Words of a King – “Faith”

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“Jesus said to him {Satan}, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’” – Matthew 4:7

As we continue looking at the words of Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Son of God, we discover more and more about our own faith.  The challenge of faith in the 21^st century is the time that has passed from the physical nature of Jesus Christ.  There are countless examples of people who have put God, the Father, to the test to prove that He is real.  Some, in their attempt, to solidify their own faith have demanded that God show up in their presence once again.  Others, have challenged God to solve a problem, or help with a miracle at a time of desperation.  Many requests have been left unfulfilled, while many have been completely delivered upon.

When are we crossing the line and “testing” God?  When is the request for “proof” considered faithless and when is it considered desperate?

In this verse, Satan is challenging the identity of Jesus Christ.  He is asking that Jesus prove that He is the Son of God.  First, as I read what Jesus told us, I understand it to mean the following:
   1) God is in authority and all things are under Him and He alone
   2) Faith in God is not something that requires proof, it is knowing without seeing
   3) I  am secure enough in my relationship with God, the Father, that I do not need to prove it

The early church had the opportunity to recall the facts, first hand, of Jesus Christ walk upon this earth.  The disciples preached the word from their personal walk with Christ for a period of 70 or 80 years after His death and resurrection.  Thousands upon thousands heard the word first from their testimony of a personal relationship with the Messiah.  These men began the church of Jesus Christ, and their testimonies and calling became the foundation for the Christian church.  In addition to the words of the disciples, the Holy Spirit was alive and working within mankind to strengthen them, guide them and minister to them as the love of Jesus Christ spread.  This is also true today.  The Holy Spirit is alive and with us today, just as it was in 100 AD, but we are less receptive to His presence because of the distractions of society.

In those days, they were seeking God, they were impatiently awaiting the Messiah to bring an end to their pain and suffering.  They were desperate and hungry for the Lord to be with them.  Are you hungry for the Lord?  Am I?  Is anyone in the 21^st century?  We have become complacent in our pursuit of God and in turn a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ.  We choose daily what we will spend our time on and where we will invest our energy, and 9 times out of 10 it is likely going to be on something other than God.  People are demanding proof that there is a God and that Jesus Christ actually walked the earth, because they are not seeing His image reflected in the actions of those who claim they know Him.

You and I are the image of God to these people.  When they look at you, they are studying to see just what being a Christian is all about.  What does it look like, how does one speak, how does one act in certain situations and how does a Christian react when tempted?  Their frame of reference for a relationship with Jesus Christ is to see what it looks like in you.  You did not walk with Christ for 3 years like the disciples, and therefore how will you represent His image to those around you?  This is where you must continually strengthen your walk with daily study of His word, daily engagement with the Holy Spirit who will work through you, and has an intimate relationship with God, the Father; and Christ, His son.

People, in this world continue to challenge the reality of God, just as Satan did on that day in the Wilderness.  It’s going to hurt sometimes, it will press your emotional buttons and it will cause your anger and contempt for those people to rise.  You must learn to handle temptations, ridicule and the aggressive attempts of this world to disprove God in the same manner that Jesus handled Satan.  “You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”  and stand firm on the faith that has been instilled in you by the Holy Spirit and the saints of old.  Through your actions, your love, your words and your presence; let the Holy Spirit work on those you come in contact with. 
             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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Words of a King – “Trust God”

It has been a few days since my last post.  I have been struggling with a message that I feel strongly should be told.  I have wrestled with the Holy Spirit on how to communicate it, and it took a few days to get my obstinate attitude out of the way. 

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“But He {Jesus} answered {devil} and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”” – Matthew 4:4

What if we actually lived by the instructions and words that came from Jesus while He was here on earth.  For the next several days we will look specifically at His instructions as they pertain to our modern day society.  Perhaps, if we were more attuned to His word, we could actually make a change for the better in the world in which we live.

