Forgiveness for All

January 7, 2015

“Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty— he is the King of glory.  Selah” – Psalm 24:10

Carrying guilt, shame and a feeling of rejection is so unbelievably common in today’s world.  There is a myth that God will not accept us, if He knew what we had done.  NEWS FLASH:  He knows, and He still loves you.  We cannot outrun our past.  There is something strange about the human mind – it can’t forget everything.  All of those times when sin crept through the door of your life and captured your mind, your heart and your actions.  Are you still holding onto them, using them as a scapegoat to claim your unworthiness before the Lord?  So many of us can’t let go and accept the peace and loving forgiveness of the Father.

I heard a Billy Graham quote and it has stuck with me for years now.  “God has the unbelievable ability to forgive everything you have ever done.  From the moment you were born to the moment of your death, every sin is washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ.  Because if even one sin remained He could not accept you into His perfect heaven.”   To me this crystallized that Jesus Christ death on the cross was for all mankinds sins.  There is no list of forgivable sins and a subsequent list of unforgiveable sins.  If His blood is strong enough to redeem one, it must be strong enough to redeem all.  Otherwise, Jesus death and resurrection is not sufficient for the salvation of mankind.

I am often reaching to the Lord to give me peace and the ability to overcome my own guilt and shame for my daily transgressions.  Do you ever find yourself in this same boat?  Take this time to lift your prayer to the Lord and seek His peace today.  Ask Him to wash it from your memory so that you might live fully for Him.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2015
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Finding Me - Day 18

October 2, 2014

I knew I shouldn’t have done it, but once it’s done, how can I take it back.  The reality is nobody saw it anyway, so what difference does it make, nobody got hurt and to be honest it’s none of their business anyway.  Yes, I’m guilty; and so are you.  Oh sure, I can try to justify my actions and make excuses for why I do certain things.  The truth will always be upon my heart and mind though, and that starts to pile up after a while.  Then comes the shame, the guilt, the feelings of unworthiness.  If you are like me, you can spend hours in self- judgment and prosecution.

The act is never as large as the impact.  I’m not talking about hurting others, either.  The smallest act of unrighteousness has the potential to weigh upon our mind in such a way that we convince ourselves that we are broken, worthless and discarded.  There is an old cliché` that I want you to think on today.  It’s been said in many different ways, but it’s none the less truthful in every sense.  “Character is not who they perceive you to be, it is who you are when no one is looking, when you are alone with your Creator.”  This week I was reminded that there are times when it is just me and God.  For there is no place I can go where He is not and He sees all things, even the unspoken and unfulfilled desires of my heart (Psalm 139:7)

Day 18: Guilty as Charged
“Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;  who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” – Romans 8:33-34

It’s so easy to fall into the lie that our actions will separate us from Him. This is Satan’s way of convincing us that we aren’t worthy of God’s love, of salvation and eternity.  I strongly advise you to rebuke these thoughts and feelings.  Satan will consistently point out to us our shortcomings, our weaknesses and faults, with a judgment that indicts and condemns.  His strength comes from our belief that we must earn God’s love, when in reality we need only accept it.  For you see God put only one condition on His love and salvation – “Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.”

Do not believe the world that tells you that you are unworthy of God’s grace.  There is no greater lie from the enemy.  The world will call you a hypocrite, and shame you into disgrace.  For, the world is the devil’s playground and he is fully aware of your weaknesses and will exploit them at all cost.  Stand firm then in knowing that you are a child of God; forgiven, sanctified and made whole through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  His blood atoned from your sins, and you have been made whole, despite your feelings of inadequacy.  He cannot provide another path for salvation; for Jesus Christ has provided the redemption for all sin, not just some. 2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us that “My grace is sufficient …” 

Prayer:
Father,
You alone are capable of loving me despite my weakness.  You have provided a path for my salvation, and have given me the sufficient grace to overcome my weakness and sinful nature.  I stand firm in my faith that Your love is unwavering, unfailing, immutable and everlasting.  I know I have sinned against You and I am not worthy of eternity with You.  I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord, and it is upon His death, burial and resurrection that I am made whole and am able to enter into Your presence.  Thank You for providing a way for my iniquities to be washed clean.     – Amen

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He's Alive

Continuing to celebrate the Resurrection

“So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”” – John 20:2

I was 17 years old sitting in a parking lot at Meijer’s Thrifty Acres in Adrian, Mi.  It was Easter weekend and I was feeling very guilty about not loving my Savior as much as He loved me.  I was listening to WMUZ (103.5) and this song came on the radio.  I felt like Peter, and the tears flowed that night.  I felt guilt, shame, anguish and fear.  By the end of the song, I knew that no matter what God’s love for me would never change and I recommitted my life right then and there.  Here I am 32 years later and my 23 year old daughter and 10 year old daughter are walking around the house singing the very same song.  The tears are just as real today as they were then, as I think about all the times I’ve turned my back on my Lord out of fear, embarrassment or peer pressure.  I am so sorry Jesus.

