Morning Cup of Joe

“Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.”
                                                                                                – Romans 12:11-12

The smell of coffee in the morning.  HMMMMMMMM…..Ahhhhhh.  There is just something about that rich smell that brings a smile to my face, a joy in my heart and a lift to my spirit.  Now, mind you, I don’t drink coffee; unless you count the chocolate, sweet cream, foo-foo Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha, but that’s not really coffee, is it?  Anyway, I just love the smell and I reckon most of you do to.

Have you ever thought about coffee from a biblical point of view?
Say you have a bag of coffee beans, not grounds, but beans.  Hard right, almost unbreakable.  When you want a cup of coffee, what must you first do with those beans?  Go to the cupboard, pull out your coffee grinder, pour in a cup of beans and wait for it to do it’s magic.  Got it, but what if you don’t have a grinder?  Go to the garage, grab your hammer, put the beans in a plastic bag, and after stepping out onto the porch start hammering away until the beans are crushed.  This is not going to get you fine grounds of coffee, but it will probably work in a jam.  The best way, in my opinion, is to take a sauce pan and fill it 2/3rds full of water, drop in a dozen or so coffee beans, bring the water to a boil.  Suddenly that oh so sweet smell starts filling the air around you.  Sure it takes longer, but the coffee is so much better (so I’m told).

The coffee beans change the water around them, rather than being changed by the boiling water.  They make the water better (for those who like coffee) after spending time submerged in it.  This chemical change, this improvement is evidenced when you pour out that first cup and taste of it’s richness and flavor.  It’s harder work than stopping at Starbucks, turning on your Keurig or Mr. Coffee brew machine in the morning.  It takes intent and patience to get that perfect cup, but it’s worth it.

Very much like that perfect cup of coffee, your work has the opportunity to influence those around you for good or for bad.  You are that coffee bean and your attitude, your words, your joy has an impact on everyone around you in the office, in the school, on the plane, or wherever your day takes you.  Working hard demonstrates your commitment to the work at hand you are demonstrating to those around you that we are to give 100% in all things.  We are paid for our work, it is actually stealing from your employer to give them anything less than 100% while they are paying you.  This is right and represents high integrity, which are righteous characteristics that others will see.

Let others see your dedication to the Lord through your work and in your work environment.  Do not be ashamed of the joy the Lord has placed upon your heart, and look for those opportunities to share it with others around you.  Living righteously, serving God and working for man is a strong testimony to influence those around you for the better.  Like the coffee bean, let the scent of the Lord fill the room around you, to increase their desire to likewise partake.

Be Blessed,

Rich

 

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Fundamental Truth – Immaculate Conception

November 17, 2014

“The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God” – Luke 1:35

They say she was raped.  They say she was covering up an out of wedlock pregnancy.  They abandoned her, attempted to kill her.  They say she lied.  Take away the miraculous conception within Mary and the story falls apart.  For without the conception being perfect, holy and righteous; there is no Messiah, no Savior, no Deity. 

I have friends of the Islamic religion and they cannot, nor will even attempt to believe that a holy God would pro-create with a human.  This fundamental reason prevents them from accepting Jesus Christ as a Messiah and Savior, but more as a Prophet and Spiritual Leader.  I believe God, the Holy Spirit, conceived within Mary a Holy and perfect child. In doing so he broke the chain of sin in the world and provided a way by which all sin could be redeemed.  For without accepting the Immaculate Conception, the Christ-child cannot be perfect and holy.
 
You see mankind is sinful, all the way back to Adam and Eve.  Upon conception each new child born since then has likewise been sinful as the sperm fertilizes the egg with the chromosomes, DNA and blood of the father.  This blood comes from a sinful man, into a sinful woman, and therefore the fertilized egg is also sinful.

God, coming upon the virgin woman, through the Holy Spirit, conceived within her a child of holiness from the Father and thereby washing away the sinful nature of her past.  As the baby is born, it is born 100% Holy, Righteous and Perfect.  Through His life, He lives perfectly in alignment with God, the Father, unlike Adam; or any other human being up to that point.  It is because of this perfect Holy creation that Jesus Christ could become the Lamb of God, and the sacrifice for our sins.  I do not believe that the story of Mary’s incarnation is just a story made up for us to feel good, it is part of God’s miraculous path of salvation and a key to His holy plan of salvation.

Why would we question the authority of God to do whatever He chooses to do?  He is omnipotent and sovereign and all powerful.  There is nothing beyond His capability.  Right?

