It’s Not Yours

Make 2014 a year of Sharing

“If you are really eager to give, it isn’t important how much you are able to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you don’t have.”  – 2 Corinthians 8:12

 I took Lisa out to dinner a few weeks ago.  We had just been approved for our build-loan so we decided to treat ourselves.  The food was great, the company was better, but the waitress was incredible that night.  She ensured that we always had full water glasses, brought additional warm rolls and honey butter and spent time with us as if we were the only ones in the restaurant.  She laughed with us, carried on a conversation and made sure that she met all of our needs that night.  As I received the bill, without a second guess I wrote in the tip of 20% on top of the sizable bill.  

Generosity has never been a shortcoming in our household.  It is a love language of both of us, and we have to consistently check each other with a discerning objective counsel to ensure that we aren’t being taken advantage of.  In life we are blessed, not for the purpose of our wasteful spending, but for the purpose of helping God’s children in need.  Tithing 10% of one’s income is the only place in the bible where God specifically tells us to test Him.  Whatever means we have, His request is for us to cheerfully give 10% to the church and live off of 90%.  Certainly God wants us to tithe, not because it’s a monthly bill or legalistic; but because we want to see the expansion of His Kingdom on earth.  If we can tip a waitress 10% for the basic act of serving our food, are we not willing to give the Lord 10% for providing a path of salvation and eternal life?  He asks us to give of our time and our talents to help those who are in need.  As a matter of fact He asks for us to give everything to serve Him. 

What a novel concept.  How many people do you know that have given everything to serve God with 100%?  They’ve given up the luxuries for the simplest of necessities.  They’ve given up their dreams to pursue the dreams of a small child in Haiti.  They’ve given up their college education to ensure that the addict on the street corner makes it into the rehab center to get a fresh start.  They’ve given up the corporate office to spooning up stew and soup at the local food shelter.  When you’re ready to give, it is important to give everything you have.  God has blessed you with so very much, and I’m not talking monetarily.  You have talents, gifts and love to share with all of those around you.  What is stopping you from helping the man or woman on the corner that hasn’t eaten in two or three days?  Is it their appearance, is it their addictions, is it a distrust in what they’ll do with what you give them?  I suggest that you put those thoughts aside the next time and take the action to expand God’s Kingdom by one more person.  Share yourself with another and bring them love, comfort and peace for one night.  Let God show Himself through you, He has placed you in this position for a purpose.  Use what He has given you to it’s fullest potential.  It’s time.

Prayer:
Loving Father,
You have given me everything I have; my wealth, my health, my home and my family.  You have blessed me with abundance, that I might use it to propagate and further Your Kingdom.  Place me in the right place at the right time to ensure that those who need it most are found to be favorable in Your eyes and blessed by what You have given me.  I seek to be Your feet and Your hands on this earth, give me Your eyes for just one moment to understand how You see them and love them.  In Your name we pray – Amen

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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Being All In

Make 2014 a year of Sharing

“Therefore I encourage you to take some food, for this is for your preservation, for not a hair from the head of any of you will perish.” – Acts 27:34

The pains were only minutes apart and the pressure was intense as they got into the car.  He brought the bag and she grabbed the cellphone.  Tonight was the night their life would change, and the 2 of them would become 3.  With nervousness he sped through the traffic as his wife laid her seat back and breathed in short exhales.  As he sped through the red light, he knew it was a mistake, but she was screaming and in pain.  The light changed to red just before he entered the intersection and he pressed the gas, the hospital was less than a mile away now.  As he came through the intersection he looked in his rearview mirror only to see the reds and blues of a police car right behind him.  Without abandon he pressed on.  He was on a mission and had to get his wife to the hospital, the policeman was going to have to wait.  He pulled up to the curb with the policeman right behind him.  The young man ran around the car, grabbed the wheelchair and helped his wife into it as the policeman walked up to him.  A nurse came out of the door, and wheeled her away as the young man was bent over the front hood of his car, and cuffs were placed on his wrists.  He yelled, “I love you babe.” as she disappeared into the hospital. 

The policeman then stood him back.  “What the @#$@# are you doing driving like that through my town?”, the officer asked him. 

