Finding Me - Day 15

September 26, 2014

When the sun sets it creates an amazing portrait across the horizon.  Delicate pinks and purples mesh with the blue, black, white and grey of the encroaching evening star filled sky.  There is something about the beauty that is presented at sunset each day that has always been a big part of my persona.  For some reason I am drawn to breathe in the collapse and disappearance of the largest star in the solar system each day.  I look upon the symbolism with an understanding that God has created all of this for our enjoyment.  The light, the gases that reflect the light, the clouds that absorb and create shadows against the reflecting light, the blend between light and darkness, where one begins and the other ends. 

I find myself recognizing His presence in the beauty and colors.  I often times find myself pulling over or just finding a place to sit and watch it as it descends and sinks beyond the horizon, and slowly watch as the colors begin to darken and fade.  It happens in a matter of minutes and if you’re not purposefully looking for it, it can be missed.  It happens every single day as a reminder to each of us that He is with us, and watching over us through our struggles, through our pain and suffering and through our joy.

Day 15: In His Glory
“Where can I go from Your Spirit?  Or where can I flee from Your presence?” – Psalm 139:7

God is omnipresent and with you everywhere you go.  There is no separation that we can find for He is in you and around you.  Do you not see this my friend?  Do you not realize that where you walk, He walks with you; where you choose to socialize and spend your time, your Heavenly Father is right by your side.  David recognized this in his life, and realized that God above knew all things about him, his thoughts and actions were not in secret but in the full visibility of the Almighty.  Recognizing this, we ought to be more cautious of where we allow our feet to walk, and where we allow our mind to wander.

Prayer:
Father,
You alone are righteous and holy.  All glory is given to You for the goodness in our lives.  Press down upon us with Your grace, forgiveness and mercy.  See through my eyes those who are hurting, those who are in need and use me to bring peace and comfort to them as You desire.  I am in constant awe and wonder of Your amazing world, created for my comfort and enjoyment.  Thank You Lord for all of the beauty You have given us.    – Amen

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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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Enjoy the Little Moments

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“The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes."" – Psalm 19:8

  Lightning bugs, watermelon and smores; volleyball, beach towels and slip-n-slides; summertime fun has begun. It's amazing to me how the simplest of things bring the greatest pleasure in life. God did not make this world to be complicated, man has complicated what God made to be simple. You do agree that life is complicated don't you?

  Ask yourself, better yet, right down a list of those things that complicate your life. Now look back at your list and determine the root source for this complication. Is it time, money, health, politics or selfishness that has caused each of these things? It is highly unlikely that your list will point to God the Father as the source for the complications in your life. On the contrary, His desire is for you to simplify your life so that you are looking to Him and glorifying his name in all of our actions.

  God's word (John 16:33) tells us that we will struggle in life, but fear not for I (Jesus Christ) have overcome the world. It all comes down to faith, trust and hope in the everlasting grace that has been provided through Jesus Christ for the redemption of our souls. Look at your life story one and ask yourself, what can I do to simplify my life? Perhaps it is prioritizing time with the kids searching for lightning bugs or pitching a pup tent in the backyard and "roughing it" for a weekend. You need to take back control of your life so in turn you can give control back to the only One who has a say in the matter - God Almighty.

             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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Where is the Joy?

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“You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him, you believe in him; and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” - 1 Peter 1:8

  During times of worry and discontent, I have often heard it say “remain fast, for the joy comes in the morning”.  What do you do when you wake up in the morning and joy is once again absent?  Hmmm…can you imagine; have you been there; are you there right now?  The world is revolving, people come and people go; walking past you as if you don’t even exist.  Life at times seems monotonous and more of a ritual than an adventure, and you feel stuck.  Where is the joy in that situation?  Bah humbug.  Face it there are times when you are more of a Scrooge than a Bob Cratchit (“A Christmas Carol”, Charles Dickens, 1843). 

It’s amazing to me how quick we are to focus on the negatives in life and skip right passed the daily blessings that we are given.  Many are looking for instantaneous pleasure and happiness.  The problem is that these are often fleeting and difficult to hold on to, leaving the person feeling at loss after a short period.  There is no doubt that life in the 21st century has it’s challenges and complexities.  When we dwell upon them our joy is stolen right out from under us.  So, the questions remain, how can we find the fruit of the Spirit for joy in a world so wrapped up in evil?

