s life which rank rate up there as the proudest moment.  The day you got married, or got your first home?  The moment you got your first job or a new car?  Then there is the moment your children are born and you hold them for the first time.  Or, watching them graduate and move on to college or a life of their own.  These are all moments of extreme pride in the life of most.

I propose to you that the most wonderful experience in life is to watch your child commit their life to Jesus Christ and be baptized.  As the father of 5 beautiful children I can personally testify to the overwhelming joy, pride and compassion that accompanies the event of watching my children be baptized.  On Sunday, May 15th, Samantha Grace committed her life to Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and Lord.  She was baptized as a public profession of her decision before our church congregation at The Crossings Church. 

Praise God for His beautiful mercy and grace.  Without a doubt, I know that He has a plan to use this little blue eyed girl for great things in His kingdom.  I am blessed as a father of such an incredible young girl to see Him develop within her.  Join me in praying for her decision to result in amazing things in the future, and for her strength to rely on God in all things.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You Lord for Your grace and love.  Thank You for putting Samantha in my life.  I trust in Your word that those who believe in You and are baptized will be saved and live eternally with You.  I ask that You watch over this little one, nurture her and guide her footsteps in the path of Your choosing.  In Your name we pray – Amen
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©Sondove Enterprises, 2011

Nothing

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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

The morning sun was just peaking over the horizon as he rolled over.   The first thing he noticed was that he was not in his bedroom.  It took a moment or two for him to recall what had happened and how he had ended up in this place.  His vision was very blurred, and breathing was difficult because a tube was coming from his mouth and taped to his cheek.  Despite his attempts to move his body, he couldn’t.  It’s as if his muscles couldn’t react to his brains commands.  Through his squinting eyes he saw the IV bag hanging and tubes connected to his arm, wires connected to his forehead and a myriad of machines with numbers, making beeping sounds.  He noticed that his chest and abdomen were wrapped in white bandages, and there was a large circle of red and black right in the center of the bandages.  Suddenly his mind began recalling what happened.  As the memories began to fill his mind from the night before, a pain overtook him and he felt himself drifting back into a state of unconsciousness.

His mind did not stop though.  He felt as if he were floating above his physical body and looking down upon himself.  He saw the hospital bed, the equipment and monitors, the blood stained bandages and his mother in the corner crying.  Then his eyes were captured by the tattoos covering his arms and shoulders.  The naked nymph that he had gotten in Mexico, the skull and cross bones, the knife blade dripping blood, the snake wrapping around the shoulder, the tattoo of the gun and bullet entering through the eye of a child.  The tattoos caused his mind to roll through his life history.  Small glimpses from his youth through today began to fill his vision in his unconscious state.  The life of partying, drugs and violence; the people he had hurt, the pain he had caused others all began to be revealed to him.  He saw all the women he had used and abused.  He saw the children now addicted to crack cocaine because he sold them their first joint.  He saw his mother’s tears as he slapped her and slammed his bedroom door in her face when he was just a boy himself.  He saw his dad taking his own life in their bathroom at home.  Then he saw himself as a small boy playing baseball and riding his new bicycle after school.  He saw his best friend and he laughing and playing with Hot wheels and GI Joes.  The sky was blue, the sun was bright and the grass was green as he saw himself learning how to ride a tricycle.

Suddenly, his eyes moved to the machine in the corner the beeps were slowing and the line had very few bars on the screen.  Something was happening as he looked at his body in that bed.  His chest was barely rising and falling any longer.  A bright flash of light and he was back in his dream like state.  He saw himself as a twelve year old boy walking down the aisle in church.  He recalled the large cross with Jesus hanging at the front of the sanctuary as he made his way down the long aisle toward the minister standing by his dad’s coffin.  As he touched the hard cold wood, he felt a hand on his shoulder.  Looking up it was Jesus Christ looking down into his eyes, with more love than he had ever felt before.  He said four simple words, “I’ll always love you.” 