“Well you see Sir, when God says it’s time to bring a new life into the world, I don’t want to be the one to stand in His way.”, was all he could reply. 

“You’ve violated at least 4 different traffic laws and endangered every pedestrian and motor vehicle on the road tonight.  You could serve 5 years in prison.”, commented the policeman as his voice softened. 

“Yes Sir, I realize that there were risks, but I also realize that God has incredible plans for that baby and it all begins tonight.  I sure don’t want to miss the first 5 years of the incredible journey God’s planned for him or her, if there’s anything you can do about that.”

With a smile, the officer turned him around and removed the hand cuffs.  “Go park your car before I give you a ticket for double parking, and get in there with the lovely wife and baby.  Good luck son, and be much more careful on the drive home.”  And with that he shook his hand and returned to his squad car.

God has a plan for each and every one of you.  There is not a man on this earth that can stop it from happening if you are fully in it with God.  In Acts 27 we find Paul, the Apostle, a prisoner on a ship being tossed in the Mediterranean Sea.  The ship was breaking apart and certain to sink, while Paul held firm to the fact that God wanted him to stand before Caesar.  He knew without a doubt that God had set up his arrest and this sentencing for the exact purpose of getting His message to the Roman Emperor.  Paul’s life was spared on numerous occasions after his conversion.  God had incredible things to do with him and surrounded him with protection in miraculous ways.  Why do you believe He wouldn’t do the same for you?  Do you believe God values your life less than He did Paul?  Hardly.  Perhaps we should consider that Paul was 100% in though, and fully embraced his purpose.  Just imagine what you could do for this world if you did the same. 

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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Seeking the Goal

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“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:12

When the plans you have for this life are thrown into an upheaval where are you turning to?  You had it all planned out, you knew where you were going.  You have set your goals, you’ve checked them off one by one, and then something happens.  Something comes out of the darkness and knocks you down, standing over you laughing and challenging you to get back up.  Life is full of bully’s who are not interested in your success or your goals, they are only interested in seeing you fall.  You are the one left with the choice on how to react, how to overcome and put it back together.  Like most bully’s, once they’ve knocked you down their challenge is over and they move on.  The weak will stay there and look for one to blame, the strong will press their hands into the ground and get their feet underneath them again.

I’m not sure what’s knocking you down today, but in my spirit I know that many of you are struggling and are afraid of what’s coming.  The presence of evil in this world is very real and you need to realize that you are a target.  John tells us in 1 John 5:19 that “Satan is the Prince of this World (earth)” and we see in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness where Satan tempts Jesus with “the authority over the entire Kingdom which has been given to me.”  Do you not believe that he will do everything he can to prevent you from reaching the fullness of God’s plan?

Recognize he and his demons are real.  Do not be mistaken.  As you begin to press into God’s bosom the power of this world will not give up and walk away.  Life is going to be difficult and you must press on holding closer to the Creator.  Satan drew Adam and Eve away from their perfection and their purpose, and from that he has continued with every soul born of mankind since.  The one exception was Jesus Christ, not born of mankind, but of the Spirit.  Jesus authority came directly from God perfection.  Despite Satan’s attempts to take it from Him, Jesus pressed into a closer relationship with His Father and overcame the evil of this world.

You have the same ability if you so choose.  Your Father in Heaven is there and ready to battle on your behalf.  Because you are born of mankind though, you are inherently drawn to the sinful nature of this world.  It will require you to draw closer to Him.  How?  Be in His word, be in His presence and be in His spirit every day.  Draw from His well the strength for each day, abide in Him and He will abide in you.  Accept that He alone is your King and your authority despite what this world might suggest to you.  As a child of the King you will overcome the authority of this earth and receive the fullness of His glory one day.  That is the ultimate goal to achieve, even if some of the boxes on your goal sheet are left empty.  Pursue this goal with a passion.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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What a Beautiful Day.

Share it - Help another today.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” – Ecclesiastes 3:11

I have a friend who is an incredible gifted photographer.  He shoots pictures of animals, people, landscapes, sunrises, the sky, nature and industry with such magnificence.  We look at a street of old abandoned buildings, broken windows and walls that have collapsed upon themselves, and he has the skill and wisdom of exactly how to shoot a picture of unbelievable romance and beauty.  What we might view as depressing and broken, he is able to capture with life and purpose.  It comes down to a perspective and seeing the beauty in all things.

