Prophecy 19: Isaiah 6:9-10

Daily Thoughts – December 23^rd   

Prophecy 19: Acts 1:11

"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." - Acts 1:11
Acts 1:11 and cross references

It shall come to pass that in the city of David, she will bring forth a son and call him Immanuel, meaning God is with us. Read the scripture Isaiah 7:1-15 to your children on Christmas morning followed up by the traditional reading of

Luke 2:1-7. In this way, you are sure to continue the teaching from generation to generation of the foretelling of the Messiah and His birth.

You have been exposed to nearly 20 prophecies about the birth, life, and death of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. I have shared with you Isaiah 9:6 which discusses the Immaculate Conception and birth, of which we celebrate on the 25th. Now I want to share with you a messianic prophecy regarding His second coming. I do this so that you are aware and busy preparing for this day.

All throughout the Old and New Testaments prophets have foretold of the second coming of the Messiah to redeem and then judge the world. Regarding the first coming of the Messiah, there was a matter of several hundred years between their prophecies and His birth. I have shown you how even after hundreds of years the Israelites and Jewish leadership did not recognize Him when He was born. I am concerned that over the last 2000 or so years we have forgotten who it is we are looking for.

To avoid this disconnect the second time, it is crucial that you continue to deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ. The stronger you become in your faith and understanding of His grace, the more familiar and prepared you will be upon His return. The knowledge you have gained over the last 4 weeks is a solid foundation to emphasize that Christ alone is the long-awaited Messiah. With the acceptance of this fact, we must then prepare for the next prophecies that remain unanswered and ensure we are ready when they too are fulfilled.

A very Blessed and Merry Christmas to all of you. May you find the peace of the Savior as Mary, Joseph, and the Shepherds on that cold night in Bethlehem. The night the angels cried and sang Halleluiah to the King.

- Rich

© Sondove Enterprises, 2019
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Laugh Out Loud

Make 2014 a year of Sharing

“Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place” – 1 Chronicles 16:27

Laughter is such an amazing characteristic in a human.  Last night was game night and the joy, laughter and blessings that poured from our kitchen table were beyond description.  The entire world was on put on hold as the children and adults sat around the kitchen table with a simple board game of Trouble.  I was late to the party as I my job required me to work late, but upon walking into my home I was immediately filled with joy hearing the happiness from within.  There is nothing like it, when it just pours forth and fills each person up.  In today’s world of stress, timelines and busyness, it is a relief to just step back and listen to such pure happiness and joy.  Thank you Holy Spirit for indwelling in our household and filling us with your love and laughter.

Does God laugh?
I most certainly believe that our Father laughs and is filled with joy at the sight of His children being filled with love and happiness.  We are made in His image.  His Son was sent here to dwell among humans, and He was fully man, but at the same time fully God.  There are several scriptures where Jesus refers to the joy, happiness, love and peace of the Father being poured out upon mankind.  So we know that God knows joy and happiness, and laughter goes hand in hand.  David danced as if drunk out of the joy from the spirit. 

We are not meant to be caught up in worry and stress, but to celebrate our life with joy, laughter and singing.  For there will come a day when this world will face the judgment of the Father and in that day, there will be no joy for the non-believer, but rather wailing and gnashing of teeth as they are cast into the lake of fire.  Then we should celebrate, oh mankind.  Celebrate for your promised eternity is upon the horizon and your Father in heaven is coming to bring you home.  Spend your time filled with His spirit and living fully the day that has been given to you.

You have today folks.  You have 24 hours to lift up the word of God and make it come alive in your life.  Stop fretting about what might come tomorrow, or the next day or the day after that and focus your attention on the here and now.  Live for the moment as if Jesus were coming back in your next breath.  Just the scriptures tell us to always be prepared, for we do not know when that day will come, you should take heed for it is coming soon.  Be filled with His joy, happiness and laughter today and find a way to share it with those around you.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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He'll Lift You Up

Read It, Learn It, Live It, Share It

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” –Isaiah 40:8  

  Have you ever  considered the beauty of God’s creation in the early Autumn?   From the beautiful sunsets, the incredible harvest moon that lights the sky to the incredible collage of leaves changing right before our eyes.  I’ve spent many moments watching leaves falling on a brisk afternoon as I grew up in the Midwest.  Cascading delicately on the breezes in the cool afternoon sun a single floated back and forth, back and forth, then twirling as it hovered just above the asphalt of the parking lot.  Finally, the leaf would land, and it wasn’t 30 seconds before a car tire went right over the red lead and left it torn and broken.  That quickly a leaf that gone from hanging on this strong tall tree all spring and summer long, to the ground and is destroyed within seconds.   