The gates and doors were barred, all the windows fastened down
Spent the night in sleeplessness, and rose at every sound.
Half in hopeless sorry, Half in fear the day
We’d find the soldiers breaking through to drag us all away.

Just before the sunrise, I heard something at the wall.
The gate began to rattle and a voice began to call.
I hurried to the window, looked down into the street
Expecting swords and torches and the sounds of soldiers feet.

There was no one there but Mary, so I went down to let her in.
John stood there beside me, as she told us where she’d been.
“Someone moved him in the night and none of us know where,
the stone’s been rolled away and his body isn’t there.”

We both ran toward the garden, then John ran on ahead.
We found the stone and the empty tomb, just the way that Mary said.
The winding sheet they wrapped him in was just an empty shell.
How or where they’d taken him was more than I could tell.

Something strange had happened there, just what I did not know.
John believed a miracle, but I just turned to go.
Circumstance and speculation, couldn’t lift me very high
I’d seen them crucify him, and then I saw him die.

Back inside the house again, the guilt and anguish came.
Everything I’d promised him just added to my shame.
When at last it came the choices, I denied I knew his name.
Even if he was alive, it wouldn’t be the same.

Suddenly the air was filled with strange and sweet perfume.
Light the came from everywhere drove shadows from the room
Jesus stood beside me with His arms held open wide
I fell down to my knees, and clung to Him and cried.

He raised me to my feet, and when I looked into His eyes
Love was shining out from Him like sunlight from the skies
Guilt and my confusion, disappeared with sweet release
Every fear I’d ever had just melted into peace

He’s Alive – He’s Alive
He’s Alive and I’m forgiven, heaven’s gates are open wide
He’s Alive – He’s Alive
He’s alive and I’m forgiven, heaven’s gates are open wide
He’s Alive – He’s Alive
                                                Don Francisco (1982) “He’s Alive”

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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Standing Up After the Fall

Read It, Learn It, Live It, Share It with your friends

"I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name."   –Revelation 3:8

As he stepped into the gentlemen’s club the pounding music and flashing lights seduced him to proceed even though his heart and mind knew it wasn’t right.  As the summer drew to an end and their Senior year of college was about to start, he and his friends had decided that a night on the town was in order.  The independence of living on his own for the last few years had a dramatic impact on his life and he found himself frequently questioning the moral values that he had learned as a child.  He paid the cover charge and they stamped his hand with an embarrassing image of a naked woman’s silhouette.  He stared at it for a second, questioning what his fiancée might think if she knew he was here.  He faked a smile and followed his friends into the darkness….

We’ve all been in that situation where we know something is wrong, but we push forward and do it anyway.  Sometimes we proceed because we don’t want to be embarrassed in front of friends, sometimes because of curiosity or sometimes with rebellious intentions.  There is that brief moment when we check it against our moral compass it’s in that moment where we need to decide how it aligns with God’s plan and righteousness.  I have found myself in similar situations and asked one simple question; “If Jesus were with me, would I continue down this path?”

This scripture clearly states that God knows of your actions and whether they are aligned to His plan and purpose for you.  It also states that God recognizes your emotional and physical condition “…you have little strength.”   He promises to provide you the strength you need in these circumstances.  The strength of the Holy Spirit, within, reminds you when you are in His will and the righteousness therein and when you’re not.  The door which exists between you and Christ is always open and His grace is always accessible.  Even in these circumstances, where you are weak in your faith.  This open door represents great opportunities for you to continue sharing His word and love.  The fact that this is a door that cannot be shut, clearly tells us that it is very important, such that even Satan and his demons cannot shut it.

Do you realize the impact of this statement?  God’s got your back.  He knows the struggles we face as fallen humans and what life has in store for each of us.  Trials will come, and we will be tempted, but by staying in His word and continuing to grow in our love and understanding we become strong enough to endure.  When we are about the business of doing His work, there is little time for Satan to throw obstacles in your way.  If those around you resent or ridicule your actions, remember– your work is for the Lord not for man

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