So it is with God’s view of you and your life.  You look at the negative from yesterday and it haunts your thoughts and causes you to be depressed, worried and ashamed.  God’s perspective though is that of wonder, life and purpose.  He is looking at the span of your life in which there are many negative activities and thoughts, but there are even more positive and encouraging actions and thoughts.  We tend to focus on the negative because it leaves us with a challenge to improve.  He focuses on the positives in your life because it represents the real you.

Your life will span 29,200 days (average lifespan of 80 years), or 42 million minutes.  In that span of time you will influence 10’s of thousands of people in a positive manner or a negative, the choice is yours.  Circumstances will occur and you will do things that you regret, but you will also do amazing things that you will brush off as nothing.  What percent of your day are you focusing on the good you bring to this world vs. the wrongs you have done?  If it’s a 50/50 split, that is 14,600 days of your life or 40 years.  Keeping in mind that time is linear, once you have lived it, there is no 2^nd chance.  Your choice to carry the negative with you actually shortens your life through stress, worry, anger (raises blood pressure), loneliness and regret you are giving up precious moments in this life that you could be joyful and happy. 

Yes, I realize that life is hard and nobody is perfectly happy all the time.  But, we must admit that we tend to exaggerate the negative and minimize the positives in our life.  I propose to you today to focus on removing the negative as quickly as it enters.  Spend less than 10% (100 minutes) of your waking day today dwelling on the negative and seek the positive for the remaining 90%.  Give the negative to God when it happens, let it go and move on.  He has promised to remove it as far as the east is from the west, so it is no longer present.  Ask for forgiveness right away from whom you have wronged, and likewise grant forgiveness to those that have wronged you.  Dwelling on a situation and carrying it with you only leads to furthering the negativity in your life.

God has a beautiful day planned for you.  Rid your mind of the negative thoughts and live out His blessings as thoroughly as possible.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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God’s Not Dead

Make 2014 a year of Sharing

“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 10:32-33

I saw a great movie over the weekend and came to realize that for the most part we are allowing the world to take our faith away from us little by little.  The movie is called “God’s Not Dead” from Pure Flix Films.  It opened in 787 theaters on Friday night in the US and was the number 2 grossing film per theater for the weekend, compared to movies out of Hollywood which were shown in thousands of theaters, including Divergent and the Muppets.  I won’t go into details here about the movie because I believe each of you should find it in your local area this week and go.  Take a friend if you can, it’s the best $20 you could spend.  It has me thinking though, how would I defend the faith when faced with the extreme pressure as was the young college student portrayed in the movie.

We are all called to stand up for the truth of His grace and mercy.  That doesn’t mean we have to stand on street corners with a sign and scream at people, but it does mean we have to defend the faith when it is challenged.  Most often we find ourselves giving in to the pressure from society when our beliefs are challenged rather than taking a stand.  Human emotions get in the way of speaking His truth and we often times feel pressured to “fit in” or “just get along” so as not to offend those with an alternative opinion.  How many of you have friends that do not believe there is a God, yet alone that Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord?  Are you challenging their position on the truth from His word, or are you ignoring the situation?  If the later, what is it that keeps you from opening up this dialogue with them?  If you aren’t willing to take a stand for His truth in your interactions with them, then who is? 

You see, most of us don’t want to offend our friends or family, we just want to get along.  I get it, I’m the same way.  I make sure they know my position and then I leave it to them to pursue God, rather than pressing upon them my beliefs.  After all, it is the choice of every individual as to what they will do with this single question in life:  “Is Jesus Christ the Son of God?”  Those who say there is no God (Atheists), well, their answer is quite obvious, as is their destiny.  Those who say they believe there is a God, but have no faith in Jesus Christ as the single path to salvation, fits into a group that has been deceived by the devil in the world around them, very much like Adam and Eve were deceived in the Garden of Eden.  To believe in a supreme being, but not believe in His path for salvation means that the individual has bought into the lies of this world and has claimed their position against God and His plan of eternal peace.  It is that black and white, though we try to complicate it with shades of grey and soften the rules.  God has made it clear that there is one path to salvation and that is through His Son, Jesus Christ, the redeemer of mankind.  Matthew 10:32-33 tells us that our resistance to stand up for Him in this world will result in our eternal absence from Him in paradise.

