Love ‘em Like Jesus

Read It, Learn It, Live It, Share It

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  – Romans 8:38-39

She said she had been saved as a child, but that was many years ago.  She hasn’t prayed or opened her Bible in many years and wasn’t even sure she knew what she believed anymore.  Confusion had set in, and it was clear that she was not feeling the love of the Savior in her life.  Ever since her parent’s divorce, she was angry at her Dad and Mom, and most of all at God.  It was so much easier to find happiness at school or behind the bleachers with a bottle than it was to go home.  Where was the promise of joy, love, happiness and peace that the pastor had talked about the day she was baptized.  Now she is on her own and living wild and free from any rules or responsibility.  She did enough work to pay for the rent and bummed food, smoke and drinks from whomever she was hanging with any particular day.  When she rolled into bed each night though, her heart ached to be loved, to be treasured and not feel like a possession, and to be held in the darkness, completely safe while she drifted off to sleep.

This could be the story of any one of 5 million young women age 16 to 23 around this globe.  There is a mourning at night as heads hit pillows.  A mourning for the lost youth of our world.  The children that long to be cherished and loved so much that they put on an act every day as if they are.  Who are these beautiful young ladies?  Where do they live?  What do they dream about and who do they look up to?  They are everywhere.  You can look to your right or your left and 1 out of every 5 will be suffering quietly, deep within their heart.  Nothing in their life up to that point has been freely given, which makes them skeptical to His gift of grace.  They look at His love as empty promises because of their past, and they challenge “How can God love me when He let these things happen…..”

These are God’s children.  His love for them is so deep, true and accepting that it is hard to comprehend.  The pain is real and it’s so easy to say God isn’t, because His presence is in the Spiritual realm.  It’s so easy to turn away from God, because they believe that He can’t love them, or that He has turned his back on them.  What do you say to this child? 

Our role in these circumstances is to simply be Jesus for them.  Love them, despite where they are in life, what they have done and who they have become.  Just listen and accept them for who God made them to be.  You see, there are times in life when God will put you in the exact right spot at the right moment to hear someone cry out for help, and He expects you to do it.  Love ‘em like Jesus, be His hands and feet, His empathy, compassion and mercy, His eyes and ears and His word.  Just be there for them.  In time, they will see God through you and long for that relationship themselves.  In that opportunity, the time is right to share the word of God the Father with them – “You are His child and He loves you eternally.  His love is immutable and His grace covers All Sins, yes All.  For if it is insufficient for one, it is insufficient for All of them.” 



Prayer:,
Loving Father,
You are the Alpha and the Omega.  You have created each of us in Your image and if we can accept that, we can begin to understand that we can do all things through You.  We are surrounded by suffering people, and we are Your feet, hands and compassion in their life.  Help us to just love them like You would, so that they might see You through us.  In Your name we pray – Amen
 

 

 

© 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

Where was God?

“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
                                                                                                – Revelations 20:10

Where was God?
Are you asking it, is your neighbor, are your kids, your friends or your family?

Tragedies are happening in today’s world at an alarming rate.  More so than any time in my 50(+/-) history.  Between natural disasters like tornados, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis and wild fires to terrorism like we have all seen over the last year in London, France, Spain, Africa, US and the Middle East.  We see mass shootings, car bombings, slitting of throats, kidnappings, hostages, sex trafficking, shoe bombs, backpack bombs, militarized drones and weaponized vehicles and look for one single place to point the blame.  Because we can’t imagine that people are so evil, cruel and self centered we must find something to blame it all on.

I must admit, I’m venting a little bit today.  What is going on in our world is tragically sad and disturbing on so many different levels.  It’s evidence to me that we live in a very evil world, but we have become hardened to it and have almost learned to accept it as the new normal.  It’s not completely new, even though we all believe that is just our generation.  For centuries mankind have been killing one another in defense of their own personal agenda and desires for the world to be like them.  It has always centered around man’s differences with others rather than freedom for mankind. 

