Forever - Amen

Make 2014 a year for sharing

“For thine is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever and ever.  Amen” – Matthew 6:13b

This verse has been debated because it is not found in some of the early Greek manuscripts of Jesus prayer.  It was likely added by the early Christian church as this was a common doxology, or benediction, to early church gatherings and scripture readings.  It also has roots in 1 Chronicles 29:11, where David speaks of the Lord’s power, glory, greatness and kingdom.

Do not get hung up on whether this verse was or was not part of Jesus actual prayer.  The verse speaks of the truth of the Father and is a respectful, humble way to close a prayer.  For thine = “God”; is the Kingdom = “it is all His, heavens and earth”; and the power = “God is all powerful, all knowing and sovereign over all things”; and the glory = “God deserves all glory, honor and praise”; forever and ever = “eternity is infinite, forever, without end”. 

Over this last week we have looked at the fundamentals of praying to the Father as taught by Jesus Christ himself.  Secular men will claim that prayers are futile and a waste of time.  I strongly recommend that you heed warning to avoid their counsel.  Prayer is a foundational element to building a stronger relationship with God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  Do not let the world tell you that it is worthless and pursue God through a daily moment.  Let your words be true and just as you lift them to your Father in heaven.  Because even in the 21st century – God answers prayers, within His will to do so.

Prayer:

Our Father,

Who art in heaven.  Hallowed be thy name.
They Kingdom come, thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
For thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory forever and ever. - Amen

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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Mean It When You Say It

Make 2014 a year for sharing

“Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” – Matthew 6:12

Is it still bothering you?  You know that thing that happened with so and so, way back when.  Did you ever let it go or are you still carrying that pain and sorrow with you?  The power to move on in life is within your grasp, but you must first come to the place that allows you to forgive the person that has wronged you in the past.  Lewis Smedes once quoted, “You will know that forgiveness has begun when you recall those who hurt you and feel the power to wish them well.”

Every single day that you rise from your bed you will do something that is against the will of God.  Most likely you will do many things.  At the end of each day when you are lifting your prayers to heaven and asking for the Lord’s forgiveness and mercy, you are expecting Him to react.  Why is it important for you to feel that God has forgiven your sins?  It’s likely because there a feeling of release, a feeling of peace, a feeling of acceptance that accompany the mercy of the Lord.  Our sins are made righteous through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and our redemption is made whole once again.

Now, why do you want to forgive those that have hurt you or wronged you in any way?  I propose it’s for the same reasons.  Harboring anger, bitterness and resentment towards another creates a wall between you and God.  For you see, your heart and mind are filled with emotions that will be a constant reminder of the pain in your life.  Upon forgiving the other individual you have the ability to heal your heart and mind.  This is done by turning to the Lord for strength, comfort and the calming peace that the Father brings.  Accepting the fact that the Lord is in control of all things and will deal with justice in His own way is all powerful.  He sees all things, knows all things and He is not blind to this particular situation.  The pain you feel, He feels even more so, because you are His child.

When you lift your heart to the Lord in prayer, be sure to forgive those that have harmed you, and then lift your voice and tell your Heavenly Father, I’m sorry for the things I did against Your will today.

Prayer:
Almighty God,
I kneel before the maker of heaven and earth.  I lift my voice in worship and praise for Your name alone is glorious in this world.  I ask that You bring me peace within to forgive those that have wronged me Lord.  I lift them up and ask for Your forgiveness to fall upon them.  Lord, I have sinned against You today in my actions and words.  I ask for Your forgiveness of my unrighteousness and I ask for Your strength to help me turn from these ways.  In Your name we pray – Amen

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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I’m Hungry, Momma.

Make 2014 a year for sharing

“Give us this day our daily bread.” – Matthew 6:11

They are dying! Does anyone care?  Every year over 15 million children around the world die from hunger.  Since you began reading this, at least 9 children have died.  UNICEF statistics from the turn of the century stated as many as ¼ of the world’s population survive on less than $1 US/day.  The World Hunger organization reports that in 2010 the price index of food is at an all time high ~ 200% greater than the 2002-2004 average.  This is higher than the highest point during the 2008 economic recession.

Every day children all over the world are waking up hungry and going to bed hungry, with zero relief in between.  I am convinced this was not intended when these words left Jesus lips when he was teaching His disciples to pray.  We are here to serve one another and to serve the Lord in doing it.  His children are intended to be His feet on the street and help those in need with the compassion and love of God the Father.

God provides for everything we need in this life.  I propose that the “daily bread” referred to in Matthew 6 refers to everything essential we need each day.  This includes His Word, His love, His peace, comfort and compassion.  True nourishment comes from developing a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ.  When we rely upon Him we take on a new perspective to the daily problems in life.  When we realize that regardless of the pain, suffering and anguish we experience in any given day, Jesus Christ is with us and in us; we are made strong.  As our relationship grows; our compassion, love and desire to help others grows as well.  We begin displaying Him in everything we do, including helping others who are hurting.

We can allow ourselves to become overwhelmed with life’s busyness and completely miss the need.  Each day we must begin with a foundation of truth and strength from the Lord.  In time you will wake each day with pains, claiming I’m hungry and it won’t be food you desire but a richer word from the Lord.