I’m working on this myself, believe me, but I am committed to stand for my Savior in all opportunities that God places before me.  Eventually, I will become stronger and will pursue those opportunities to defend my faith in the eyes of this world.  It is a journey I am pursuing and I hope you will join me in doing the same.  Step out of that comfortable box of evangelizing to other believers and start actually spreading His word to those who need to hear it.  Be bold, confident and courageous in your endeavor though, because I can assure you, the enemy will be ever present in trying to stop your pursuit.  Trust in Him who was the Creator of it all, and press on in the fight.


© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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All in a Day’s Work

Make 2014 a year of Sharing

“But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’” – Matthew 20:13-15

The dryness caused their lips to crack and pus ran from the scrapes and cuts on their arms and legs.  The window of mercy and forgiveness had come and gone and they were left with the full conviction for their crimes.  Their attempts at restitution or reconciliation had failed and the death sentence was rightfully administered.  Their bodies weakened as the effects of gravity pulled at their internal organs and caused the collapse of their lungs upon their heart making it near impossible to breathe.  As the life began to drain from their bodies, one of them looked up and despite his failures, weaknesses and unrighteousness asked the Son of God to “Remember me when you come into Your Kingdom” (Luke 23:42)  And so it was as Jesus confirmed the man’s salvation moments before the man’s body succumbed to life on this earth.

Christianity is not based on living a perfect life, or even a righteous life for that matter.  For being or becoming perfect is impossible based on original sin of mankind in the Garden of Eden.  Christianity is based on an acceptance and acknowledgement that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior of mankind.  Are you jealous of those that have lived a life of crime and receive salvation with their dying breath?  The scriptures tell us clearly in Luke that it is indeed a reality and an acceptable condition for eternity with the Father.  Furthermore, it goes to show that salvation is not dependent upon the works of the individual but the single act of sincere acceptance of Jesus Christ.  Now, one can question all day long the sincerity of one’s salvation, but we aren’t authorized to make that call.  That is uniquely the role and responsibility of Jesus Christ alone.  Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”   Should we judge whether God can forgive a man and allow him to enter into eternal peace?  Far be it from me to take on that role.

Is it fair that some live a life of lust, debauchery, evil and disgust, and then give their life to Jesus moments before death or on death row?  My answer is yes, it is fair.  It’s very hard to accept, but none the less it’s completely fair.  If God sent His Son to die that ALL mankind might repent and receive salvation, than we should be celebrating when any child of God returns to the Father, regardless of when it is in their lifecycle.  Think of the Prodigal Son returning to his father after spending all of his money on wild living in pursuit of earthly pleasures.  The response of his father was one of loving grace and acceptance, as is our Father in heaven’s response when one of His children turn and come home. 

Jealousy, envy and claims of unfairness are truly nothing more than a representation of selfishness.  We want all the benefits we deserve and do not want others to receive benefits from their work.  In the above scripture Matthew 20:13-15, Christ shares a parable of the vineyard workers .  The owner of the vineyard early in the morning called men to work the fields and agrees to pay them a denarius.  At nine and again at noon and three o’clock, he does the same thing.  He does it again at 5 in the afternoon for all of the remaining workers.  At dark he calls them in and pays them all the same wage, a denarius.  Of course the men that had worked the entire day were angered for not getting more than those who came in at the end.  The vineyard owner has every right to grant the same benefit to each and every individual what he determines is justice, irrelevant of the others opinions on fairness.  It is his money, they agreed early on to do the work for that price, therefore removing any dispute about fairness.

The work that was accomplished by those that began earlier was exponentially greater than those that came in late in the day.  So it is with our Christian walk.  The earlier in life we make the decision and commitment to follow Jesus Christ the greater our work and our ability to improve His Kingdom.  Our reward is equal to every other person that has accepted Jesus Christ, but the fruit of our labor represents a greater blessing to our Father in Heaven, who receives all glory for our work. 