Ultimate joy in life can only come from one source, and it is not the lottery, nor the refrigerator, nor the beach or the mountains.  These all create an emotional response of happiness and joy, but lack the infinite quality of timelessness.  Relaxing at the Cruise Bar on the Quay in Sydney, Australia, watching the ships at dusk with the Opera House in the background and then taking in the unbelievable sights around the city, one could say, “ahh…now that’s joy.”  They would be correct.  It’s beautiful, it fills the mind with happiness, contentment and peace.  Then nightfall comes, and then the next morning.  A jog along that same path reveals the trash along the side of the road, the homeless sleeping in the alleys and a fog hanging over the harbor.  Hmmm, not quite the same joyful experience. 

The answer is obvious and you’ve gotten there before I could even give it to you.  Of course, I’m referring to the love of the Lord and taking a Godly perspective on life.  Consistent and true joy can only come from a relationship with Jesus Christ and focusing on the blessings He has given you each and every day.  There will never come a day, in this life, when all of your troubles are gone.  If you are waiting for that miraculous event to take place, I’m afraid the rapture will be your miracle.  That is where true joy stems from.  For though we are suffering with pains and struggles today, a focus on eternity and God’s love will quickly help you to re-prioritize your thinking.  As Christ tells us in John 16:22, “…Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”  A promise from the Savior of the world, is a promise you can take to the bank.  Right it on your heart, paste it to your bathroom mirror and remind yourself every time you sense depression coming, that Christ died for your sins and you are destined for eternity with Him one day.  Don’t allow this world to steal your joy, for you are a child of God.  Live like it.

PRAYER:

Precious Father,

  We seek the joy of Your Son in our life. Grant us the peace of knowledge and confidence to see through the daily struggles of each day. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit to calm our anxieties and consistently ground us in Your light. For it is only through You that we can find true joy in life. Amen
             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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Still Seeking Freedom

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“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” – John 8:36

Freedom, the people cried from the sides of the street as the parade of military vehicles passed by.  The oppression that was upon the people came from the harshest form of dictatorship.  They had become subjects, pawns to the government’s plan of control and dominance in a stateless society that offered no rights to the individuals.  Their choices in life had been taken to the point that they could not choose their spouse, their work, their religion, their transportation, their healthcare or even their desire to have children.  There were mandates on every part of their life and they were tired of it.  So as the government expressed their strength through military might the people stood their ground and prepared to fight for their freedom.

Can you imagine a society where you have no choice?  George Orwell wrote a fictional book in 1949, titled “1984” describing a society under the complete control of “Big Brother” and the Inner Party.  It has become a cultural icon, in that much of the terminology used have resurfaced in describing many of the governments in today’s 21st century.  George Orwell was by no means a prophet, he was simply observant enough to realize that the human race wants freedom in life.  Freedom to make choices and freedom to live in peace without “Big Brother” watching them.

What does freedom mean?  In the Bible Jesus tells the Jews, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)  It was hard for them to realize what He was referring to though.  As children of Abraham, they already viewed themselves as free.  They had never been slaves, therefore what would they be freed from?  Jesus of course was not referring to freedom from slavery here on earth, but rather freedom from the eternal hell which is the destiny for those who refuse to acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior.

We look for freedom in this life.  Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to choose for ourselves what and how we live, freedom from the control of others, freedom to prosper and freedom from the tyranny and subjectivity of a controlling government.  Yet, even if we were set completely “free” in this world, our lives would still be filled with sin that separates us from eternal freedom.  You cannot prevent sin in your life.  It is an inherent iniquity set in place at the fall of man in the Garden of Eden.  But, you can overcome sin and the eternal abyss that follows after death.  For believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, acknowledging that He has died for your sins, and was resurrected by God the Father on the 3rd day is the only way to receive eternal freedom.  Accepting Him as Lord and Savior of your life will set you free.  Not free from the struggles of this life or the oppression or even the unrighteousness.  No, finding true freedom in this world is not possible.  We are and will always be slaves to our own sinful actions and our personal addictions.  The Son of God Almighty is present though, to break the chains that enslave you and I.  There will come a day when we will find the joy, peace and happiness of true Freedom.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2012
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Choose Joy

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

The small buds are on the branches and the flower bulbs are breaking open with the newness and freshness of Spring.  I love this time of year.  The weather is perfect – mid 80’s, lot’s of sunshine and you can sense a renewal in everything you look at.  There seems to be a little extra joy in those I come contact with, and on the cool mornings I can hear the birds as they awake to the fresh new sun.  The skies are filled with pinks and purples and bright orange ripples pushing the darkness from the horizon.  I feel energized as I step out into the day to take on the challenges that will inevitably be facing me throughout the day.