A blur flashed before the man’s eyes and he was now standing in the same church, except the church was empty, dark and cold.  His eyes lifted to see the cross on the wall, Christ hanging there still.  In his vision, the man began weeping bitterly at the choices he had made in life since the last time he knelt on these steps.  Then a hand was on his shoulder and looking up, Christ stood before him, looking down upon him with incredible love.  “I’ll always love you.”, He whispered.  The man raised his arms showing his tattoos and scars from the needles and from the time he tried to take his life.  “But Jesus you don’t understand the things I’ve done, and people I’ve hurt”, the man cried out.  “I LOVE YOU.”, Jesus replied.  “No.  I raped that girl and I stole that woman’s purse.  I was in prison for shooting that kid in a fight.  I robbed the liquor store and beat that old man.  I haven’t stepped foot in this church in 20 years.”, the man argued back.  “I LOVE YOU.”, Jesus replied, and then raised the man to his feet and embraced him.  The man saw his own arms as Jesus lifted him and they were wiped clean, the tattoos were gone as was the bandages. 

“Nothing you do can separate you from Me and My love for you.”, Jesus said as He placed a kiss upon the man’s forehead.  He was swept away through the blurry darkness back to the hospital room and then total darkness.  His eyes opened once again, blurry looking up at the ceiling and the tubes and wires coming from his body.  Shifting his eyes to the side, he saw the monitors and the line was normal once again.  There were two doctors saying he’s stable now.  He saw his mother standing by his bed.  Her hand touching his face as tears flowed from her eyes, she smiled and said, “Welcome back.  We thought we lost you.”
---------------------------

You may feel that you have done terrible things in your life up to this point.  I want you to know that despite those choices, those actions, God’s love for you has never changed.  He loved you when you were born just as much as He loves you now.  His love is unchanging and just when you think you’re beyond His grace, He will lift you up, clean off the past and carry you forward to a new day.  Perhaps today is that day for you to receive His offering of grace and love.  If so, please pray this prayer with me, and invite Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior today.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
I come before you this day as a sinner.  I ask Your forgiveness for my sinful ways and I turn away from that life.  I lay my sins at Your feet and acknowledge that You are my salvation.  I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord of my life.  I recognize that He lived, He died and He rose again on the 3^rd day, to take away my sins and by His blood my sins are washed clean.  I give my life to You to use and bring glory and honor to You in all that I do.  Transform me from my sinful ways and cover me with Your grace forever more.  Thank You for dying for me to receive eternal life with You one day.  Amen 

If you prayed this prayer, I believe you are born again as a new creation in Jesus Christ.  Please seek out and join a church in your local community to continue your growth as a child of God Almighty.

©Sondove Enterprises, 2011
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True Perseverance

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me”. – Philippians 4:13

I live in a community just outside of Houston, Texas.  In the 2000 Olympics there was a young girl from our church and community that surprised the world in the high dive competition.  Her name was Laura Wilkinson.  A few months before the Olympic Trials she shattered her right foot.  Through perseverance and remaining focused on the end game, Laura did not give up.  With only three weeks before the 2000 Olympics Trials began, Laura got back into the water to finalize her training.  She surprised everyone the first time by winning the Olympic Trials, and three months later she was off to Sydney, Australia for the Olympics. 
She started the Olympics in 8th place after her first dive, and then proceeded to surprise those watching the competition over the next few days as she climbed to 5th and then with a nearly perfect dive in her final round won the Gold medal.  I remember watching all of this as if it were yesterday, but what stuck in my mind with Laura wasn’t her determination or her come from behind win (as impressive as that was).  What made Laura Wilkinson’s Gold Medal win in the 2000 Olympics stick in my mind was her interview as she was leaving the diving venue that day.  When the NBC sports commentator asked her how she did it after breaking her foot only months before, her immediate reaction, without hesitation was, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”   This quote covered the globe at that moment and inspired people from every walk of life to pursue their dreams, not give up and trust in God . 