So, you see, salvation is available to all mankind, right up to their very last breath.  To some this is an excuse to party and live unrighteously right up to the end.  This selfishness for their own life may cost them salvation as they are not in control of their death, and indeed it might cost them salvation because they have intentionally denied Christ their entire life.  Only God can determine that.  The moral of the story is to accept Jesus Christ with a sincere, repentant heart and mind, then seek the opportunities to pursue him with your life.  In doing so, you have great opportunity to bring glory to God and help others come to a similar place in life.      

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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Let It Go

Make 2014 a year of Sharing

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” – Psalm 103:11-12

Where are you going?  I mean in this life.  Where are you heading to, what are you trying to accomplish?  Are you satisfied with waking up each morning, going through the same monotonous minutes of each day and then synching up on Facebook, Twitter and catching the news before calling it a night, only to wake up the next morning to do the same thing?  There is so much more to this life that the Lord has given to you, and you are fully capable and ready to go and get it.  The decision rests completely in your hands on whether or not you want too.

I know many of you are disqualifying yourselves immediately because of things you have in the old history bucket.  I can only tell you to get in line.  There is nothing in your history that is unique in this world.  You may think it is because you only see the world in 20 foot increments, but I promise you that the Father in heaven, who calls you His own, sees your life in it’s entirety at all times.  You can’t see the greatness that your interactions in this world have stimulated and there is a reason for that.  It is not for your glory or credit, but uniquely for His.  It is normal for each of us to look back on our past and see those areas where we fell short and beat ourselves up for being unrighteous in our actions or words.  The reality is that it is washed away and removed completely once you have taken it to the Lord.  He casts every sin unmeasurably far away from your presence.  It is the evil one in this world that keeps reminding you of it.

Likewise, you fear your weakness and unpreparedness will prevent you from being a productive participant in God’s plan for the future.  Before you even think about picking up His purpose and living for Him, you have defeated yourself in your own mind based on your own fears of what may or may not ever come to be.  You are a child of God and you need to accept that fact, and realize that when you are pursuing His purpose in your life, it cannot fail.  You may not see the immediate impact, but it will succeed if He has called you to it.  You must stop allowing your past weakness to prevent your future success.  We all need to learn to Let it Go, so start today.  There is no reason to wait even one more day.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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It’s a Good Show

Make 2014 a year of Sharing

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”” – John 11:25-26

For 24 years he had sat in that pew next to his Grandmother, Mom and Dad, brother and sister.  He stood when they stood, he sang when they sang and he did all the things you were supposed to do when you were in church.  He played the part perfectly and everyone thought he was the nicest young man.  What they didn’t see was the lifestyle outside of the church walls between 9A and Noon every Sunday. The partying, the sex, the drugs and the drinking were not part of his charade, they were the real thing.  Then late one Friday night, he held a gun in his hand and charged into the gas station asking for their money.  As he turned to run out of the door he felt his knees go limp just before he heard the sound of a shotgun from behind the counter.  He fell in a pool of his own blood, staring at the concrete sidewalk just outside of the Texaco gas station in this small town.  As the police surveyed the scene and zipped the body bag closed, one of them could be overheard saying, “Man, his folks are such great people; where did this one go wrong?” 

Amazing Grace was played at the funeral and the local Pastor gave the eulogy.  Friends and family gathered around the grave site as the casket was lowered into the ground.  Condolences were given to his family along with words of comfort, “At least he’s in a better place now.”  Really?  How do they know?  Is this just the thing you say at the funeral regardless of the reality demonstrated by a person’s choices in life?  Then a young woman stepped up to hug the mother.  Her words were soft, and filled with sincerity, “I’m truly sorry for your loss.  Did he know Jesus?”  The mother replied with, “Of course, we were in church every Sunday since he was a boy.  I was saved at 12, his father was saved at 14, both of our parents were baptized right down there in the river by the old church.  We are a believing family young lady.”  And with that the young woman nodded her head and gave the mother a soft embrace.

Oh so many times are we caught guilty of believing that our children are saved because we are, or that our parents have experienced salvation because we have.  The reality of it is that every single person is responsible for their own decision to believe or not believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior.  You cannot get to heaven based on your mother’s or father’s testimony and redemption, nor can you based on your spouse’s salvation experience.  You alone must choose if you accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God and profess your faith in His redeeming grace.

