What Does It Take?

“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” – James 4:14

“Oh God…..” and then he fell to his death.  The last words of many center around the acknowledgement of God Almighty.  One of the most chilling audio tapes I have heard this week came from a 911 emergency call from Kevin Cosgrove.  He was in the South Tower on September 11^th on the phone with the emergency service in New York when the building collapsed.  I am drawn to tears as I think of those that were trapped in the World Trade Center buildings, and their families left to wonder how, why and what they were to do next.

It’s amazing how much we lean on each other, but even more so how much we re-evaluate theology during times of extreme pressure.  There is something inside of each of us that is automatically drawn to the surface when the reality of death shows it’s ugly face.  The realization that there is something on the other side of the very last breath we take it’s hard.  Somewhere in that split second of inhaling and the deep exhale our mind races to resolve any unsettled business come to grips with the choices we’ve made in life.  It cannot be avoided, as much as we try, it must be dealt with.  I was in Los Angeles on that day, separated from my wife and kids, with no way to get back home.  I could not shake the fear that if what had just happened in New York could happen in L.A. or Houston just as quickly and was I ready for what that meant.  I sat down the following day in a small coffee shop in Anaheim and drafted this poem…

God Do You Know My Mommy
Mommy, are you coming home

I feel so all alone

The TV said people have died

I didn’t even get to say goodbye

God, do you know my Mommy

She’s the one with deep brown eyes

Please, hold her hand, draw her close

And keep her by Your side

She’s afraid when the thunder rolls

And lightning lights up the sky

So hold her close and comfort her

And keep her by Your side

Daddy’s been crying and praying

Like I’ve never seen before

He’s holding their wedding picture

That used to hang by the bedroom door.

God, do you know my Mommy

She’s the most beautiful one of all

Please, let Your Son shine upon her

And keep her by Your side

She’s really gonna miss my Daddy

They used to hug each other tight

So hold her close and give her love

And keep her by Your side.

The sun came up this morning

I was hoping it was just a dream

The policeman came and knocked on the door

I knew my life would never be the same.

God, do you know my Mommy

She’s got a smile so full of life

Please, give her Your love

And keep her by Your side

She loves when we go for walks

On a cool October night

So can You walk with her now, hold her tight

And keep her by Your side.

God, do you know my Mommy….

- Rich Palmer, 9/14/2001©

Count your blessings today.  Don’t wait for tomorrow, look your loved ones in the eye as soon as possible and tell them you love them.  The emotions and urgency we all felt on the 12^th of September 2001 should be an everyday event, for we know not when our time will draw to an end.  If you are still uncertain about God’s plan of salvation, confront your doubt today do not wait, you are not promised tomorrow.  If you have questions please send me an e-mail and I will do everything I can to help you understand or I will find someone who can.  This is the most important decision of your life, don’t wait until your last breath to call out for salvation.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2011

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It's Big Love

“We love because he first loved us.  If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” – 1 John 4:19-21

How are we supposed to forgive and forget?  This weekend, people all over the country of America and many others around the world will be drawn to reflection on the morning of 9-11-2001.  Of course this weekend marks the 10^th Anniversary of, arguably, the most tragic single event to ever occur on American soil, as nearly 3,000 lives were taken, and several thousand others injured from a series of calculated, strategic attacks on our country.  My sympathy and love go out to those grieving families, as I cannot imagine how much their life has changed in the last 10 years.  The deaths on that day were not selective by any means.  The victims included children, mothers, fathers, grand fathers and grand mothers; men and women of every race, every religion and every ethnic culture; the rich and the poor, the saved and the unsaved. 

Over 10 years there have been countless debates as to the inspired groups behind the attacks, and I am not going to go down that path in this devotional.  Regardless of the evil motives behind the plans of the attackers, I want to ask the more pointed question – can you love them?  Those who hijacked the planes, those who spent years preparing for this day, those in command and leading the efforts from afar, can you forgive and love them?

Do you want to know how deep, strong and powerful God’s love is?  Think about this or any other tragic event in your life, caused by another; and realize that God loves those individuals as much as He loves you.  I must admit, there is no way, in my simple mind and openness to diversity and cultural differences, that I would have the capacity to love someone who intentionally murdered one of my family members.  How are we supposed to forgive, forget and love those who strategically chose to bring harm on our brothers and sisters, family and friends?  God commands us to love our brother as He loves us.  How can God love these individuals that are driven by hate?  It is true that God’s love is immutable – never changing.  We receive His love by professing our belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Romans 8:38-39 clearly states that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

So, what about those who reject the belief that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior; does God love them?  God’s love is unchanging, but by their choice they are not experiencing His love.  They have chosen to reject His love and grace and by doing so are driven by unrighteousness and worldly love.  I do not believe that God loves me more than He loves an unbeliever.  There is not a scale as to how little or how great His love is measured.  His love is expressed in one simple way - through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  By my faith I experience God’s love more than a non-believer, but that doesn’t mean God’s love is different. 

