Have a Blessed Day

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“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.“ – Philippians 4:12

Nic Vujicic, Author, Speaker, Quadriplegic

Most of us could quote the very next verse without opening the cover of our bible.  I’ll give you a hint; it starts with “I can do all . . . . “ That’s right; “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” {Phil 4:13}  It’s important to realize why Paul the Apostle was saying this.  It is not a verse to stand alone, no it is the conclusion to his statement above in Phil 4:12. 

Are you blessed?  Do you consider that God has blessed you in this life?  What happens when you don’t receive the blessing you feel you deserve?  Was there ever a promise in the scriptures that says your life will be easier by following God?  It’s interesting to contemplate who we think God is, and just what He owes us.

More and more I see people blame God when things go wrong, and analyze until they’re blue in the face why God didn’t do this or didn’t fix that.  Is that who we believe God to be?  The one to fix our problems and get us out of situations that our actions have gotten us in to?  Let’s look at the examples we have from scripture:

David – murdered the husband of the woman he had an affair with after discovering that she was pregnant with his child……God help me

Moses – From the luxuries of Pharoah’s palace to the desolation of Mount Horeb as a shepherd after killing an Egyptian in defense of an Israelite slave who was being beaten at the time …… Why God

Moses – Never enters Canaan after leading the Israelites out of Egypt and wandering in the desert for 40 years ….. What are you doing God

Job – A favored child of God, a man who lived by the law and did no wrong; lost his family, his possessions, his house and his health at the hand of Satan, with the full blessing of God the Father….. Why me God

Matthew – His little brother was murdered by King Herod’s guards after Christ was born, simply because he was a boy under the age of 2 ….. I turn my back on you God

Paul – Educated in University to be a Pharisee, highly exalted amongst his Jewish peers, destined for a life of luxury.  Then salvation and hardship - shipwrecked, beaten near death, imprisoned multiple times, life threatened time and time again ….. To serve God is my blessing

Just a few examples of the men we find in scripture that we hold up as our mentors and our examples.  Each struggled mightily in life, and it is my belief that they were much closer in their walk with God than I will ever be.  Am I truly that entitled to a life of no hardship, no struggles, and no grief simply because I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord?

God gave me salvation through His Son Jesus Christ.  He owes me nothing more.  My life is a representation of His love for mankind, if I choose to use it for that purpose.  Even then, I am not promised a life with no struggle, no heartache and no pain.  Yet, I choose to remain faithful through it all, trusting that God is Sovereign and is in control.  I don’t need to understand it, I just need to trust that I am His child, born again and will one day lay my head upon His lap in peace.  Until then it is my job to wake up each day and praise Him, regardless of my circumstance. 

God doesn’t leave your side when you are struggling, hurting or in need.  He doesn’t abandon you and He isn’t punishing you by allowing these things.  I do not believe God exists to make my life comfortable and to ensure that I am happy.  I exist for Him, not the other way around.  I am not entitled to anything in life; everything I have is more than I deserve because when it all comes down to it, I deserve to go to Hell.  God has already given me more than I could or should ever want and that is eternal life in Heaven with Him and Jesus Christ.  I am very Blessed indeed.

 


© Sondove Enterprises, 2019
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com
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Bible Study - James

 
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” –James 1:2-4

I can’t do it she said as she buried her head in her hands and wept. “I just don’t have the energy to take one more step, and then they asked me to take on a whole new project at work.  This is not the life I signed up for”, she said to no-one in particular, but whoever might be listening.  Just then a little girl, no more than 4 years old walked up to the woman seated on the park bench and handed her a small yellow dandelion.  “It’s going to be okay.  Maybe they’ll still let you sign up for a new one at church.  Mommy just signed me up for soccer, it’s really easy.”


This life is not easy, and no-one promised us that it would be.  The complications, fears, sorrows, and disappointments we face on a daily basis are all part of a process of making us stronger.  The challenge comes in how we react to the challenges that we face each day.  Through focusing on God and His perspective, it is easy to reduce the complexities into manageable simple steps.  God’s strengthening your faith in Him by allowing these complexities to happen in your life.  He doesn’t create them, but He does allow them, because He knows exactly who He created you to be.  With this knowledge, He knows exactly what you need to become all that He desires for you in this life.