If your loved ones haven’t experienced God’s saving grace yet, you should be praying for them daily.  You should be sharing your faith with them that they might also come to an understanding and acceptance.  Is there any greater gift you could ever give your children, your spouse, your family or friends?  Don’t assume that because they sit in the pew, are polite to others and know the routines that they indeed have a relationship with Jesus Christ.  They cannot ride your coat tails to eternity with the Father, but you can help them and teach them along the way.  Choose today to fully know those around you, and take the opportunity to help them see.


© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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My Hope is in You

Make 2014 a year of Sharing

“My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and they come to an end without hope.” – Job 7:6

The home phone rings, which is pretty rare since the era of electronic devices is upon us and most people aren’t using home phones anymore.  As he picks up the phone with a grumpy, “Hellllloo”  On the other end he hears the voice of a police office, “Joe, It’s about your daughter, Amanda.”  Suddenly his heart was beating faster and there was a lump in his throat.  It was a small town and he knew everyone, and everyone knew him.  The Police officer was a close friend of the family, and if he called the home phone, it meant official business.  Immediately, he started evaluating the tones of the officer’s voice, and feared for the worst.  “Yes, what about her? “  “There’s been an accident and she was involved.  We’re going to need you to come down here.” said the Police officer quietly.  “Is she okay?” he asked. “No Joe. No she’s not.  You and Debbie need to me at the emergency room.”

A call that a parent never wants to get.  We try to protect them, we try to teach them, and we try to hold onto them.  Letting go is hard and scary.  We know what is in the world and we know the dangers that wait around every corner.  For years we hold their hand, we walk alongside of their bike, we run to their side when the fall down or get hit by a pitch.  Countless booboos are healed with a gentle mother’s kiss.  Hundreds of times we are telling them to put on your seatbelt, wear your helmet, don’t run out into the street, look both ways, don’t jump off that, get down out of that tree, be careful it’s hot and so on and so on.  Then comes the days when they borrow the keys to run to the store.  Sitting on pins and needles for the 20 minutes it takes them to get there and back.  Then a longer trip to the mall, and then to the movies and then a friends house, and then the beach.  They become more comfortable behind the wheel and we become less stressed each time they walk out the door.  A gentle transition takes place as their confidence grows and a parents grip loosens, until one day they have left for college.  Then it hits home that our work is nearly complete.

When that call comes in though, every thought, every emotion, every memory rushes through your brain.  Your biggest fears surface and begin to haunt you with the possibilities.  Your ability to control the hysteria and anxiety go right out the window and your sense of control is suddenly vanquished.  In that moment, in the presence of the unknown and fears, who are you going to reach to?  Will you pray?  Will you plead with God for your child’s life to be spared?  Will you barter your life for theirs?  What will you do when you have no control over a desperate situation?  Many of us would reach out to God Almighty in this type of a circumstance.  We would reach out to Him because we know, deep inside, that He is there, He is sovereign and ultimately in control of life and death.

We hear stories of people who have passed over, and then came back.  A book came out just a few years ago, Heaven is for Real, about a small boy from Nebraska, Colton Burpo, and his visit to heaven during an emergency surgery,   It has been scoffed at, ridiculed and claimed to be fantasy.  Why?  Why is it so hard to accept that there is a heaven and a hell, just as the Bible states?  How can people reach out to a God on their death bed, or the death bed of a loved one, yet at the same time make statements that these books, movies and stories are completely fabricated?

God is in control, He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End of every life.  We reach to Him because we are hopeless without Him.  For those that do not believe in Him, where is their hope?  Where will they turn in the event of a tragedy in their life?  For that matter what value does life even represent?  It could be gone tomorrow and if there is no heaven, no hell and their assertions are correct that there is no God, then what, it’s over, it’s for naught?  Sixty, seventy, eighty years of waking, working, loving and sleeping are gone and that’s it.  What hope does that person have, how do they put a value on life and death?  If there is no value on life and death, than why live?