 Evil exist within the mind of individuals in this world.  I’m not talking about a dozen here or there, I’m talking about every single one of us.  Murder, rape, kidnapping and abuse are external examples of a serious illness in mankind, not the norm.  It’s taking the evil that is in this world and choosing to agree with it, and act upon it.  It’s putting your self interests and desires above that of another human being, and diminishing their interests and desires in the process.  It’s a pride filled, self justified belief that because someone is different, weak or vulnerable you have the right to enact evil upon them.  We all have the capability of enacting on evil, but those of sane minds, loving compassion and tolerance are also capable of realizing evil when they see it, and turning the other way. 

One of the biggest evil’s we have all acted upon at one point in our life is vengeance and the inability to forgive another for their wrong-doing.  In this world we have created a philosophy that if someone has a different opinion they are on the wrong side.  It’s not a game, it’s not a competition, there are no trophies at the end and no ticker tape parades.  People have taken our differences and turned them into a win/loss competition, which has ended in murder, just because someone was different than you.  This is the evil in the world, not the lack of love from the Father.

When you or someone asks, “Where was God?”, or “Why would God allow this?”, they are actually looking to blame someone other than the humanity which created these problems in the first place.  The challenge takes this form: Is God omnipotent, Yes; is God omniscient, Yes; is God omnipresent, Yes; then if all of those things are true, He could have prevented this from happening, right?  The answer is yes, He is all powerful, sovereign and all knowing.  It is not beyond His power and authority to miraculously save people from evil (eg. Parting the Red Sea, 40 years in the desert, taking Cannan from the giants, walls of Jericho, warning Joseph to go to Egypt, freeing Peter from prison, freeing Paul from prison, and so on and so on).  So the question isn’t about His authority, but rather His love for us and why we should have to go through the situation at all.

When did man turn against God, and start blaming Him?  It doesn’t take long to realize that we have always been against God, ever since Adam and Eve defied Him in the garden.  Over all of time, mankind, in general, has been more interested in ourselves than we are in God.  Oh sure, we lift our hands and sing our songs, we read our bibles, we pray and we praise Him for the good things in our life; but like any entitled child, we are quick to whine and blame Him when things don’t go our way.  Mankind is more centered on our lives, our comfort and success than we are on living for Him.  This is the evil of this world.  It’s not hidden behind a mask, a gun, a knife or a bomb; it is right out there in the open and instilled in every one of us.  Because we are of this world, first and foremost and it takes a dramatic change in one’s life to break this inherent evil.

First, realize that God never promised that He would stop the evil in this world from happening to us.  He said He was the Alpha and Omega.  He created the world and He will end it.  In between, it is up to us.  His promise in revelations is that the evil one, Satan, will end up in the firey pit, the abyss forever more.  Until that time, he is free to reign in this world.  We’ve seen the proof of this in the recent acts of terror, and we need to continuously be aware of his presence in our midst.  So often we fail to realize that we are in the presence of angels and at the same time the presence of demons. 

God allowed Satan to have reign here in this realm, if you recall from Job 1:7 and 12 “The LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.”…..” Then the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.”  God has authority over Satan, but we all know that Satan’s goal is to vault himself above the throne of God as in Isaiah 14:13-14 “{God speaking to Satan} "But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' “

This war has been going on since the beginning of time, and it will continue until the Lord’s return.  For you see, God did promise to His children, that they would be protected.  As human’s we take this literally in this life and wonder why we get sick, hurt and terrible things happen to us.  What we don’t realize though is that God’s plan is for our salvation, not our comfort each day.  God, by His grace, made a way for mankind to be ultimately protected from eternity with the evil one in Hell.  God provided salvation through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, and those who believe in Him.  We must realize that this life is not all there is.  We all have a finite end in store for us.  God is all loving and all powerful to provide you a path to eternal peace in His kingdom. 

So when people ask Why God allows, or Where was God…simply answer He is on His throne focused on our eternal fate, right where He promised He would be.  Evil will continue here on this earth, not because God condones it, but because Satan is alive and well.  But, remember who the supreme authority of heaven and earth truly is.  God has allowed Satan’s power here on earth, and will take it away one day.  Then and only then will we know true peace amongst mankind.


