Praise Him, Anyway

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

When the ball was snapped he took two steps, swung his leg and made great contact with the football.  Straight as an arrow the ball went right between the uprights.  He leaped with joy, lifted his hand to heaven in praise of his Lord Jesus Christ.  But wait, no-one else was joyful.  The other team had called time-out just before the ball was snapped.  Therefore the game winning field goal was nullified, and his team still trailed 15-16, but now with only 10 seconds left.

They huddled up, same play was called.  His teammates slapped his helmet, said to him, “Just do it again.  No problem.”  They lined up in the same formation.  The ball was snapped, he took two steps, swung his leg, made good contact, but not quite as good.  The ball left his foot, and was ever so slightly tipped by a member of the other team, which caused a slight wobble and the ball traveled left.  It hit the field goal post and then fell downward to strike the cross-bar before falling back into the field of play.  He had missed it, and their season came to an end.  As his teammates gathered around to pat him on the back or shoulders, devastation was in their eyes.  Then, he lifted his head, rose his hand up and pointed to God the Father; much to the surprise of everyone watching.

Later, in an interview he was asked why?  Straight forward and clear as ever, Cody Parkey said, “It’s on me.  I let the team down, the fans down and myself.  But I’ll keep my head high, because football is what I do, it is not who I am.”  He honored God with his gesture on the field in one of the lowest points in his life, he still found a way to praise God.  This will probably cost him his job with the Chicago Bears, but that doesn’t change the truth that Cody stands on.  He fully understands that he is a child of God first and a football player second in that situation, and nothing can take that away from him.  Social media is a buzz with derogatory statements, threats, and malicious comments because many of us don’t have that same perspective.  We’ve put football on a pedestal and wrap our life around the outcome.    



It is so easy to lift a hand, point to God, and praise Him when things are going right.  After the big win, after winning an award, after a great meeting, after finishing a difficult project; we all thank God for His help.  The problem is when things don’t go our way, a loved one dies, a child leaves home, lose a job, fail a test at school, miss the easy layup to win a game, lose everything in a natural disaster, and so on.  Can you still praise God and accept His love when tragedy or loss strikes?  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to praise Him in all things.  Remember this life is only temporary.  Our eternal salvation is our goal and in that we are going to win, through Christ Jesus.

 

 

© Sondove Enterprises, 2019
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Stand Tall, Even if You’re Alone

Click Here: Read Luke 10

“But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.”  – Luke 10:33

There is absolute right and wrong in today’s world.  We are called to do the right thing, despite what other’s will say or think.  You represent the living Christ, born to take away the sins of man, to bring salvation to the world.  By conforming to the ways of the world, you are condoning and encouraging their actions.  Stand tall, even if you’re alone.

Walking away from the gentlemen’s club when everyone else is walking in.  Reaching for a glass of water when the scotch is flowing freely.  Stopping by the side of the road to help those living in cardboard boxes while the cars drive by.  Using the big stage as a pulpit despite the ridicule and resentment it might cause.  Standing your ground when the world attacks challenging every moral compass known to mankind.  These are all examples of courage in the world today.

We all recall the story of the “Good Samaritan”.  A man traveling along the road from Jerusalem to Jericho is beaten, stripped and robbed, left for dead along the side of the road.  A priest passed by without stopping, then a Levite passed by without stopping.  Finally, a Samaritan stopped to aid the man, without concern for himself, he took the time to tend to the needs of his another.  In those days the road from Jerusalem to Jericho was a dangerous road.  Many times thieves, robbers and murderers would attack along this road, for there were many places for surprise attacks.  To stop and help another along this road meant you were putting yourself in danger for the attackers may still be in the area, and secondly; the person you stopped to help may be pretending simply to lure you into a trap.  This is what makes the Samaritan courageous in my eyes, not just loving and helpful.

