Where is the Joy?

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“You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him, you believe in him; and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” - 1 Peter 1:8

  During times of worry and discontent, I have often heard it say “remain fast, for the joy comes in the morning”.  What do you do when you wake up in the morning and joy is once again absent?  Hmmm…can you imagine; have you been there; are you there right now?  The world is revolving, people come and people go; walking past you as if you don’t even exist.  Life at times seems monotonous and more of a ritual than an adventure, and you feel stuck.  Where is the joy in that situation?  Bah humbug.  Face it there are times when you are more of a Scrooge than a Bob Cratchit (“A Christmas Carol”, Charles Dickens, 1843). 

It’s amazing to me how quick we are to focus on the negatives in life and skip right passed the daily blessings that we are given.  Many are looking for instantaneous pleasure and happiness.  The problem is that these are often fleeting and difficult to hold on to, leaving the person feeling at loss after a short period.  There is no doubt that life in the 21st century has it’s challenges and complexities.  When we dwell upon them our joy is stolen right out from under us.  So, the questions remain, how can we find the fruit of the Spirit for joy in a world so wrapped up in evil?

Ultimate joy in life can only come from one source, and it is not the lottery, nor the refrigerator, nor the beach or the mountains.  These all create an emotional response of happiness and joy, but lack the infinite quality of timelessness.  Relaxing at the Cruise Bar on the Quay in Sydney, Australia, watching the ships at dusk with the Opera House in the background and then taking in the unbelievable sights around the city, one could say, “ahh…now that’s joy.”  They would be correct.  It’s beautiful, it fills the mind with happiness, contentment and peace.  Then nightfall comes, and then the next morning.  A jog along that same path reveals the trash along the side of the road, the homeless sleeping in the alleys and a fog hanging over the harbor.  Hmmm, not quite the same joyful experience. 

The answer is obvious and you’ve gotten there before I could even give it to you.  Of course, I’m referring to the love of the Lord and taking a Godly perspective on life.  Consistent and true joy can only come from a relationship with Jesus Christ and focusing on the blessings He has given you each and every day.  There will never come a day, in this life, when all of your troubles are gone.  If you are waiting for that miraculous event to take place, I’m afraid the rapture will be your miracle.  That is where true joy stems from.  For though we are suffering with pains and struggles today, a focus on eternity and God’s love will quickly help you to re-prioritize your thinking.  As Christ tells us in John 16:22, “…Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”  A promise from the Savior of the world, is a promise you can take to the bank.  Right it on your heart, paste it to your bathroom mirror and remind yourself every time you sense depression coming, that Christ died for your sins and you are destined for eternity with Him one day.  Don’t allow this world to steal your joy, for you are a child of God.  Live like it.

PRAYER:

Precious Father,

  We seek the joy of Your Son in our life. Grant us the peace of knowledge and confidence to see through the daily struggles of each day. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit to calm our anxieties and consistently ground us in Your light. For it is only through You that we can find true joy in life. Amen
             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com

Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness

Rich is on vacation, so today enjoy a repost of one of the favorites from days gone  by.

“For His loving kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord is everlasting”    - Psalm 117:2

 Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless." Mother Teresa

  The action of being kind to another has the opportunity to make an impression not only on that person but generations beyond that person and those associated to that individual.  Consider the true motivation behind kindness is charity and behind charity is love.  Kindness is a manner by which we are able to share love with another, but even the atheists and the unrighteous are kind to others.  Kindness in and of itself is a characteristic that requires a compassionate heart and willing mind. As Christians we are led by the existence of love and compassion in its most true and complete form; stemming from God Almighty.
 
   Through the Holy Spirit we receive the gift of kindness. Unlike simply being kind to someone, the kindness gifted by the Holy Spirit brings with it the eternal impact of grace. There is no better example of kindness than God. His love, mercy and grace for all mankind set a perfect example for us to live up to. This is what differentiates those living by the fruit of the spirit of kindness from those just being kind for the sake of being nice. Being kind regardless of the circumstance and parties involved represents an unconditional perspective to kindness. Stranger, friend, family or foe it doesn’t matter. The love and kindness of the Savior needs to be evident.