For those who violently attacked America on 9/11/2001, it is my belief that they did not believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and therefore will be judged one day accordingly and experience the wrath of God.  For those who were behind those attacks; the leaders, the commanders, the trainers and those of similar evil wickedness; God’s abundant love is available to them as much as it is to me.  But, they have to chose to accept it.  That is our mission.  To love others because God first loved us forces us to think beyond this world.  God loves us so that we can join Him in heaven one day.  That kind of love is far reaching and has eternal consequences.  His desire is that all mankind make this same choice.  We are His voice to the lost and the wicked, including those who have hurt us.  We all need to expand our thinking beyond the emotion of this world, to the opportunity of eternity with God the Father, and share His love with everyone.  That’s big love.

Heavenly Father,
We cannot fathom the depth of Your love for mankind.  As evil and wicked as we are in our ways on this earth, Your love is still available to us.  Soften our hearts, ease our pain and suffering that we might be able to share Your love with all mankind, including those that have hurt us.  Help us to experience Your grace and mercy in such a way that it exudes from our being to all that we meet.  I desire nothing more than to live for You and share Your love in this world.  In Your name I pray – Amen

© Sondove Enterprises, 2011
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For All

“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.” – 2 Corinthians 5:14

There is no first class, no business class and no coach seats.  It’s not a round trip, it’s one way and you needn’t pack anything.  You won’t have any time to kiss your loved ones goodbye and there are no security lines to wait through.  No passports, visas, work permits or green cards are necessary; and the ticket is absolutely free.  The lines will be long, but the check in process is immediate, no waiting.  You don’t need to worry about how your dressed or whether you packed enough socks.  You can’t check anything, not even your laptop, iPad or phone.  Leave the makeup on the bathroom counter, the toothbrush in the jar and your razor in the drawer right next to the shaving cream.  For you see, when Christ returns none of this will matter ever again.  He is coming back to rapture His church and escort them back to be in the presence of God Almighty in heaven for all of eternity.

The scriptures tell us that every single one of us have the opportunity to get a ticket for this trip.  The choice is left to the individual.  Nothing can remove a person from eligibility except their own decision to turn the other way.  The ticket of salvation was printed once and it has no expiration date.  When Jesus Christ died on that cross, the printing press started up.  He spent the next three days in the “heart of the earth” as we read Jesus saying about Himself in Matthew 12:40.  He rose again on the 3^rd day and broke the chains of death once and for all.  The ticket of salvation was finally printed and made available to all mankind.  All means all.

Jesus blood was spilled that day to cover the sins of all mankind.  We can’t look at that sacrifice and say it is only good for the redemption of some sin and not others.  If we truly believe it is sufficient to cover the sins in my life, can I honestly believe that it is insufficient to cover the sins in another person’s life.  The idea is preposterous when you think about it in this way.  If indeed His blood is insufficient for redeeming this person or that person because of what they have done, then it is insufficient for all and the entire redemption plan is a farce.  The sins of our life separate us from God, but the scriptures tell us in John 3:16; professing your belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is sufficient to receiving God’s grace. 

Those who refuse to believe this and follow this One called Christ will not receive the ticket of salvation.  To our dismay, this list is just as long, if not longer, than the list of those who will make the journey.  This is our mission in life.  You ask yourself what is your purpose – open your heart, your mind and your eyes.  Standing all around you are those that will one day perish into the abyss.  Our main purpose in life should be to help them find their ticket, for even their sins can be forgiven if they so choose, despite their race, religion, culture or age.  God’s love is available and waiting for every one of them, if they will repent and ask.

Loving Father,
Your love is amazing and everlasting.  You have provided for us the means by which to join You in eternity, and given us free reign to choose.  I believe Your salvation is available to all mankind equally, and the blood of Jesus Christ is sufficient for even those who hate You.  Help me to be Your light and love to those who despise You.  Help their hearts be softened so that they might hear of Your love and redeeming grace.  In Your name I pray – Amen

© Sondove Enterprises, 2011
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It's Going to Get Worse

“And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” – Mark 4:39

We are in the middle of the hurricane season.  Each year the warm waters of the gulf churn up a number of storms that pound the coast line with wave after wave as the storms come ashore.  As the latest storm of this year hit the city of New Orleans just this past weekend, I am reminded of three things.  One, that God has promised to never again flood the entire earth; two, God is in control of the winds, the oceans, the rains and the elements; and three, in the end times the earth will be in turmoil as if in the beginnings of birthing pains. 