Knowing that we are going against the common acceptable rule and standing strong on our own moral beliefs takes enormous courage.  The world is telling you that everything is okay, live and enjoy, have fun for life is short, who cares what tomorrow brings live for today.  I beg to differ.  We are all held accountable to an authority greater than ourselves.  The values, morals and ethical boundaries are our compass and the Holy Spirit living within our heart convicts us against this set of principals as God would have for us.  So many today are making poor choices because of the social pressure, their peer community, and the fear of being isolated and left out.  The person of strong character stands firmly on the moral fabric of the word of God and makes choices that represent His character of righteousness.

Courage doesn’t always mean strength through violence or power, it is often in the little things that are done through love and commitment to a bigger purpose.  Stand for what is right – be Courageous in these trying times and see how others are impacted through your positive choices rather than trying to impress by going along with everyone else’s choice.




© Sondove Enterprises, 2018
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Part of the 1%

“During that night the Lord said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands.”
                                                                                                – Judges 7:9

As they awoke that morning 32,000 strong, armed and ready to fight for their God, Gideon heard from the Lord.  What he heard had to come as a surprise, but he knew to obey and trust in the Lord.  “You have too many men…”  Gideon then proceeded to watch 22,000 men leave his army, and I can imagine that immediately he began recalculating and wondering how to adjust his tactical plan to defeat the Midianites with only 10,000.  But wait, there’s more.  God wasn’t done just yet, as His word came down upon Gideon – “You still have too many…”  God sifted another 9,700 from the ranks and left Gideon with 300 courageous men, ready to defend God’s honor against the Midianite forces which lie awake in the valley below.  What Gideon had prepared, in all of his careful planning and strategy to succeed in battle could be thrown out the window.  How could he execute an attack on such a strong formidable adversary with less than 1% of his forces still under his control. 
That’s the issue.  You see, Gideon had prepared an army that could have won the battle, but the outcome would have brought glory to them rather than to God the Father.  With only 300 men standing for God against the massive Midianite army, there would be no doubt in anyone’s eyes that it was the hand of God that won this battle.  All of the planning and strategies Gideon had prepared were useless, he must resort to following the plan and direction of God perfectly, and the Lord promised to deliver the Midianites into his hands.  Gideon had to quickly learn that he must trust the Lord for his life and the lives of those 300 men.  By the end of the night, the Midianites had been defeated, by their own hand against themselves, and God was given all of the glory.
Who are you trusting with your biggest problem of today?  Seriously, do you think your problem compares to the problem Gideon faced?  What if you were only given 1% of the resources available to you to solve that problem, what would your first reaction be?  God is in the business of successful planning and accomplishing things in unbelievable ways, for those that will follow Him and give Him the glory.  When He is Lord of your life, your problems become His, and there is no problem He can’t solve when we chose to follow Him.  Today is open and He is ready for you to trust in His leadership.  Put your ego, pride and self-centered thinking aside, and reach out to the Creator of all things, for He alone is worthy and capable.


Be Blessed,

Rich

 

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The Beatitudes: An Eternal Inheritance

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" - Matthew 5:5 

Who are the meek? So often the word is associated with weakness and timidity. As Jesus stands on a hill, outside of Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee, He is addressing a mixed crowd of Jewish leaders, laborers and gentiles. Amidst this crowd are folks just like you and I. Some are angry with God, some are afraid of God, some are unbelieving and some are arrogant and self-righteous. As He lay out the guidelines for those seeking heaven, there is a pointedness to His statement about the meek. For in this situation I believe Jesus is referring to humility.

I was attending a conference on "investing for success" a few years ago. Speaker after speaker came on stage and laid out their ideas for breaking through the barriers which separate the extremely wealthy from the not so wealthy. Do this, do that, give us your money and trust that we will invest it and make you rich. Instant pleasure, the shortest path, easy money; people, by their general nature, are self-serving as were the people gathered on that hill listening to Jesus speak. It's not our fault you see, it goes back to original sin. Man has never been content with life. There is always more than what we have, and as far back as history goes man has been seeking it.