But, then there was always that little child with an incredible imagination twirling under the leaves as they fell.  I imagine she would stand under the large branches of the aged tree, dancing in the grass under a canopy of colors with such brilliance that they set her imagination free.  Then you would see her stop, bend down and pick up an average sized red leaf and carefully hold it in her hands as she came across the lawn to her mother’s side.  She would be so excited to have found the perfect leaf for her collection.  This leaf would be preserved under the careful eye of this young girl who saw value in the foliage all around her, while the leaves in the middle of the road and driveways get run over time and time again.

As I recently thought about the beauty of God’s creation, it dawned on me that our lives are very much like the foliage in the cool Autumn days in the Northeast or Midwestern United States.  We live a full life, vibrant and robust, to the fullest.  From the day we are born we are in the process of developing, maturing and branching out amongst our friends and peers.  Then the seasons begin to change and there is a chill in the air.  It becomes harder to hold on to the strength of those around us, until the day comes that we fall from the tree.  As we land on the cold earth, one of two things will happen.  We will be trampled under and disintegrate into the earth’s soil, left to rot away with the others.  Or, we will be lifted up, and gently carried away by the One who loves us.  To be put on display, proudly and lovingly cherished for all time.  Presented with incredible excitement to the Father and given a place in paradise forever.

Isaiah is telling us in chapter 40, the 8^th verse.  Things of this world are temporary.  All things are destined to die and in doing so bring an end to their existence here.  But, God’s word – the scriptures and Holy word of our Lord will never die.  It is, it has been and always will be.  Not just as a written book, but as the love and grace of the Father.  In John 1:1, we hear the Lord, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  God is the beginning, the end and everything in between.  He sees every leaf that falls from every tree, in every yard, in every state, in every country, on every continent on this amazing planet we call earth.  If we believe in His omnipotence to be in everyplace at any given moment, simultaneously to see every leaf fall; then we must believe that He is unbelievably interested in your life and the problems you face on a daily basis.  Find comfort in knowing that the Lord of the universe knows your name and is there to pick you up when you have fallen.  Trust in His word, it does not change, and also trust in His Son to carry you excitedly before His Father one day, stating; “Father, this is one that I love, he is worthy to enter into paradise.”

Prayer:Almighty God,
There are seasons in all of our lives Lord.  Seasons of growth, maturing, teaching, learning, loving, joy, sorrow and anger.  As we draw upon Your grace for our salvation, help us to live our lives to the fullest for You.  Help us to be used completely  by Your desires and plans for our lives.  And when that day arrives, let us join with Your host of angels to celebrate the Lord forevermore.  - Amen

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© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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Help them See

Read It, Learn It, Live It, Share It

“However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?"  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." – Romans 10:16-17

It’s frustrating at times to see the word that I hold so dear fall upon deaf ears.  I cannot recall a time when I did not believe in the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  Oh sure, there have been many days when one would look at my life and say, “What a hypocrite”, and they would be 100% right in their assessment.  One of the very reasons my faith is so strong is the simple fact that I cannot live without sin in my life.  As hard as I’ve tried to live the perfect, peaceful, righteous life; I’ve fallen short every single day.  At best, I may make it 10 minutes without some unrighteous act or word or thought, and then I’m right back in my humility of relying on His grace and love again. 