As the waves of life crash in on you, and your day seems overwhelming with tedious tasks and to-do lists; step back and remember that you are not alone on this journey.  There is a God and He knows what you are facing each day.  Reach out to Him for strength, for courage and confidence to take on one day at a time.  The scriptures tell us that there is no sense in worrying about tomorrow, for we are not guaranteed tomorrow.  Focus on what you can do for the Lord today, and what He needs from you today.

There will be wars and pestilence and earthquakes; even peace will be taken from the earth.  You cannot open up any newspaper or turn on any news broadcast without realizing that we are in very tumultuous times today.  Wars are being fought all over the world as those in power struggle to remain and those with cultural differences clash.  Do not get lost in fear of these events, but rather look to the heavens and the only One who can control what is to come?  It is becoming even more important to remain in His word and in prayer with the Creator of the world, and trust in His word of salvation.

 It is not for us to worry about the exact day, hour or minute, but to be ready.  Watch what is going on in the world and understand that it is not by happenchance, it is part of the plan – His plan.  Peace is possible and will happen in due time, and we must remain strong as we lead up to it.

Heavenly Father,
You have given us Your Holy Word as a guideline and a comfort in times of stress and worry.  Your word tells us of the things that will happen as we draw nearer to the end of times.  Brother will hate brother, families will be torn apart and wars will ensue.  Earthquakes, famine, floods and pestilence will accelerate as the earth suffers through labor pains.  We draw close to You and know that You control all things and that Your plan is being executed. Grant us the courage, confidence, strength and wisdom to make it through these times Lord.  We long for the days of peace and rest in Your presence one day.  In Your name I pray – Amen

© Sondove Enterprises, 2011
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Peace in the Turbulence

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” - John 14:27

It was 1992 and I was preparing to leave my home town in Michigan. There were emotions running rampant inside, excitement, curiosity, adrenaline rush to name a few. In addition, I can add to this list anxiety and worry. There is always a trepidation that accompanies every major decision in our life. That moment where we second guess ourselves and whether we are truly ready for what we have signed up for. This is where I was as I drove away from my wife and family on my way to the airport. Heading off to Florida on my own, while she stayed behind to sell the house and wait for the movers. As the plane’s wheels left the tarmac I was overcome with the onslaught of uneasiness and fear.

Up to that point in my life I had always been near family, near my parents, my friends and my wife’s family. I had a support network available to me anytime I needed them, day or night. As the plane ascended it finally dawned on me, that I did not know anyone in Florida, and that for the first time in my life I was on my own. Just me, my 13” color TV, a sleeping bag and a week’s worth of clothes. Peace was not something that came easy in this circumstance. It was the farthest thing from my mind. I had taken for granted how comfortable life was, and how important that close group of friends and family had been to my having peace in my life.

This must have been how it was for the disciples. We find Jesus sharing his last discourse with them and had explained that He was going away and they could not come with Him. Most had been with Him for 2 ½ years or more at that time. They had clung to Him as their strength, comfort and guide to matters beyond the visible. He had loved them and nurtured them, and let’s face it this news had to be a shock to them. His words, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you…” was a reassurance that even though He wasn’t going to be there with them physically, He was always going to be there in the form of the Holy Spirit providing them the same Peace they had experienced in His presence.

This is the key to the entire verse. Christ’s departure brought forth the comforter, counselor and Spirit of truth upon His disciples. This Holy Spirit provides the peace in Jesus absence as well. For in the Holy Spirit they could find God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son – all in one. Through this relationship, they were comforted once again and found peace to carry on with their ministry. This Holy Spirit that indwelled the disciples in the first century church is the same exact Holy Spirit that dwells within you. This brings a comfort and peace from God the Father into your life. You are entitled to peace through the Holy Spirit when you’re flesh is weak, and when emotions are overwhelming your senses.

Fear, trepidation and anxiety are all things that can easily cripple a Christian. Discouragement and loneliness can set in and then depression. When you feel yourself falling into this trap it is important to know you have a resource that is fully aware of your situation and asks only that you trust Him to lead the way back to peace. This peace comes from an eternal perspective. Taking your eyes off of today’s worries and business and focusing on God the Father will draw you closer to Him and the Holy Spirit. See the end game, not the obstacles and all of a sudden the peace and comfort return. Knowing that the road is not easy, and life will be full of peaks and valleys, you can remain focused on getting to the goal line and spending eternity with Jesus Christ. This is where true peace will be found.