Acknowledge His presence in your problem and realize that He will see you through it, but you have to allow Him too.  This means that sometimes you do things you don’t want to do, simply because it’s the right thing to do.  This means that sometimes you have to work a little harder and push yourself a little farther than you have ever pushed yourself before.  What is waiting for you on the other side though is the joy, peace and courage found only by following God’s plan.

ACTION for Growth: Take 10 minutes to sit quietly and tell the Lord the things that are pressing down upon your heart and soul right now.  Then, thank Him for helping you grow and become stronger through these trials.  Ask God to help you become the person He created you to be.


© Sondove Enterprises, 2019
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com
If you would like to be added to the email distribution please click here: Daily Thoughts

14 Days of Love – Solid as a Rock

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”  – Isaiah 54:10
 

Do you remember the story “The Little Engine That Could?” A trainload of toys was being taken over the mountain to all the children in Sunshine Valley, but unfortunately the engine broke down. One by one different engines came by, but none were willing to take the trainload of toys over the mountain. At last a small blue switching engine happened by, and all the toys asked if it would please take them to all the boys and girls on the other side of the mountain. The Little Engine had never been out of the switching yard before—let alone to travel over the mountain. You know the story; the little blue engine hooked itself up to the trainload of toys and began the journey over the mountain. As the Little Engine began to pull the toys up the mountain, you could hear it saying “I think I can, I think I can. . . ” At long last the Little engine crested the top of the mountain and as it started its decent into Sunshine Valley it could be heard singing, “I thought I could, I thought I could . . .”

Each of us daily faces a variety of different mountains to cross.  Mountains take on the shape of bills due, disrespectful children, loss of a job, relationship issues, tragedies in life and addictions, amongst other things.  These mountains seem impassible and unconquerable as we stand at the foot of the mountain and look up.  Many times, like the large powerful train engines we head off to take on these challenges only resulting in spinning our wheels and stalling out.  We read, we study and we try again, and again and again, without changing the outcome.  Something is missing from your repertoire though and that is the strength of the Lord. 

God is a solid foundation that can be trusted upon in all circumstances.  When your life is shaken and we are challenged beyond measure, the Lord provides wisdom, peace and comfort.  He comes forth with the confidence that you are loved and you can overcome anything the world puts in front of you.  The problem is that we often times push Him away rather than embracing Him and allowing Him to guide our footsteps.  The Holy Spirit dwells within each of us, and provides the loving confidence of the Father in all things.  The bible calls the Holy Spirit by a few different names: “the Counselor”, “the Helper”, “the Spirit of Truth” or “the Teacher”.  He lives in you, giving you the wisdom and encouragement to be an overcomer in a world filled with pain and suffering.  When you call upon the Spirit, He will provide for you what is needed in the situation.

God has given you this helper to be a constant reminder of His love for you.  God knows you are easily shaken and will lose faith when struggles arise.  It is at these times, He wants you to come to Him for help.  He can easily overcome the mountains in front of you, if you give Him the ability to.  Nothing can stand in the way of your ability to fulfill God’s plan in your life except you.  By not calling upon the love of the Lord, you have chosen to stay in your current state of struggling.  Simply lay it before the Lord in your prayers today and let Him walk you through the answer, by His love.

Prayer:
Loving Father,
You have given us the Holy Spirit to guide us and provide us with Your strength, love and guidance when we are struggling in life.  When obstacles arise in our path, we seek Your will Lord, to overcome these things.  You have created all things and in doing so, have control over all things.  We trust in Your authority over all things, and in Your ability to help us through our situation.  In Your name we pray – Amen


© Sondove Enterprises, 2019
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com
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Shame Revealed

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“…Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven." – Luke 7:47-48