What Jesus is telling the Pharisees, tax collectors, Sadducees, Scribes and commoners on that hill though was contradictory to that inherent belief. For to find true wealth meant to humble oneself as the "meek" did. I imagine people left that hill confused on that day. Just like the conference I attended, they had come expecting to hear the key to breaking the bondage of oppression and finding their way to success. What they heard was the opposite.

So the lesson for us, 2000 years later, is no different. True success and wealth is found in serving, humility and meekness; and I don't mean weak or timidity. Love others, seek those who need help and do something about it. The wealth you seek should not be of this world, but of eternity. The money and possessions you gather here is worthless after you die, and face it, you are going to die - right? This doesn't mean that money and possessions are evil. Actually, they’re not. The love of money and possessions is. Seek wealth so that you may expand His Kingdom and bring more people to a relationship with Christ. You will be fulfilling Jesus' direction in Matthew 5:5. For you see, the true inheritance is in heaven not in this world.

Stay the Course

Make 2014 a year for sharing

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”  – 1 Corinthians 15:58

Where does the strength come from to continue down a path that is wrought with obstacles and no clear signs of progress?  When your best friend or loved one refuses to accept the salvation of the Lord, do you turn away and throw up your hands with an “Oh well, I tried.” philosophy?  There are countless testimonies and life stories about individuals that were at their absolute lowest point in life and have come to a moment of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ, only to later find out that someone had not given up on them.

Paul shares with us in 1 Corinthians 15 to stand firm, stay the course when we are challenged to see the fruits of our labor.  In Mark 9:38-39, we hear Jesus telling His disciples that those that perform miracles by His name cannot later say bad things about Him.  We cannot be praying for the salvation of our friends and have it turned against them or us.  Prayers and actions to introduce others to Jesus Christ are not in vain even though we may never see them come to fruition.  For it is not in our prideful state that we are to stand in our accomplishments.  All work for the Lord is to bring glory to Him and only Him.  We are but a tool, a servant of the Almighty Jehovah.

When you are tired and feeling as if your prayers are falling on deaf ears, kneel one more time and lift up your concerns to Him with praise and thanksgiving.  These are the times we are prone to give in to the world’s view.  We judge the results of our prayers by the rapidness of God’s response.  It is important to realize that God does not wear a wristwatch nor does He have a clock on His wall.  His time is infinite and it is His decision and only His decision when His glory is revealed to others.  Our job is to remain faithful and consistent in our communication of His message.  Stand firm in your belief and conviction, for you never know when those listening just might be receptive to hear His word.

Prayer:
Loving Father,
Help us to find strength in Your word.  The strength to go on and bring Your message to the masses.  Help us to avoid self righteousness in our actions and do everything to glorify You.  There are many to hear Your word, and we acknowledge that salvation is in Your hands alone.  Let us be busy spreading seeds for Your cultivation.  In Your name we pray – Amen

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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Conquerors Stand Up Again

Make 2014 a year of Sharing

“Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” – Romans 8:35,37

You are stronger than you can ever imagine.  The problem is that you have become dependent upon man rather than your heavenly Father.  True faith in God does not waver in times of difficulty or struggle it is strengthened by knowing that there is nothing in this world that can overcome the power and authority of your Father. 

Do you believe this?  Do you trust that your life is completely in the hands of your supreme Creator?  It’s easy for me to sit on this side of the internet and claim that you can see your way through the struggles in this life through simple faith.  But, how does one actually put it into action?  When you look at the gas tank and it’s empty and you do not have a dollar to your name, how is God going to solve that problem?  When you are getting daily calls from creditors and you haven’t had a job in months, and can’t find one – where is your Savior?  Loved one’s have lost their battle for life after months and sometimes years of praying, was God even listening?  How are all of these young girls kidnapped and sold into sex trafficking supposed to believe that nothing can separate them from the love of Christ?