PRAYER:

Almighty God,

You have made us wonderfully complex and loving Lord. You have formed within each of us a heart designed perfectly to conform to Your hand and will upon our life. As fear enters our mind and anxieties attack from all sides, let us fall back on the assurance that You are in control Lord. Let us find our peace in knowing that You are God and that Your love is never failing. - Amen

(c) Sondove Enterprises, 2011
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Child's Play

"Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.” Psalm 37:5

Wise beyond their years.  You’ve heard the cliché used a hundred times about children that seem to have a keen perception for the unknown.  Perhaps it isn’t wisdom beyond their years, perhaps it is a trust that is easy to grab a-hold of, which diminishes as we grow older.  The reality of life eats away at our innocence until eventually it’s difficult to trust anything without hard, fast proof.  I work in an area that requires a perspective beyond what is visible.  Trying to help others see technology solutions that do not exist today require that the audience have a basic level of trust in the presenter (me) and my ability to deliver factual data they can use to make decisions.

A child receives their knowledge from only a few different places during the forming years (pre-k).  Certainly parents, grandparents and other familiar friends and family members will have an influence as they develop their perspective on life.  Outside influences also have an impact – television, music, video games, the internet and social networking at the park or preschool.  All of these elements can be learned through the senses – sight, touch, smell, taste or hear.  But there is also an element of spiritual influence that impacts a child’s decisions and forms a foundation of belief in the something unknown.  The spiritual influence is unseen and unheard, it takes place within the heart. 

That’s why people say you must have the heart of a child to truly trust someone.  The heart of a child is constantly striving for acceptance, comfort, pleasure and peace.  This can be found in some physical things, but is exemplified completely in the spiritual area.  God speaks to children through their heart in such a manner that they feel safe, comfort, confident and at peace.  They learn to trust that feeling because it is good.  If a feeling is negative a child will not want to repeat it and the trust is gone. 

How much more difficult is it though for you and I.  God provides good for us, we need only to trust in what He promises and commit to follow His ways.  Every day that we are given is from Him for a purpose of impacting others in our life.  We see, hear and feel the world around us, influencing the decisions we make and the actions we take.  Trusting the Lord, requires us to make decisions without knowing all of the answers and outcomes.  Like a child trusts their parents for guidance we must trust God.  Walk today with the eyes, heart and mouth of a child – full of joy and peace and share that with those you meet.  Be blessed my friends.

(c) Sondove Enterprises, 2010
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I've Got a Plan

[God said to Abraham..]”But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah   will bear to you by this time next year.” – Genesis 17:21

Can you imagine?

“Hey God.  Get this.  I know you told me you were going to bless me, make me prosperous and all that, but it’s really taking a long time.  I’ve got an idea.  How’s about we do it my way and you can just bless that and then we can move on to bigger and better things.  What do you think?”
What time is on God’s watch and is there an alarm button?  My impression is that God doesn’t wear a watch and He is very aware of how long some things take to evolve and develop.  Think about it this way.  Jesus Christ died on a cross nearly 2000 years ago.  One of His last comments to His disciples before He was crucified was; Matthew 24:50 - The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.  Jesus tells them to remain alert, always prepared for we do not know when He will return.  I am convinced that His disciples left that meeting with some expectation that Jesus was going away and would be back soon and then they would enjoy the riches of heaven.  Even Paul and John – two of the most prolific writers of the New Testament, had no ability to predict when Christ would return; yet they remained faithful and focused on their mission in life right up to their very last breath.

Let’s face it, we have no patience in this world.  With data moving around the globe in seconds and communications that allow us to always have a phone or ear piece in our ear – talking with someone, somewhere; we are challenged to wait upon the Lord.  In Psalm 37:7, David tells us, “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”  This is a struggle for all of us.  It’s almost as if we want answers now so we can check the box and move on to the next thing on our to-do list.  Since the time of Abraham and even before man has been trying to short cut God’s plan through their own means.  Generally, I find that when I try to outthink God – my plans often fall short of what I set out to accomplish.

God has a plan for your life.  You may not have an understanding of it at this point.  All that means is that you need to continue praising Him until you do.  It’s not a game, it’s a mission and He is the creator of the plan.  Accept His plan and quit trying to solve the problems without Him.  He truly wants to be consulted on those decisions you make daily, even the little ones that seem so nonchalant. 

Heavenly Father,
Forgive us for our lack of patience. Help us to live within Your plan, Your guidance and Your mission in our lives.  Strengthen our faith and resolve to be patient on Your eternal timetable.  Lord, help us to make the most of the time we have by celebrating and sharing Your love with those we meet.  In Your name I pray – Amen

© Sondove Enterprises

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