We all make choices each and every day on a number of different topics from clothing to wear, what to eat, spending money, our daily plan at work or school and who we talk to throughout the day.  You and I make a choice as to how much time we are spending with God and His word, learning, educating and growing in our faith and relationship with Him.  It’s no different than any other choice you make, but the results are dramatically different in the end.  You might choose a different route to the office each day and save 5 minutes in the commute.  You might choose a more healthy lunch or you might choose to spend 30 minutes longer at the gym and shave off a few pounds.  You prioritize your spending, your calendar and your time throughout the day – where does God fit?

Jesus first recorded words after He was baptized are captured above in Matthew 4:4.  In responding to the temptation that Satan has placed before him, He is teaching you and I how we should respond in the face of temptation, but He is also telling us to strengthen our walk each day by spending time with the Lord.  It’s not about what the world can give you (bread) but rather what God wants from you and will give you in return. 

This is counter-intuitive to what the world is telling you. “Make more money” “Buy bigger and faster” “Each man for himself”  “Keep your religious beliefs to yourself”, our lives should not be focused on what we are getting from the world.  Our lives should be focused on what we are giving back to the Lord, God Almighty, each and every day.  I believe in my heart you are agreeing with me and that you are looking for that deeper relationship, that intimacy with God in your life.  Are you waking up each morning asking God what you can do for Him today, or are you praying over your struggles, calendar and concerns each day?  Perhaps it is time for a change in how we are communicating to God. 

The scripture tells us to concentrate and “focus on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”  This requires you to know what God is saying.  Perhaps it’s not verbal voice, but the written word.  The Holy Bible is known as the Word of God, and when studied will bring you closer to an understanding of who God is and what does He say.  I’m saying study the Bible, not just read a passage or two, and consider your duty done for the day. 

If you are reading this, you have likely made a choice at some point and time to believe in Jesus Christ for eternal salvation.  That is the single most important decision you will make in this life.  But, it is also the single most dangerous decision you will make.  You see, choosing to believe in Jesus Christ is a requirement for your eternal destiny, but if you have not chosen to follow Him, and make Him the Lord of your life, you are simply convincing yourself that you are a Christian and walking in that lie.  God needs to be at the center of your life, period. 

It’s not a matter of saying the words, but a matter of changing your life and committing yourself to His purpose and His desire in your life.  It is not a light hearted raising of your hand on Sunday morning and then back to your “worldly life” on Monday morning.  Get into the word of God every day.  Study it.  Learn from it and Share it with others.  Take part in the greatest opportunity you have ever had in your life and trust that in doing so, you are becoming less like the world and more like the Christ that you have proclaimed as your King.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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You Are More

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“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10

Today I am led to share the lyrics of a song that has been pressed down upon my heart.  I’m not sure who it is for, but I know that someone in the distribution of this message will find comfort, hope and restoration from the lyrics of this wonderful song from 10^th Avenue North.  If that is you, know that you were created by the most high God of the Universe and He doesn’t make mistakes.  He put you here for a purpose and you are capable of much more than you have ever given yourself credit for.  Please don’t be discouraged or depressed, for through Him and a willingness to follow Him you will do amazing things with your life.  There is someone out there that needs to hear you say, “I Love You” and share God’s love with them.

"You Are More" © 10th Avenue North

There's a girl in the corner
With tear stains on her eyes
From the places she's wandered
And the shame she can't hide
She says, "How did I get here?
I'm not who I once was.
And I'm crippled by the fear
That I've fallen too far to love"

But don't you know who you are,
What's been done for you?
Yeah don't you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

Well she tries to believe it
That she's been given new life
But she can't shake the feeling
That it's not true tonight
She knows all the answers
And she's rehearsed all the lines
And so she'll try to do better
But then she's too weak to try

But don't you know who you are?
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

'Cause this is not about what you've done,
But what's been done for you.
This is not about where you've been,
But where your brokenness brings you to
This is not about what you feel,
But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

You've been remade
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
You've been remade
             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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Learning Patience

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“And my soul is greatly dismayed; But You, O Lord—how long?” – Psalm 6:3

There are days when my mind is filled with love, joy and happiness; an excitement to take on the challenges of the day and to see what lies before.  This is not one of those days.  My soul is sad, my heart is heavy and my mind is filled with questions, concern and worry.  I realize that the Lord is with me and watching over the steps that my feet will trod, but I struggle to trust that He is truly with me.  I am reminded of a Beatles song from the Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band, the lyrics go something like this:

I read the news today oh, boy
About a lucky man who made the grade
and though the news was rather sad
Well, I just had to laugh
I saw the photograph
He blew his mind out in a car
He didn’t notice that the light had changed
A crowd of people stood and stared
They’d seen his face before
nobody was really sure that he was from the house of lords.