For years I have struggled with this verse.  I look around at this world, and the evil and corruptness that is all around us.  We watch as the moral fabric of our society continues to decrease.  Our children are continually taught to tolerate the sinful world in which we live, rather than stand up for truth.  I am slowly coming to the realization of the truth in Jesus’ words in Matthew 10^th chapter: “"You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.” (v22) and “"Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (v28)  What will happen to my eternal life when everything I have is taken away, or my health fails, or I am persecuted, beaten or thrown into prison?  That is the area we must remained focused on.

This is the strength that God will empower you to live through the pain.  The reality life is that we all will die at some point.  This life is temporary and only a stepping stone to our eternal life with the Father.  As we observe the struggles and hardship in this life, we have the opportunity to remain confident and filled with the peace in knowing that we are destined for eternity with Him.  With this acceptance and understanding we are no longer fearful of what others can do, or the persecutions that we will face, or the death of our loved ones.  With this faith in our eternal destiny we are capable of speaking and acting without abandon in our daily walk to further His kingdom.  The freedom that this realization brings to one’s life is the act of experiencing God’s love thoroughly.  Hardship is going to happen in this life, to not be naïve.   But, you must hold firm to that truth that your Father in heaven is your strength and will empower you to overcome all things in this life, with the promise of eternal life. Take hold of the conquering spirit you have within you as a child of God and rise up, despite your circumstances, for He is still on His throne.


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Finding the Light

Read It, Learn It, Live It, Share It

“. . .and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary.” – Revelation 2:3

  We stood and watched as the black clouds rolled over the horizon.  It seemed as if almost immediately the 9AM bright blue sky became as midnight.  Street lights began illuminating and the highway was filled with headlights and taillights.  Ominous could have been a word describing the rolling clouds, as the very thought that this could be big stretched across the brain matter of each person standing there with me.  Yet through the pitch there was a silver ray, a beam upon the distant horizon.  It was faint at first but then began widening and bringing with it hope and a comforting acceptance that the end was not upon us, but just a passing expression of the darkness of the world.  Within the span of 1 revolution of the large hand upon the clock, we were in the much taken for granted beautiful blue skies of Southeastern Texas once again and the storm had passed.

  Much like life, storms will come and go upon your daily walk with the Lord.  There will be times when you are fearful, tired, and distraught with uncertainty and the uncomfortableness of the darkness that has settled around you.  When we look upon these spectacles as if we are without hope it can often be overwhelming.  It’s easy to become lost in the worries and fears of this world and forget that we are the children of the most powerful King and Creator of all things. 

  The problem is we have a hard time finding the horizon or we grow weary as we wait for the sliver of light to appear.  Often times we expect that our hardships, our struggles and our worries will be swept away instantly at our request, without considering the sovereignty, authority and power of the Lord.  The strong will look at the horizon continuously seeking the Light, knowing that the evil of this world is only temporary.  We seek Him that brings peace, comfort, confidence and protection.  The Light is always there, though often hidden by the pitch and filth of the world.  His promise was that He will be with us always, even to the ends of the earth (Matt. 28:20).  You must ask yourself if you trust His word and believe that He can be trusted.  Do not grow weary in your quest, for He has given all for your salvation.  He will see you through the storms and valleys of this life and bring you to the calm and peace of His loving embrace.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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Remembering Robert Tiede

" ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” – Revelations 21:4

I don’t care how much you attempt to prepare yourself,
you won’t be completely ready when it happens.

The heart is designed to love others, and once that door has been opened it’s impossible to close.

Gentle words and a comforting embrace will always land with love and grace.

There is an unspoken, unwritten agreement between the heart and the mind: Special memories are engrained in a manner that should not and cannot be erased, but rather to be cherished. 

Thank you all for the wonderful words of encouragement and love this week as we mourn the passing of my wife’s father – Robert Richard Tiede.  At times like this it’s amazing how strong and resilient the human character is.  He has battled cancer with strength and courage, just as he did every aspect of his life.  He has influenced many in his short life on this earth, and has endured to see the face of Jesus, free from the pain and anguish that has ravished his body in the last few months. 