We go through seasons in life, and in each one we are renewed by the grace of the Lord to focus on the love, peace and joy He has provided.  It is easy to allow one’s self to focus on the negatives each day, but don’t take what the Lord has given you for granted.  You have the opportunity to flourish and share His good news with every one you meet along life’s path, or you can choose to focus on the problems that lie before you.  It is truly your choice, and your attitude will represent to those around you that which is in your heart.

As the seasons change, the flowers will fall and the leaves will change to brown, the grass will die and the skies will darken once again.  You have the confidence in knowing that God does not change.  He is immutable and you are blessed by His never ending love for you each and every day despite what may lie ahead.  Trust in the word of the Lord, and His love; for it is greater than anything this world can bring against you.   

© Sondove Enterprises, 2012
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Finding Joy

“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?” –James 4:1

The sun was shining, the day was as beautiful as ever had been seen.  There were children laughing while they played on the swings, slides and jungle gyms.  For all intensive purposes, everything was just perfect.  As I was walking to the car to get the kites for our kids, I observed the contentment in this small family sitting on a blanket, laughing and having fun. As I returned from the car, I walked by this same family not more than 10 minutes later and the Dad was yelling at one of the children who had spilled a glass of juice all over the blanket they were laying on.  He was extremely angry and the child was near tears trying to explain that his sister had bumped him and it was really her fault.

What a change in attitude caused by nothing more than a cup of spilled juice.  It could be anything that causes an outburst like that, on this particular day it was a small glass of grape juice   Obviously, there is something much deeper than the spilled juice that was causing the eruption of emotion in this little family.  Each of us are the same though.  We all have pent up emotions just waiting for the trigger to cause an explosion.  Hidden deep beneath the surface we all carry around baggage that hasn’t been dealt with, and anger that has been suppressed for one reason or another.  It often times is something completely unrelated that just bubbles to the surface for one reason or another.

Within each of us is the inherent desire for joy and happiness.  It’s from our creator, it’s a part of who we are, yet the farther we are from Him, the harder it is to experience it.  From the moment Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the garden, there has been a gap in our own ability to achieve pure joy.  God had provided for every desire, want and need prior to their fall.  By choosing to pursue their own will, they abandoned the provisions of God’s will in their life.  Since that moment we continue to pursue our own desires and try to fulfill them on our own.  In doing so, we are focused on ourselves and selfishly will be driven by our own satisfaction rather than serving others, or serving God.

This is the root of most arguments and disagreements in your life, if you take a step back and honestly take a look at it.  Pride, selfishness and arrogance get in the way of finding true joy in life; which can only be found when we are pursuing the joy that comes from above.  When we take our eyes off of our own desires and place them on serving the needs of others it’s amazing how uplifted our spirits become. 

Here’s a simple exercise to help you take the focus off of yourself and place it on others.  Take a blank piece of paper and capture your list of desires within, the things you wish for.  Now, flip the paper over and capture a list of the things you want to do for other people.  On this list, put a checkmark next to those that have zero benefit to you – that are 100% charitable in nature.  How many are there?  If you counted all of the items on both lists and then divided this number by the number with check marks; is it greater than 50%, how about 25%, maybe 10% or 5%.  By nature, we are all driven by trying to fulfill our own desires in life first and then to consider others.

How about this, each day when you pray, take your list of desires and include a few in your daily prayers.  God wants to fulfill your every righteous desires in life rather than you struggling to fulfill them without Him.  Also, include an item or two from your list of things your desire for others; and ask God to help you achieve this action in your life.  This little exercise will help you focus on serving others and God first, and yourself second in life.  Very contradicting to what the world teaches, isn’t it?


Heavenly Father,
Thank You for giving me the ability to help others.  Thank You for Your mercy and grace and for providing for my needs in life.  Help me to realize that all that I have comes from You, and it is through You that I am able to find joy, peace and contentment in life.  I long to be within Your will and live for You, help me to put aside my pride and selfishness.  In Jesus name we pray – Amen.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2011
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