Whatever you are facing today; whatever challenges, whatever obstacles, whatever circumstances; you must first realize that you are a child of God.  You belong to Him and He wants nothing more than to see you succeed and bring glory to Him in the process.  Continually remind yourself of this throughout your day.  This is one of those scriptures that you need to keep in memory because it is true in any circumstance.  Your strength to overcome starts with your acknowledgement of who it is that gave you that strength.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
You have blessed me Lord in all things.  Though I have struggles, temptations and worry in my life, I know I can trust in You to work in me and through me to overcome these challenges.  I give my problems to You: my financial worries, my health and my stress; that You will give me the strength to carry on.  In Your name we pray – Amen


http://www.10minutereader.com©Sondove Enterprises, 2011

Jesus was Homeless

“Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”  Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” – Matthew 8:19-20

The winds have died down, the chill in the air has dissipated and been replaced by the humidity often associated with living in the South.  The weather is often times unpredictable as we have all experienced this past year.  Flooding, earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires and winter blasts that lasted well into early Spring have impacted many throughout this year.  We watch the news as they describe the devastation brought upon the buildings, businesses, schools and residential communities after one of these events.  We’ve seen the debris field left behind afterwards and prayed for those that are impacted and we pray for those that have lost family members.  It’s tragic when something like this happens because if you are in the path of one of these storms it can change your life forever.

The ones we seldom hear about though are the homeless in these circumstances.  What have they lost should a tornado rip through their cardboard community?  Their wealth, their life belongings fit into a box or a shopping cart.  The roof over their head is often times a cardboard box if they are lucky enough to find one.  Have you thought about the plight of the homeless during these catastrophic events?

Our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ was a homeless man for the few years of His ministry.  Sure, His mother and father had a place in Nazareth, but Jesus was seldom in Nazareth when His ministry began.  He called the disciples to “follow Me”.  It wasn’t a request to go on vacation, it was a request to give up their current life and to follow the Messiah, the son of man.  A bold request, that most would spend hours if not days thinking about, before agreeing too.  Jesus called these men away from the comfort of their homes, their families and their peace of mind.  There were no guarantees, no assurances that He would provide transportation, shelter or an income.  For these things were not of concern to Jesus Christ.

In towns and villages Jesus, and the disciples, would often stay with another.  Sometimes it was a friend, sometimes it was a tax collector.  His command to the disciples was to go out among the communities, heal the sick and cast out demons in His name.  In doing so He instructs them “do not take anything and to stay with others when they come upon a community” (Matthew 10:9-11).  Their nourishment and provisions should not be their concern, for their mission is to spread His grace, love and salvation.  When they traveled they looked to the Father for provision, and in doing so became less dependent upon worldly possessions which would only distract them from their calling.

We all become pre-occupied with this world and the things of this world at times.  When storms roll through and all is lost, it is so easy to fall prey to the evil one and believe that our life indeed is lost because we have nothing.  Take a moment and consider this outlandish idea.  If you did not have a home, car or a job; all you had were the clothes on your back and shoes on your feet; what would you do for God?  Would you travel from city to city spreading His good news?  Would you look for shelter from a stranger and then share the gospel with them?  I have heard a story of a young man, successful by the world’s standards, who gave up everything to travel America and hand out bibles.  He moves from city to city, begging and working for his keep, and in the process asking for folks to donate bibles, which he gives away to those in need.  This is a modern day example of what Jesus Christ was asking His disciples to do.  It seems far fetched and counter intuitive when looked at from the world’s perspective.  Yet, he is not concerned about losing everything to the floods, tornados, hurricanes or wildfires.

It’s a strange thought I know, but it’s one that we all must face at one point or another – What worldly possession is separating me from truly serving the Lord?  I think about this and often shutter at my answer, for it is worldly by nature.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You Lord for providing for our needs.  You have given each of us the ability to serve You and the means by which to do so.  Help us to eliminate the unnecessary burdens of this world so that we can focus our attention completely on spreading Your gospel and sharing Your love with others.  Break down the walls of insecurity and fear that keep us bound by worldly desires.  Use us for Your purpose right where we are, and help us to take every opportunity to expand Your kingdom.  In Your name we pray – Amen

http://www.10minutereader.com©Sondove Enterprises, 2011