I hear you call me in the midst of my fear.  Calling to me “Child, come to Me.”  Why am I left all alone here to fend off these demons within my soul?  I am blind to Your glory and I am weakened from the fight.  Lift me up oh Lord, and help me to fight another day for Your grace, for Your mercy and love.  I do not know where the world is taking me, and I don’t want to go.  I want to follow Your word, Your path and live within Your purpose for me, yet I cry out in angst and sorrow with the bittersweet pain of falling short of who You called me to be.  Why are these chains wrapped around my heart so tightly, and what has happened to the key?  For where I am, I do not want You to go.  The shame and guilt rises up as You search my soul, and open the doors despite my plea.  Falling to my face I cry out for Your leniency and forgiveness.  Turning my back I try to run from the place where You have carried me to, but my feet resist and I look up into Your eyes.  I see the unrighteousness being consumed by Your spirit for my sake and my heart washed clean once again.  I fall into Your arms, crushed, redeemed and forgiven, for the scars upon Your back are deep with the burdens of my careless and selfishness.

Your love for me is unquestionable, and never ending.  You stand in my unrighteousness and present me worthy of God’s love.  You are my Savior and my Lord.  Help strengthen me to become more like You and less like them Lord.

             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com
If you would like to be added to the email distribution please click here: Daily Thoughts

Have a Blessed Day

Read it, Learn It, Live It, Share It

 “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.“ – Philippians 4:12

Most of us could quote the very next verse without opening the cover of our bible.  I’ll give you a hint; it starts with “I can do all . . . . “ That’s right; “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” {Phil 4:13}  It’s important to realize why Paul the Apostle was saying this.  It is not a verse to stand alone, no it is the conclusion to his statement above in Phil 4:12. 

Are you blessed?  Do you consider that God has blessed you in this life?  What happens when you don’t receive the blessing you feel you deserve?  Was there ever a promise in the scriptures that says your life will be easier by following God?  It’s interesting to contemplate who we think God is, and just what He owes us.

More and more I see people blame God when things go wrong, and analyze until they’re blue in the face why God didn’t do this or didn’t fix that.  Is that who we believe God to be?  The one to fix our problems and get us out of situations that our actions have gotten us in to?  Let’s look at the examples we have from scripture:

David – murdered the husband of the woman he had an affair with after discovering that she was pregnant with his child……God help me

Moses – From the luxuries of Pharoah’s palace to the desolation of Mount Horeb as a shepherd after killing an Egyptian in defense of an Israelite slave who was being beaten at the time …… Why God

Moses – Never enters Canaan after leading the Israelites out of Egypt and wandering in the desert for 40 years ….. What are you doing God

Job – A favored child of God, a man who lived by the law and did no wrong; lost his family, his possessions, his house and his health at the hand of Satan, with the full blessing of God the Father….. Why me God

Matthew – Some records indicate that his little brother was murdered by King Herod’s guards after Christ was born, simply because he was a boy under the age of 2 ….. I turn my back on you God

Paul – Educated in University to be a Pharisee, highly exalted amongst his Jewish peers, destined for a life of luxury.  Then salvation and hardship - shipwrecked, beaten near death, imprisoned multiple times, life threatened time and time again ….. To serve God is my blessing

Just a few examples of the men we find in scripture that we hold up as our mentors and our examples.  Each struggled mightily in life, and it is my belief that they were much closer in their walk with God than I will ever be.  Am I truly that entitled to a life of no hardship, no struggles, and no grief simply because I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord?

God gave me salvation through His Son Jesus Christ.  He owes me nothing more.  My life is a representation of His love for mankind, if I choose to use it for that purpose.  Even then, I am not promised a life with no struggle, no heartache and no pain.  Yet, I choose to remain faithful through it all, trusting that God is Sovereign and is in control.  I don’t need to understand it, I just need to trust that I am His child, born again and will one day lay my head upon His lap in peace.  Until then it is my job to wake up each day and praise Him, regardless of my circumstance. 

God doesn’t leave your side when you are struggling, hurting or in need.  He doesn’t abandon you and He isn’t punishing you by allowing these things.  I do not believe God exists to make my life comfortable and to ensure that I am happy.  I exist for Him, not the other way around.  I am not entitled to anything in life; everything I have is more than I deserve because when it all comes down to it, I deserve to go to Hell.  God has already given me more than I could or should ever want and that is eternal life in Heaven with Him and Jesus Christ.  I am very Blessed indeed.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2012
For additional Daily Thoughts, please visit: http://www.10minutereader.com