The world has become fascinated with the wickedness, the evil and the unrighteousness.  The headlines on a daily basis is about death, destruction, calamity and the perverse nature of our society.  We marvel at the sexual escapades of our celebrities and dignitaries, yet turn a blind eye to those who are trying to bring order and sanctity back into our lives.  The news anchors fill the six o’clock hour with the latest shooting, bombing or act of terrorism as if they are discussing the weather.  Have we truly become so hardened to the precious commodity of life that we are not brought to tears and mourning over the lives that are destroyed each day across this nation. 

I am convinced that my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is coming back one day to save us all from destroying ourselves.  In that day, we will be joined with Him for eternity and finally free from the poison of this world in which we live.  The wickedness that exists will cease and the fears, tears and mourning will come to an end.  The anger and concern that boils up inside of me on a daily basis will be brought to a peaceful calmness that resides only in His presence. 

I long for you, Jesus Christ, to come.  I long to be in Your presence and feel Your arm around my shoulder bringing me home.  I long to hear Your whisper in my ear of the love of the Father, and the glory of His name.  I dreadfully long to see Your face before me in the glorious radiance of the sun, filling the atmosphere around us.  Just as David called out to You, oh God, I call out to Your for peace in my soul and rest for my heart.  Fill me once again with Your strength and wisdom to take on this day and to shine Your light to others.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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Just Open the Door

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“For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” – Matthew 10:20

I met a woman yesterday.  She was pleasant but sad at the same time.  The smile upon her face was a façade that had been perfected over the years to mislead those with whom her path had crossed.  There was a crack in her armor though when you would look into her eyes.  There was no smile there, no joy and no false bravado.  When the opportunity became available to inject the love of God, I decided to take it.  It started with her simple question, “How are you today?”
She didn’t mean it, she meant to be cordial and polite in passing.  Here demeanor changed dramatically though with my response, “Blessed, absolutely blessed.  How are you?” 

She actually stopped what she was doing and looked at me, and with a quivering voice said, “Thank you.  I am blessed also, though it is harder to recognize it each day.”  What would have been a hurried exchange of greeting had suddenly turned into a God moment.  I expressed what was on my heart, “You know, I knew when my feet landed on the floor again this morning, God must have something for me to do with the next 24 hours.”  She continued on, “That is so true.  You see ever since my husband passed away, it has been really hard, but I try to remind myself each day that I am blessed.”  When I looked into her now tear filled eyes, words came forth without any choice or influence from me.  “But he is in heaven now, waiting for you and one day you will be dancing with him once again, just like you always did before.”  A true smile appeared on her face, and she genuinely said “Thank you for coming here today.  I needed to hear that.”

I had never met this lady before in my life.  Our paths just happened to cross because I needed to run to the store on the way home from work.  There were nine registers opened and I chose this aisle to make my quick purchase.  The woman behind the counter needed the comfort of the Holy Spirit to bring a bit of joy into her life, if only for that brief moment, and God allowed me to be the vessel to cheer her up.  I walked away from the store thanking and praising God for that short but meaningful exchange.  The Holy Spirit doesn’t need a long period of time to impact the life of someone, as long as we get out of the way and let Him.  Within minutes, He had used my interaction with this woman to instill a joy once again.

You will face very common exchanges each and every day of your life.  You must choose to allow God to work through you and inject Himself into those events.  I promise you, if you are willing to give Him and opening, He will fill your heart and mind with the right words for the situation and use it well beyond your capabilities to do so.  You must be willing to let Him.      

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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Who's at the Door?