I have hit my knees so many times and pleading with God for the safety of my children and for the well-being of my loved ones.  Sometimes it doesn’t go the way I would like it to, but my faith in God is not shaken.  I realize that there are bigger purposes to life’s events than I will ever know.  A death to a loved one might indeed bring someone else to the realization that God is in control and that they are outside of His plan.  It’s painful none the less, but falling back on the hope and trust in God the Father, heaven and His eternal presence ensures me that this life is but a very short phase, and my life with Him and with my lost loved ones, that likewise believed, will last for an eternity.  My life is filled with hope and I press on to help others find the same.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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You Knew Me

Make 2014 a year of Sharing

“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” – Psalm 139:16

There was a thin red line separating him from the masses on that day.  He had been brought before them with the accusation of murder and would now be sentenced to death.  Everything he had done, all 632 people he had killed up to that point were justified by those around him, yet here he was sitting in the gas chamber.  When they arrested him, his white lab coat was covered in red, and his hands still held the tools of his trade, by which he had used to destroy so many lives.  Now he stood before them and they screamed for his release, for his life to be spared.  The crowd gathered around the building in the streets and chanted of injustice and freedom and mercy.  They held signs and banners, that declared their rights in this life and they spit upon the courts who had ruled against him. 

Over 600 lives had been taken by this man, by his own confession and statement of record.  He had been trained by the very best and was called to perform these heinous acts at the request of the masses, who now stood and held him blameless.  Yet the unheard cries of those that perished at his hand could not be present to defend themselves, and demand justice on their behalf.  For you see, the courts and laws protected him and not them, with the exception of one.  He made a simple mistake that brought him to this day of atonement, where his very life would be taken from him against his will.  His life of working in the abortion clinic had come to an end when one of the babies survived the procedure and he chose to slice it’s throat after live birth, as it looked up at him from the operating table.  He was charged with murder in the first degree and sentenced to death as a result.  The other 631 abortions he had committed in the previous 14 years had no bearing on the decision. 

Does it make sense?  Does the fact that a baby killed within the womb is not murder yet a baby killed on the delivery table 30 seconds afterwards is.  Does this truly set well with any of us?  David writes in Psalm 139 about the incredible miraculous creation of a human child in the womb of his/her mother.  Somewhere, to our convenience in this world, we have tried to convince ourselves that it isn’t real, it’s not alive and it’s just a mass of tissue.  The reality is though that it is a living creation of God Almighty, and mankind has chosen to take what God created and throw away, like the leftovers after Christmas dinner.  Who do we think we are?

I am not a judge in the courtroom of eternal life, for there is only One.  I do not condemn those who have made bad decisions in life, for we all have in one way or another and how could one sin be forgiven and not another.  But, I believe it is wrong, and I believe it is the murder of a life, created by God the Father, that was destined for a purpose in this world of ours.  Can you imagine if Mary had lived in these days and had become pregnant out of wedlock?   Many family members, friends and doctors would have tried to convince her to abort the Savior of the World.  What if Sarah were living today?  Pregnant at 100 years old, nearly every medical professional would have told her to abort Isaac.  We have become a throw-away society focused on ourselves and what’s best for us, rather than others.  We spend billions of dollars to save trees, to save endangered animals and at the same time justify the death of 10’s of millions of unborn babies.  Jesus must be weeping over how mixed up and selfish we have become as a human race.

 I realize that there are emotional scars that are deep within the fabric and souls of women all around the world, who have endured this procedure.  I know you are silently hurting because of decisions that have been made in the past.  I want you to know, God’s love is not wavering.  He loves you and the blood from His Son’s death on the cross is sufficient to overcome even this.  His grace and love for you are never ending, and only He can provide you the strength and peace to get through your hurt and pain.  Do not turn away from Him out of fear, but embrace His forgiveness, love and grace; to pick up and move on in this life wrapped in His arms.  I lift up my prayer for all of you this morning who have or are considering this act.  Yes, you have a choice, I ask only that you make sure you fully understand it.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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Stand Up