I’ve often had the intent of reaching out to a few of those, whom I know do not have faith in God, and shake them until they saw the light.  Fortunately, for me and for them, calmer heads prevailed and patience endured.  I have learned from my quiet moments with the Holy Spirit in the morning that you cannot force God’s love upon someone.  It is something that must be sought after and found.  It is not a check box on an application, but an acceptance of something that is everlasting.  There will always be those that refuse to accept the sovereign authority of God Almighty, and view His loving presence as a set of pressing rules and guidelines for their life.  The pride and arrogance of these individuals separate them from the reality that they are in need of salvation.

This is why it is important for you to always be ready when the Lord opens that door of opportunity for you to share His love.  In each of our lives we will have struggles, pain, resentment and sorrow.  This is not unique to the Christian life, this is common across all of mankind and always has been.  There are times when you will need to present the love and grace of the Father to someone who is lost and struggling to find their way.  I cannot tell you when these events will happen, but they will.  Being prepared though is your responsibility.  Being in the Word daily, to hear His guidance and love; and familiarize yourself with His teachings will be essential when the opportunity comes up, and it will.  It might be your spouse, your children, your family, your co-worker or your friend, and you will be given the opportunity to share His love with them.  Don’t be unprepared, don’t be caught off guard.  Be ready to stand for Him when you see those around you falling down in their own attempt to survive life.  You be the witness and help them see.     

             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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How He Loves Us

Read It, Learn It, Live It, Share It

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God” – 1 John 4:7


The words are written in several scriptures throughout the Holy Bible, “God is love”; “God loved us so much He gave His only Son to die”; 

“Rather it is because of his love for you and his faithfulness to the promise he solemnly vowed to your ancestors”  or “I have loved you with an everlasting love”  God’s love is not something that we can fathom on earth.  It is something that each of us desperately needs and craves though. It’s inherent from birth, the need to be loved, to be accepted and to be cherished.

We are incapable of fulfilling that deep desire for acceptance.  Our natural inclination is to look for that need in those around us, those that are closest too us.  But even here, many times, there is no acceptance; which then leads to hopelessness.  God’s love though is immutable, never changing and not dependent upon anything you can do or anything you have done.  Unlike those around you, who will love you based on your last encounter with them, good or bad; God’s love spans all emotions and is pure, righteous and complete.

When Christ cried out from the cross “Eloi, Eloi lama sabachthani – My God, My God why have You forsaken me” (Matthew 27:46)  God looked down upon His Son and in His infinite wisdom and love for all of mankind, did nothing to stop the death of Jesus Christ.  He could have reigned fire down upon the people of Jerusalem that day, but He knew what would happen in 3 days time.  Furthermore, He knows that life on this earth is fleeting and that real life abounds in heaven for eternity.  Because of His strongest desire to have you and I enter into this eternal joy and happiness with Him, He let this plan of redemption be fulfilled that day on the cross. 

You see, despite your choice to love Him or not too love Him, He loves you enough to make a way for you to join Him in heaven.  You don’t deserve it, none of us do.  We wake, we pray, we sing praise songs, we put on the suit and play the part.  For these things we tell the world “Look at me, I love God.”  Then we lie, cheat, fight, kill, pursue pornography, drugs and alcohol, steal, rape, pillage and slander our brother and sister, hide from the world’s view, so they don’t see the truth.  But we can’t hide from the Lord, He sees every breath we take, and knows every thought before it is executed upon.  Yet, despite the evil that resides within each of our hearts, He has chosen to love us and offer us salvation through His Son. 

If we trust that Jesus’ death upon the cross was sufficient redemption for the sin of mankind, than is there any justification to say that it isn’t sufficient for whatever sin you are facing?  For if His blood is not sufficient for your sin, than the sacrifice is not sufficient for any sin.  There is no future chapter to be added to the scriptures offering another sacrifice or another path of redemption.  What God did, through Christ’s death and resurrection is complete and sufficient for every possible sin.

That’s how much love God has for you.  He has given you a way to overcome the sin of this world and live out eternity with Him in heaven.  The choice remains yours though and cannot be forced upon you.   

“He is jealous for me.  Loves like a hurricane I am a tree, bending beneath the weight and wind of His mercy.”
                                                – “How He Loves” - David Crowder Band

             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com