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“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” – Matthew 10:40

Every now and then a young man, sometimes a woman, will walk up my driveway and sidewalk to ring my door bell.  Upon answering the door I generally find an individual standing there with a clipboard in hand and a backpack over their shoulder.  Their immediate friendly hello and fast paced talking leads me to the conclusion that they are going to sell me something.  Glancing over their shoulder, I realize that they have no vehicle and have been dropped in the neighborhood to gather information (i.e. Name, Address, Phone, Credit Card #, Birthdate).  They are most times selling magazine subscriptions to help a youth group or a homeless shelter or a mission team saving for a trip.  With no credentials of the stated objective though, it’s often times very hard to buy into their story.

We made the mistake of supporting one young man a few years back.  We actually signed up to receive a few magazines for the kids and filled out the order form.  I realize, pretty naïve`, but every now and then I want to trust humanity again.  Unfortunately, this wasn’t the right time to do it.  By Christmas that year our identity had been stolen and there were bank accounts recreated in my name all across North Texas.  Fortunately, we were advised of the breach and put an end to the spending spree associated with my identity, but not before they had bought all of their Christmas presents, including a few flat screen TV’s and some designer clothes and shoes.  Now, whenever a young man or woman begins the trek up to my door, it is an immediate “No thank you” before they even get to their introduction speech. 

It’s a shame that people stoop to prying on the innocent to steal and manipulate their way through life.  There is a message that is so unbelievably powerful that should be told door to door.  It requires no credit card, no personal information, and no signature.  It simply requires one to hear the word and respond.  In the days after Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, the disciples spread the Good News throughout the world at that time.  They did it door by door, person by person and built the foundation of what we now know as the Christian church.  Where is that passion?  Where is that boldness and courage to actually care about expanding the church, rather than just participating in it?

We have become the comfortable, complacent, Christian church.  We make our way through each week saying our prayer in the morning and at the dinner table.  If the opportunity comes up to mention Jesus’ name in a conversation, we may become bold for a moment or two throughout the week.  Sometimes, we will go to a church service on Wednesday or Thursday evening, but most of the time our own priorities get in the way.  Then we are in our pew seat on Sunday morning, ready to worship for an hour, maybe an hour and a half, but it better not last longer than that, because we have things to do on Sunday afternoon.  Is this what Jesus Christ asked His disciples to do?  Is this the image of Christianity that Paul, Peter, John, Mark and the others fought to the very end of their lives to build?

Let’s face it folks, for most of us, our Christian walk is nowhere near the top of our priority list in life, and that’s a shame.  It’s the single most important thing you have ever encountered, and you are choosing to sit on it.  If you, like me, are feeling somewhat convicted and questioning your faith, good you should be.  We are called to be His disciples and to spread His word.  The only thing stopping you from doing that are the choices you make with your daily walk.  So, today, you have to make another choice on what you will do with the grace, love and mercy He has given you.  Either keep it to yourself, or choose to share it with others.  Some will accept it, many will not.  But, I guarantee if you don’t attempt to share it, some will never even realize the choice they must make in life. 


             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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No More Idols

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“...And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things.  But he said to me, "Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God."" – Revelation 22:8b-9

The skies were blue and the temperatures were in the mid-70’s.  It was a beautiful afternoon, and those that had gathered were filled with excitement as they approached the stadium.  As the people funneled through the gates, and showed their tickets, it became obvious that this was no ordinary event, as every gate was lined up down the street and around the corner.  Vendors were selling t-shirts, CD’s, posters, books, buttons and even wrist-bands for nothing less than $15.  Making their way to the concession stand, a 20 oz. Coke was $6 and a dried wrinkled up hot-dog in a stale bun was $7.50, which only reminded them that they should have eaten before they came.

Entering into the Pavilion, the first observation was that the seating section down front was already full with well over 100,000 people, and the grass hills, which extended in every direction were filling up fast.  It was congested to say the least as they tried to find a place to lay out their blanket and sit between the other hundreds of thousands.  As the afternoon turned to dusk, there was an automatic hush over the crowd as the lights came on, and the jumbo-tron screen at the front began showing instructions for the attendees. 