Make 2014 a year of Sharing

“David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied” – 1 Samuel 17:45  

Stand up and fight.  You are a son or a daughter of the Almighty God.  The Creator of the Universe has made you in perfection and brought you to this very point in your life to battle on His behalf.  Dig inside of yourself and find the strength that is only wrapped by His presence in your life.  For if you attempt to take on these challenges in life on your own terms you will fail, just as those who have gone on before you.  Do you not realize who you belong too, and whose strength is behind your every move?  Come now, you must recognize that the Lord our God is your strength and in Him you will conquer all of the giants that stand in your path.  For there is no evil in this world that is beyond the power, authority and justice of our Lord.  You have been given authority of the King to stand before your giants and fight on His behalf.  Do not seek your own glory, but fight for the righteousness and glory of our Father in Heaven and you cannot fail.  I call you out of your fear, worry and anxiety to stand before your enemies filled with the Holy Spirit of the Lord and fight on His behalf.

David was but a young boy, but he had a perspective that was far beyond those in the land.  He knew that nothing exist outside of what God has designed and authorized.  He recognized the sovereignty of the Almighty and stood firm in the foundation that God is God, period.  We have allowed the evil in this world to weaken our spirit over thousands of years, and it has never been stronger than it is right now as you and I stand here.  Choices must be made as to where we go from here.  Will we continue the demise of this world or will we stand on the principals and foundation that was set in place by the Lord Himself?  So, I ask you, son of God or daughter of God, are you going to stand on the promises of your Father in heaven or fall to the judgment of mankind’s evil in this world?  You must choose and there is no other option.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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Star Struck

Make 2014 a year of Sharing

“Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?” – Isaiah 2:22

Don’t get me wrong, I like movies, I like music, I like entertainment as much as the other guy; but I must say, I am sick and tired of seeing mere humans being put on a pedestal.  Two nights ago was a television program called, “The Oscars”.  You might have heard of it.  Actors, actresses, directors, producers and others are lauded for their accomplishments in providing entertainment through movies and.  Upon receiving their award for their contributions to this industry, the recipient proceeds to give a speech of thanks to all who were a part of helping him/her achieve their status.  This year much tado was given to Matthew Mcconaughey who stood on stage and acknowledged God as his source for strength in his life.  It was a very sound speech and I applaud him for taking the opportunity to bring glory to the Father in front of millions of people around the world watching the broadcast. 

It’s been talked about ever since it happened on Sunday night.  That’s a good thing by the way.  It’s good that people are talking about God in a public manner, because Mr. Mcconaughey talked about Him.  I ask the basic question of why did it take this event to make people more comfortable talking about God.  The media were all abuzz for 2 days about Matt’s big speech.  God was in the headlines of national and international news outlets for the last 48 hours.  That’s a big deal in today’s world, and that makes me happy, but at the same time saddened.  Saddened, because the media will move on to something else today or tomorrow and forget about God just as quickly as they picked up on the story.  It’s all about selling stories in their eyes, it’s not really about the story itself.

Every single day lives are impacted by God and the Holy Spirit all over the world.  Pastors, missionaries, Moms and Dads, students and politicians are standing up for their faith in a public manner.  Where is the media, where is the excitement and praise for their boldness and their courage?  I do not blame or discredit Mr. Mcconaughey for his statements in the public eye, but let’s remember, he’s just another man.  Just because he stands on a big stage and brings glory to God doesn’t make his testimony any more relevant than yours or mine.  Let’s not put him on a pedestal and swoon over his courage.  The simple fact that he stood on a public stage and told the world does make it more exposed, but not more relevant. 

You and I are called to share the gospel, our witness and our testimony.  You have a stage every day to claim your faith in a public manner and bring glory to God the Father.  The difference is whether or not you choose to use it.  We shouldn’t place our faith in the actors, actresses and media for getting the word out, for they will be gone one day, and then who will carry the torch.  You and I have a responsibility to take His word to the people.  Your stage may be the dinner table with your spouse, children and family.  Your stage may be a classroom, an office or a work site.  You may need to humble yourself and give credit for your success in life to the One who truly gave you the abilities to do what you do.  The reality is putting our trust in mankind will only lead to disappointments and emptiness.  Putting our trust in God the Father will lead to a fulfilled life and purpose.  The very middle of the bible is Psalm 118:8 which states: “It is better to take refuge in the Lord, than to trust in man.”  There is no better way to center your faith than to rely on God rather than those around you.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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