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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Stepping out of the Fire

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“Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”  - Mark 3:28-29

I woke up this morning and I once again sinned against the Father.  In numerous ways throughout the day my heart is filled with different emotions and judgment against others in the world and against myself.  If I were sitting on the Great White Throne and judging my own eternal fate, I can assure you I would be destined for eternal Hell. The scriptures tell us that the very thought can be as sin, and not just the action.  The mind sins before the lips speak, or the feet take to the street.  The truth of what I speak is that we are all condemned to the lake of fire, based on any number of sinful actions every day.  How many sins does it take to send you to Hell?  One.  Yes, only one.  God accepts nothing but pure perfection and righteousness.  In any given day I am going to commit no less than 300 sins (1 about every 5 minutes or so).  If I live to be 80 years old, I will have committed 8.76 million sins.  I, therefore, will stand before God on that judgment day, and in be required to provide an answer for every one of them.  Yes, every single one of them, from the least to the greatest.  What can I do?  What possible righteous acts must I execute, and how many righteous acts, then to overcome this mountain of sin?

Romans 3:9-11 tells us, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands;  there is no one who seeks God” I am not righteous, you are not righteous, your parents, your children, your neighbor, Billy Graham, Mother Teresa, Phil Robertson; none of them.  There has been only one person in the History of the world that was righteous, and that was the Son of God, Himself.  It’s not a matter of how great the sin, it is a matter of being outside of the righteousness of God’s perfection.  You may have committed adultery, you may have murdered, you may have been an alcoholic, you may be a homosexual, you may be suffering from drug addictions, you may have anger problems, you may have lied to your parents or stolen a piece of candy from the store; the list of sinful actions outside of God’s righteousness is endless.  All are forgivable through the saving grace of our Lord, through His provision of a sacrifice.  That sacrifice is His Son – Jesus Christ.

Despite the depth of depravity of your sin in life, in His loving grace, you are still worthy of salvation, with the exception of those who have blasphemed the Holy Spirit.  This is the only unforgivable sin.  But, to those who call upon His name and acknowledge Him as Savior and Lord, they will be saved and their sins will be washed away.  The act of giving your life to Jesus Christ though requires your commitment to Him as your Lord, not just as a get out of jail free card.  It requires your repentance from your sinful life, which means turning away from that which separates you from Him.  Continuing in your sin with no desire for becoming more Christ-like is outside of accepting Him as the Lord of your life, and should cause one to carefully question the truth of their salvation.  It is completely between you and the Lord to reconcile your sinful actions and lifestyle, but I offer only this advice – do not take this lightly for the ramifications of your perceived salvation is eternal. 

Acts 4:11-13 tells us, “Salvation is found in no one else {Jesus}, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Many will deny Jesus Christ, claim that He was a prophet, a nice man, a carpenter or even a lunatic.  Others will claim He never existed, and claim the whole salvation story as nothing more than a fable.  To this group of individuals, their fate is determined by their choices and arrogance, for they have no other means to reconcile the sins that exist in their life each and every day.  It is them that I will pray for this year, as I make out my list of resolutions for 2014.  If you are willing and committed to serving God in this world and the next, than consider your role in this purpose as well.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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Finding the Blessing

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“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers.” – Psalm 1:1

A very wise man once told me, “Do not conform to the world for in doing so you will only receive what the world can offer.  But stand on the morals and values learned through following the One who was perfect, Jesus Christ, and receive an eternity of love, peace and joy.”  I would be a hypocrite to claim that I am righteous, and worthy of God’s blessings.  Despite the good things that come from my lips, and or thoughts captured on paper; there are areas where I am continually fighting against the wickedness of this world, and falling short. 

One thing I have learned over the years is that this world lives for the present pleasure and joy that is found when we focus on our self, and that the Kingdom of God becomes more clear when we focus on others.  God’s choice to send His only Son was the ultimate example of love and sacrifice for us to base our understanding upon.  In this act we realize that one must be willing to give completely of one’s self, so that the others might receive more than they deserve.  How contrary to our philosophies in this world?  We often times go through this life simply focused on what we can get from it, even to the extent that others are worse off as a result.

In Romans 12:2, Paul tells us, “Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  The path to separating from the world’s view is only achieved by first acknowledging that it’s view is flawed and secondly by learning from the Creator what life is meant to represent.  Being in the word daily, writing down your thoughts, questions and concerns about what you read, and spending time with your Lord is the only way to overcome what the world will tempt you with.  You and I don’t deserve the love, peace and joy that is promised to us, but because of God’s choice to sacrifice His only Son, we are given the opportunity to walk with Him in eternity, if we will accept and follow Him.

We are called to be righteous, and though not one of us, no – not one, have achieved it, we should all be striving toward that goal.  In doing so, this world becomes a better, more peaceful and loving world.  Simply because we take our eyes off of ourselves and focus on those around us who are in need.  That is the message of the day.  Just as Jesus took everything the world could give Him so that we might have eternal life, so must we be willing to give everything so that others may come to know Him and thereby find salvation.  It’s not an option, it’s a commandment.  If you’re choosing to sit quietly by and watch those around you continue to walk in darkness, then you should be questioning the Spirit that lives within you.  Give that some thought today and get right with God, the Father, the Creator and Maker of your soul.  Then start a new reaching those around you with the love and peace from God above and I promise that blessings will abound.

             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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