Drinking and Smoking will not be tolerated
Stay in your seating area
Use the restrooms before the event begins
Autographs will be available via the web-site, not at the event
Do not crowd the stage, violators will be immediately escorted away
Do not attempt to help others should they become faint, we have staff members for that

The lights dimmed as music began to play and then amidst the cloud of smoke and flashing spot lights he appeared on the stage.  The crowd began screaming and yelling, pressing towards the stage.  As they did, the security at the stage pressed back and pushed into the crowd with barricades and billy-clubs.  The poor people near the front were being squeezed between the crowd and the security.  He said nothing, he simply stood in the center of the stage and held his arms out wide and the crowds swooned and screamed.  As he walked near the edge of the stage, he bent over and touched a few hands, ladies were fainting as he passed by.  The fury that had risen within this crowd was amazing and addicting at the same time.  When he grabbed the microphone the frenzy level rose even more.  He spoke into the microphone and his words were displayed on the screens: “Do you love me?”  To which the roaring crowd screamed back, “Yes, we love you.”  The man on stage responded with, “Then show me.”
Then the gates around the pavilion were locked and the security began pressing in from all sides, pushing people toward the stage even more so.  From the hills, from their seats, from the aisles, people were falling over each other.  The crowd roared even more as he began speaking about following him and worshiping him.  They responded with applause and screaming out his name.  Some fell to their knees with hands raised and demonstrated their love through praise.  In doing so, many were trampled under the foot of those who pressed in.  As the stadium condensed and people were on top of people, pressed shoulder to shoulder and front to back, the blaring music began to play. 

Music with lyrics that called out the things this man had done for the people, and filled their lips with praise for him.  The crowds began cheering, singing along with the praises for the man on stage.  In the darkness of the night, the spotlight shown only on his face, and the people poured out their worship to him in a manner that was derived from mind-control and propaganda.  Many died that night, and were claimed to have died as martyrs, demonstrating their love for him.
-----------------------------------------------

Sounds irrational, unrealistic and unfathomable doesn’t it.  Yet, consider who you are worshiping and why you are worshiping them.  We worship sports stars, rock stars, celebrities, politicians and even ourselves.  We follow their every move, we study their gossip, we cling to their next revelation and follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Pintrest.  We cross chasms to idolize them and wait in lines for hours to get a signature, or to see them walk by.  We have taken fellow men and women and placed them on pedastals of idolatry without any justification whatsoever. 

Certainly, the story above is far fetched and intended to be so.  But, in reality, we all need to check our thoughts, our addictions and our idols daily.  We spend more time pursuing the famous of this world instead of pursuing the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Consider this the next time you are reading the tab-loid, or checking out the gossip channel or latest post on Facebook.  Who are you idolizing today, and what have they done to deserve that praise?  Now, compare that with the God of the Universe, who has given you life eternal.  Use your praise wisely.     

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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Time for a Stand

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“If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”– Joshua 24:15

There is a time in every person’s life when a choice must be made.  Not because you want to do something, but because it is something you are required to do or not do.  Temptations will arise from different areas of our life on a daily basis and we all must reach inside to answer the basic question, “What do I stand for?”  Where is the plum-line of my integrity, my moral values and my ethics?  At what point will I step over the line, despite the awareness of the unrighteousness of a situation?

When your values are pressed, when you are pressured into supporting or participating in a situation that you know is outside of your foundational beliefs and moral code; how will you respond?  Knowing how you will handle a situation before it arises is the foundation of strength that will allow you to stand solid in your faith when temptations arise.  Know how you will handle the situation of adultery before it ever presents itself.  Know what you will do in the circumstance of being offered drugs, illicit sex or other participation in things outside of your value system.  Set a plan for how you will react to these situations, so should they arise you are prepared.