I ask each of you to join me in prayer today for my wife and family as we lay Dad to rest.  Pray for our hearts to be comforted, and our minds to be filled with peace and love, throughout this day and those to come.  We rest upon the strength provided by our Heavenly Father and those He has placed around us at this time of mourning.  Thank you all for providing your support during this time.

 

Feel free to share this with your email and Facebook friends as you feel led by the Lord.  Today, my family needs all of your prayers of comfort and grace.  

             

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Walk Tall

Read it, Learn It, Live It, Share It

“…for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” – Isaiah 52:12b

I recall playing football as a child.  I most enjoyed playing defensive linebacker (the middle of the defensive formation), but I also played on the offensive front line (blockers for the quarterback and running backs).  I think of these days from my youth and relate to the passage from Isaiah because of what my coach taught us in those days.  As linebacker, I had an entire defensive line in front of me.  They would take the immediate blow from the offensive line as the play commenced.  Their collisions with the offensive team would create openings where the person carrying the football would run through.  Then I was one on one with this runner.  I had the confidence of knowing that behind me were three other defensive backs that would quickly be there to aid and support my effort in tackling the runner.  I also knew that if he happened to get past me, they were there to stop him.  I could play my position with confidence, knowing that I had support in the front and support from behind.

The Lord is our strength when we are facing challenges in life.  We have the confidence in knowing that He is with us, and is greater than anything we will face.  It takes a faith and trust in His sovereignty and authority to find this comfort though, for without it fear will envelope one’s mind.  Knowing that there are testimonies of saints and there are men of valor that have fought for His kingdom, help me to know that I am not in this alone.  Men have died for this cause and carried their faith to their very last breath, to be rewarded with eternity in the presence of the Lord. 

The evil in this world though is very real.  Look around yourself and do not be naïve in thinking that it is just happenstance or random acts of violence.  The time is drawing near and the enemy is building an army of loyal subjects that have been drawn by the pride, arrogance and selfishness of worldly desires.  The Lord will guide your footsteps as you make your way through the valleys of life, but He is also protecting you from behind.  We are given this scripture as comfort that we are surrounded by His love, grace, power and strength.  He is our protector, comforter, guide and defender. 

In Isaiah 30:21 we are given a beautiful scripture to hold close, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”  Walking in the footsteps of our Savior, Jesus Christ provides confidence in knowing we are going the right direction.  Knowing that God is before us and our rear guard gives us the comfort of knowing nothing in this world can harm us.  This does not mean there will be no pain or suffering.  It means that we belong to God, and there is nothing the enemy can do to take that from you or I.  Taking our life will only bring us to the foot of God’s throne and an eternity of peace, joy and love.  This world is temporary, and we are walking in the grace of God Almighty.  Walk with confidence.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2012
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Thank You Veterans!

Read It, Learn It, Live It, Share It

Thank You Veterans!

"The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. " - Proverbs 11:3

To all of you who are veterans, I want to take this moment to personally thank you for the freedom that you fought so hard to provide for me and my family. We walk in the best country in the world, and you were responsible for making this country what it is today. It is my prayer for you and your family that you find peace and comfort in your life here at home.

I think about the heroes that have stood up for America, with integrity, courage and bravery. In the face of danger and the difficult decisions that must be made on the front lines, they stand there, ready to fall for the country and people they love. Integrity is defined as "adherance to moral and ethical principles; moral character and honesty". Other's might define it as "doing what's right in the eyes of God, despite what your enemies or peers say is right."

Walking with integrity takes commitment, diligence and a confidence in your beliefs and the underlying truth of those beliefs. Hard decisions face each of us every day, and choosing to stand upright for God's truth will always lead you down a path of righteousness. Falling prey to the political correctness and tolerance will lead you away from righteousness. Proverbs 11:3, clearly states God's plans for you to follow when faced with these decisions. Like our armed service veterans stood with integrity for this countries foundational truths, we need to stand for the truth in our lives.
- Rich