Prayer:
Loving God,

All powerful and loving Father.  You have given me everything I need in this life.  Help me to recognize Your work in my daily walk, such that I can grow in my relationship with You.  I trust in Your promise to provide for all of my needs, and I strive to share that with others as well.  Forgive me for my weakness and my self-centeredness.  You alone are God and in You I cast my worries and fears.  In Your name I pray – Amen

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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It’s All His

Make 2014 a year for sharing

“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” – Matthew 6:10

In Matthew Jesus took the time to teach His disciples to pray.  We continue on this path of following His lead as we lift up our prayers to our heavenly Father and draw close to Him through this experience.

Have you ever pictured heaven in your mind?  It may look something like this, - blue skies all the time, roads and pathways made of gold, angels sitting on puffy white clouds strumming harps, perhaps a choir of enormous proportion standing and in constant harmony singing out praises to God the Father.  Are there large golden gates rising above the clouds with Cherubim seated on either side?  Is Saint Peter standing there in white with a large scroll checking off names, as people enter?  Hollywood and artists for years have created an image of heaven that people can try to relate to.  Jesus disciple John, in his later years, wrote the book of Revelations while on the island of Patmos.  Contained within Revelations is a detailed description of heaven as it was revealed to him.  This far outweighs any description mankind has ever tried to portrait of heaven, because it is so far beyond our comprehension.

Now, walk to your front door.  Look out the window.  Perhaps you live in a metropolitan city, perhaps a small village or a country town, or perhaps a residential community.  Take in your surroundings with as much detail as you can, and now close your eyes.  Imagine God, the Creator of all things, walking amongst this setting.  God’s kingdom is before you.  We are living in God’s kingdom, for He is the King of all kings and Lord of Lords.  A kingdom is the farthest reach of a King’s sovereignty and authority to legislate and control.  Every millimeter and quark of this existence is God’s to control and legislate over.  By this definition we live within the kingdom of God.  The eternal kingdom of God though, is made up of those things beyond this world, that are promised throughout the scriptures, prophecies and Jesus words.  This is the kingdom by which we share with others through our testimony, our actions, our love, forgiveness and compassion.  When we share our faith and belief in Jesus Christ with others we are expanding the eternal Kingdom of God and His loving grace.  In time, God’s eternal kingdom will be all consuming and those that have acknowledged Him as Lord and Savior will enjoy the fruits of that day with every other believer throughout time.  What a glorious day it will be to walk the golden streets side by side with Jesus Christ, King David, Moses, Abraham and the other biblical saints.

When we pray it is important to recognize who it is that you are in an audience with.  You are given the privilege of praying to God Almighty, through His Son Jesus Christ as our intercessor.  God is sovereign, He is in control over all things and His will, His purpose, His plan will be completed on this earth.  Understand,  there is not one thing you can do to prevent His plan for the existence of mankind to come to fruition.  Eventually, every knee on earth will bow before His throne, just as the angels and those that have gone on before us bow before His throne in heaven today.  We should come to the Lord in prayer, humbling ourselves, giving all praise and honor to Him, for He alone is worthy.  When you look around your home, your possessions, your job, your family and on and on; keep in mind it is all His.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,

You alone are worthy of my praise.  I humbly bow before You, in honor and glory I lift my voice to give worship You.  You are sovereign over all things and this world and all that is within is Your kingdom to do as You chose.  I ask to be filled with Your grace, love and mercy that I might share this with others and expand Your eternal Kingdom.  Let my voice carry Your words to those in need and let Your will be done in my life.  In Your name we pray – Amen

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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The Lord's Prayer: There's Only One

Make 2014 a year for sharing

"Our Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name.” – Matthew 6:9

Taught in Sunday schools all over the world, The Lord’s Prayer, contains the core essence of how to pray.  Let’s face it, there are mornings and evenings when your prayer seems hollow and transparent almost.  If you, like me, struggle with praying now and then, realize that you’re not alone.  Over the next few days let’s look at the breakdown of this wonderful blessing provided by Jesus for our education.

Jesus is teaching the disciples on the importance of prayer, the fact that it is essential to building a strong, healthy and lasting relationship with the Father.  Leading up to the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus has rebuked those that pray for the glory and admiration that it brings them and instructs His disciples that prayers should be between you and God, so that all of the glory is given to Him.  It’s important that we recognize everything we do should be giving glory back to God, for everything we have comes from Him.  Our knowledge, our spirit, our character, our prosperity, our health down to our every breath; all come from the Creator of the Universe.

The first stanza of the prayer brings glory to God.  Acknowledge right up front that He is sovereign, holy and above all things.  His name must be kept holy in everything we do and say.   “Hallowed” is certainly not a term that is used in our daily conversations around the water cooler, but how many times are we willing to stand around and quietly listen while God’s name is used in vain.  I’m not just referring to cursing as some might think.  I’m referring to those that refuse to acknowledge His superiority, His oneness, and for all intensive purposes are blaspheming His name on a daily basis.  The antonym to the word hallowed is desecrated.  If we are not lifting up God’s name, we are desecrating His name. 

Your prayers should first and always lift up God as the Lord of Lord’s, King of King’s and Supreme authority over all things.  He is perfectly holy and righteous and we need to acknowledge that first.

 Prayer:
Almighty God,
You are holy and righteous and we bow down before You.  Forgive us for our not defending Your holiness when we hear it in our daily walk.  Forgive us for not lifting You up above all things in our own actions and giving You the glory for all that we have.  I pray that we are convicted by the Holy Spirit in these moments from here forward, and that we are bold enough to stand for You.  I give You the glory in all of my ways, in Your name we pray – Amen

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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