it would seem that much of the world today is free from a value system that aligns with the character of God.  There is much focus on self gratification and the immediacy of pleasure with little care of the long term impact.  The likelihood of being tempted into carnal activities is much higher today than it has ever been in our existence, and without a solid eternal foundation to stand on these temptations become reality very quickly.  The availability of destructive information and media is exponentially greater today than even 10 years ago.  Our children are not even safe watching something like the Disney channel when you think of the suggestive and often times seductive scenes being demonstrated daily through the sitcoms.  School curriculum, magazines, newspapers, advertising, the internet, the radio, the music and their friends are all influencing our children into a watered down perspective of political correctness that is miles and miles away from the righteousness of the bible.  When our children are being taught and influenced that homosexuality is an acceptable way of life; that drugs are okay and non-addictive; that sex is something that cannot be avoided, so stop trying to fight it and simply be concerned about safe-sex rather than no-sex; that they are entitled to luxuries in life without having to work for it and that the Bible is just another history book; we need to step in and establish the baseline of what we stand for.  The youth of our day are influenced in ways that were taboo and unspoken just 15 years ago, not to mention unheard of 30 years ago when I was a teenager.

We cannot conform to the ways of this world, or we are sentencing ourselves and our children to an eternity of Hell.  The sinful nature of man is forgiven and redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, this is true; but this is not an excuse to carry on in life frivolously and without abandon as if your actions are meaningless.  What are you doing to change the world’s perspective on the unrighteousness that abounds all around us?  What are you standing up for, that you know is wrong based on your faith, your belief and your trust in God’s word?  Do you truly believe that the God of the Universe is going to abide by the political correctness that our society is pushing today, or should it be vice versa?  If you, like me, believe that God has established the moral plum-line for our lives, then it is time to stand up for those values, ethics and morals.  Do not fear the wrath of mankind for challenging their acceptance of the iniquities of the world, but fear the wrath of God upon mankind for challenging His existence and righteousness.

I will stand before any man, woman and child that I come before and without question proudly state, as did Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  By stating this, I am clearly stating that I believe in His Holy Word as the truth and guidelines for my life.  That I will take seriously the responsibility to teach my children about Jesus Christ and to serve my family in a manner that demonstrates God’s love for His children.  I am asking you to join me in this effort by standing on His principles and abide by His plan for our existence, despite what mankind might persuade you to do.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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Proof that He Loves You

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“Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens.”– Genesis 19:24

The cities were filled with sin.  Man slept with man and woman with woman.  Rape, incest, murder, evil thoughts and actions were pervasive throughout the population of the city.  The corruptness had become the norm and righteousness was hard to find.  The pleas of Abraham had been for the Lord to show mercy if only 10 righteous people could be found in the entire city.  It was not to be and we know the rest of the story.  In an instant the Lord destroyed the two cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, as no righteousness could be found within their walls, except Lot and his family.  Was the Lord justified in destroying these cities?  How can you answer anything but yes when you are contemplating the actions of the Lord.  He is justified in every action ever taken by His own hand.  He is the designer, creator and author of life, death and all that is in between.  Who can tell Him that He is wrong in His actions?

Who is pleading with the Lord on our behalf today?  For I propose to you that the society in which we live, the acceptance of our culture has become so complacent and accepting that unrighteousness once again abounds within the walls of each city.  Should we be looking heavenward for the streaking flares of sulfur raining down upon our cities any day now?  Are you convinced that the population of Sodom and Gomorrah were much worse than the cities of our 21^st century?  Certainly, there are more than 10 righteous people inside of your city walls, and you are likely one of them.  Is this what keeps the Lord from pouring out His wrath upon our very existence?

There is a significant reason that God has not destroyed the earth again, despite the evil, corruption, sadistic and deplorable sinful lives of mankind.  That reason is the one we call Jesus Christ.  For you see, the wrath of our Lord; which was poured out on Sodom, it was poured out on the Philistines, it was poured out on the Egyptians, it was poured out on the entire world in the flood of Genesis 6; was also poured out on the very flesh of God’s own Son.  Take that in for just a moment.  We are no better than those of Sodom and Gomorrah, or those of Egypt, or those that ridiculed Noah.  We as a society in general have turned our back on serving the Lord with everything we have, and we have chosen to pursue the pleasures of the world instead.  The wrath of God that you and I so rightfully deserve for our thoughts, our actions and our sinful nature would be death, devastation and destruction of catastrophic proportion.  This overwhelming wrath of the Lord, the pain and suffering we deserve, was delivered to one man who did live perfectly righteous in every way.