   

Be Blessed,

Rich

Join us on Facebook @ 10 Minute Reader Daily Thoughts or on Twitter @Sondove
If you would like to be added to the email distribution, please send an email here.

Finding Me - Day 16

September 29, 2014

It used to be how much can you lift, what is your bench press or dead lift.  Let me see your bicep and we’ll know how strong you are.  It can be defined as the amount of physical strength one might possess.   But I pose a different definition: the amount of courage one has to get back up when this life knocks you down.  The ability to stand up when things are tough, when bills can’t be paid, when you lose your loved one, when your children tell you they hate you or when it seems that you just can’t go on.  Something inside rises up, and it has nothing at all to do with your muscular structure.

There have been times in my life when every fiber of my being felt weak and collapsed, when I couldn’t bare to take another breath and my heart was filled with bitterness, loss and despair.  It was at these moments when I found it hardest to take another step, but it was also at these moments when I have felt closest to God Almighty.  My desperation, my lack of confidence, my utter weakness brought me to the realization that I am incapable of pressing on.  It was at these times in my life when I have fallen before the Lord, humble and reverent to His authority and His sovereignty, reaching for His help, His guidance and His strength. 


Day 16: I Am Weak
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

The realization that He carries His children through the good and the bad has become a pillar in my life.  I need His strength and courage each and every day to press on, to stand strong in the face of adversity.  This world is full of evil, anger, hatred, self-righteousness, pain, pride and suffering.  Where can we turn in this world to find peace, courage, compassion for others, purpose and reason for the fire that rages against His truth?  He alone is the source of our abilities and willingness to defy the ways of this world and forge the paths of righteousness and purpose.  When this life kicks you down and presses down upon you, reach deep into your heart, realize He alone is in control and will lift you back up.

Sondove Enterprises ©, 2014
For additional Daily Thoughts, follow Rich’s blog at: http://sondove.blogspot.com
Facebook at : https://www.facebook.com/pages/10-Minute-Reader-Daily-Thoughts/108926632475457 
Twitter at: https://twitter.com/Sondove

Endurance Breeds Reward

Read It, Learn It, Live It, Share It

“Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.  My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.  The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your law.” – Psalm 119:49-51

The winds will blow and the seas will rise.  Waves will crash all around and the levee will be tried.  Clouds cover the light and the earth swallows the meek and timid.  In fear they run from the tempest that awaits each of them, unable to resist the desires that eat away at their flesh.  Lightning flashes from the Eastern sky and cascades, in a ripple, across the horizon of the memories that haunt our progress.  Shall the night come to an end, what might rise on the horizon of the new day dawn?  Living in constant worry and fear of the unknown, and trusting in the depth of experience passed on from days gone by.  Waters will consume the dreams of the weak, but strengthen the pioneers to pursue the challenges that have made this land great.

Where does your strength and courage come from?  If the trials of this day overwhelm you and you can’t see your way through the next 24 hours, the Lord awaits your humbled spirit and longs to lift you up from the mire that consumes you.  If you claim Him as your Savior and Lord, than trust that He loves you through every circumstance.  Let us keep in mind that there is simply nothing in this life that can steal your eternal destiny.  That decision is between you and Him alone.

Beatings, bankruptcy, hunger, nakedness, disease, addictions, homelessness, pain, suffering, unemployment, divorce, prison or isolation; tell me, which of these, take God’s plan of salvation and grace away?  Nothing, not even death itself can separate you from the grace that God has provided you.  It is given, not because you deserve it or have done enough good things to earn it or because your parents were good people.  No, it is given to you because His love is infinite and immeasurable by our simple minded concepts.  There is no way for you to grasp the completeness and overwhelming depth of His love as long as you are looking at what this world can provide. 

No man/woman should suffer in this life, but should you, as a child of God, endure the suffering and pain of this life’s events, then realize that it is only temporary and your Father in heaven is still on His throne.  He, and often times, only He can bring you comfort and healing from the wickedness in this world.  Do not hesitate to fall upon your knees and look heavenward for your strength to overcome that which lies before you this day.

             

© 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