The sacrificial lamb for our sins was slaughtered because you and I deserved to die for what we have done, not because of anything He did.  Jesus Christ bore the extreme wrath of God, something we cannot begin to fathom, so you and I would not have to.  When you read John 3:16; “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever shall believe in Him will have eternal life.”; the words are almost cliché, because we have watered them down to our view of love.  I want you to realize the severity of God’s wrath that He poured out onto His only Son, based on the perspective of His wrath that He poured out on Sodom and Gomorrah, Egypt, and the world in the Old Testament.  This extreme wrath was poured out on this One man, so that you and I would be exempt from this punishment in our lifetime.  He loves us that much.  Not a little bit as you and I love each other and our families; but His love was so intense that He chose to destroy His own Son, literally and figuratively, so that we can enter eternity one day.

Is God’s wrath still alive today?  Yes, but we are shielded from that wrath because of the lamb that paid the price for our deplorable sinful nature.  One day, God’s wrath will once again be released upon this earth, for those who have chosen to deny His sacrificial offering.  This wrath will make Sodom and Gomorrah look like a walk in the park on Sunday afternoon.  The fire and sulfur that rained from the sky on these cities will be nothing compared to the depths of Hell that await mankind for their denial of Jesus Christ, and God the Father.  Don’t question the reality of it.  God has given you plenty of warning.  Jesus has pleaded with Him on your behalf and taken your punishment already.  The next step will be utter destruction of this earth as we know it and you won’t be able to avoid His wrath without accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.  Don’t blame it on God, for He provided a path for your escape, just as He did for Lot and his family to escape from Sodom on that night as recorded in Genesis.  Are you telling your friends?  Are you telling your family?  Do you care enough about their salvation to ensure that they are not exposed to God’s wrath one day?  If not, ask yourself why not.  Why is that not the most important thing you have to do today?


             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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Filling Your Bucket

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“How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!  How vast is the sum of them!  If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.  When I awake, I am still with You.” – Psalm 139:16-17

He walked across the hot beach on his tip-toes and cringed every time his foot hit the sand.  As he neared the water’s edge, the sand was damp and cooler to the touch, so his walking became normal and his demeanor changed to one of joy and happiness to be here.  With bucket and shovel in tow, he and his sister begin digging into the moist sand, and filling the buckets as the adventure of building sand castles began.  I helped Lisa set up the chairs and blanket just beyond the reach of the encroaching tide, and close enough to the kids to ensure their safety.  As they brought forth their buckets filled to the rim with sand, they dumped them near our blanket forming the corners of their soon to be castle.

Some of the sand stuck to the inside of thde bucket, and created more of a pile of sand rather than a neatly formed structure for the castle corner.  I watched as they would put the bucket back over the top of the sand and try to reshape it, but it would only make it worse.  Finally, disheartened David knocked the pile of sand over in frustration and began once again filling his bucket.  This effort repeated time after time after time, until finally he came over and explained the problem to Lisa and I, with a little bit of whining I must add.  We explained that the sand he was using was too wet and that made it stick to the bucket.  Perhaps he should clean out his bucket and get  sand from a different spot that wasn’t as wet as what he had been using.  He tried this advice and surprisingly it worked.  The forms coming from the buckets took on the shape of the bucket’s castle like design.   His architectural creativity became the focus for the next 30 minutes or so as he worked on building the walls and eventually the center structure of the castle.

I observed the frustration he suffered when the simplest particle on earth could not be controlled.  A grain of sand.  Microscopic in size, yet unbelievably dense when adjoined with other grains surrounding it.  Have you ever sat and thought about the single grain of sand?  Admittedly, I have.  Here are a few probing questions from my curious mind.
1) When was that individual, single grain of sand formed?
2) Where has it traveled around this globe, tossed by the waters tide?
3) How many sand castles has it been a part of?
4) How many feet have pressed down upon it’s microscopic form?
5) How long will it be here?

Weird, I know, but hey at least I’m thinking.  A single bucket (say 10” high, 6” wide) might hold millions of grains of sand.  As I sit on a beach and look as far as the eye can see, I am in awe by the volume of sand in any given spot.  When I was younger we dug a hole on the beach to how deep the sand was.  Our hole was no less than 4 feet deep and we had not yet run out of sand.  So with the miles and miles of beaches in the world, spanning hundreds of feet in width and several feet in depth, there are trillions and trillions of buckets of sand upon the shores around the globe.  This doesn’t even take into consideration the depths of the sea and the fact that sand covers the ocean floor for millions and millions of square miles and God only knows how many miles deep under the oceans of the world.  Taking all of this into consideration, you quickly come to the realization that the volume of grains of sand around this earth is an unimaginable, uncountable number short of infinity.

Now, read Psalm 139 again and realize that the Lord, our God, thinks of you personally more often than that number.  One could do the same exercise with the stars in the sky, and get the same result – an infinitely large number.  God is never not thinking about you.  You are His creation and despite the fact that there are 6.2 billion of us on this planet (+/-), we are each unique in His mind and thoughts.  If you are trying to fathom God in a manner known to mankind, we cannot.  He is beyond comprehension, omnipotent and omnipresent.  He is aware of all things that happen on this earth at any given moment.  Every grain of sand, every rain drop that falls, shares in the fact that they too were created by the same hand that created you and I.  Stop trying to fit God into your image, but realize that He is everywhere at all times and watching over you with a loving heart and grace filled spirit that has endured all time. 

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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Pursuing Hope

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“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32
Mankind is inherently sinful.  We all know this from our youth and having been taught as children, from our parents and Sunday School teachers.  We are also taught the Golden Rule; can everyone say it with me:  “Treat others as you would like to be treated.”  It’s pretty basic when you really come down to it.  There is very little wiggle room and when it is followed, most people can generally get along.  Yet, there is something inside of us that at times, bubbles up and comes forth with wickedness and hatred for another, and we allow it to overcome our better judgment to treat others as you would like to be treated.  When my son started Kindergarten, the principle pulled the entire student body together on the first day of school and laid out this same guidelines for the students to abide in; he also added to it the Thumper Rule.  You all remember Thumper right?  He was the cute little bunny on Bambi, who pretty much said whatever was on his mind without considering the consequences or the impact to another person’s feelings.  The Thumper Rule goes like this: “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” 

Put these two rules together and you have a basic formula for co-existence in this life.  Treat others with kindness, generosity, love and forgiveness.  Keep your words in check and don’t slander others behind their back or in front of them.  This life is difficult and we are all pressing hard to make it through each day.  When we treat others with disrespect, callousness and resentment it only serves to create more animosity and strife in the relationship.  I personally believe we are here on this earth to help one another, to demonstrate love, hospitality and forgiveness to others as we all try to make it through each day.  Words, actions and anger do nothing but fuel the separation of individuals from this purpose in life.  In turn this creates bitterness and unforgiveness to fester and we fall farther and farther from the representation of God’s love to each other.

This life is not about today, or tomorrow.  It is about the whole and the opportunity to share His gospel with others, through the way we represent His love and peace in our daily walk.  It’s about leaving a legacy of truthfulness, integrity, love, humility and generosity for those who will carry on after we are long gone.  Hope for something better than what we have today is what binds us together as a human race, all striving for peaceful co-existence.  Without hope, we have no love, we have no future and we have no reason for following the Golden Rule or the Thumper Rule.  For without hope for a better tomorrow; who cares who you might offend, anger or step on today.  Living life in love, peace and pursuit of happiness for you and those around you will inspire you to continue down this path of hope for a better future together as mankind.  I hope you are able to consider the big picture of life in your day to day activities and forgive those who have wronged you and ask forgiveness of those you have wronged.  Don’t make this life any more difficult than it already is, and strive to help others simplify and improve upon their life as much as you can.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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