  Consider the grace of God. It is available to all mankind, even though we don’t deserve it. We cannot buy it because it is given away for free. There are no works that a person can do to earn it. It is equally available to all, regardless of their status, wealth, or works. It simply takes an act of accepting that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. This saving grace becomes the foundation of mercy, love and kindness to all humanity, and the guidelines for our exercise of kindness to all others in Jesus name.

PRAYER:
Almighty Father,
  You have given us a heart of compassion, a desire to reach out to the hurting and the suffering and bring them the love and kindness of the Savior. Fill us with a presence Lord to be filled with kindness in all of our engagements and interactions, that others might see Your love through us and in turn experience Your grace. Holy Spirit come upon us and bless us with the Spirit of Kindness that we may be ambassadors for Your truth and justice in this world. Help us to put aside our vanity, and self-promotion in these acts and point only to Your grace and love. In Your name we pray - Amen.

             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2010
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com

Step Up

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“We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.” Psalm 78:4

Have you ever been to the circus, and seen a person walk on the high wire?  Generally, it’s a metal cable about 1.5 inches thick, suspended between two platforms about 30 meters apart.  The trapeze artist will take that first step out onto the wire, delicately placing his/her foot in just the right position and then slowly transfer their weight to that front foot, and while balancing with their arms out wide, begin the trek across the wire.  Making it look effortless, they manage to walk across the hire wire and step upon the platform at the other end.  It’s quite amazing to watch someone execute this, and even more so when they do it without a net.  I’ve even heard of people walking high wires across large canyons or over Niagara Falls.  It must take incredible courage to step away from a crowd of people and out onto a relatively small wire, where one misstep or loss of balance will result in one’s death.

Think about it on a bigger scale.  What if the lifecycle between birth and death were a high wire?  Make it to the other side and experience eternity with God the Father in heaven; fall anywhere between that first step and the last step and the results are eternity in Hell, separated from the Father.  When you think about it there are only two options, and it is completely based on the choice each of us must make.  This includes your spouse, your children, your parents, siblings and friends.  Each must make this choice in life, there are no exceptions. 

Now, I want you to imagine that you take your children and a few of their friends to the circus.  Mid way through, they get up to go get some popcorn and drinks.  A few minutes pass and then the lights go dim and a spotlight shines to the top of the tent and focuses on the high-wire pedestal.  There is your son or daughter, standing on that platform, with their friends all around them chanting, “Go, go, you can do it….Just take a step, it’ll be easy.”  One hundred feet up, no net, and the band so loud, your voice can’t be heard as you scream for your child to stop.  You realize that he (or she) is about to take that first step and your heart breaks knowing that one wobble will result in his certain death.

If you are a parent, or plan to be, you know that life is a high wire for your children.  They will be influenced by this world to do very stupid things, some of which will result in tragic endings.  You cannot be with them 24x7 or keep them locked away in a shelter somewhere,  You must let them experience life and grow up making decisions as they build their character.  The key to this is to ensure that they have a solid foundation to make those decisions from and then surround them with prayer and trust in God to watch over them.  But, make no mistakes, you have a huge responsibility in the path they choose to pursue.

As your child prepares to step onto the high wire, wouldn’t you want to make that wire as wide as possible?  Perhaps laying down a few planks of wood along each side, making it a few feet wide and more stable, rather than a few inches.  Yes, they still walk that high wire alone, but the risk of falling off is dramatically reduced.  You have the responsibility of making sure they know about God’s love, Christ’s sacrifice and the Truth from the Word.  It is not acceptable to sit on the sides and hope they make a decision to follow God in life, because the world is not going to help you lay down those planks, you have to do it.  You can’t set back and watch them try to get it right, you have to give them the wisdom, directions and understanding to know all of the risks in life.

Yes, in the end your children, spouse, friends and family must make this decision for themselves, but you cannot have a belief yourself and not take the opportunity to share it with them.  If you set back and let them try to figure it out on their own, I guarantee you their chances of falling off that wire are greatly enhanced.  The world is going to be edging them on without concern of their eternal destiny.  If you are a believer, and care about those around you, you need to step up and take that responsibility on.  Don’t let them step onto the hire wire alone, it’s a long endless fall if they don’t make it to the other side, and there is no safety net. Start today, share the Lord with those around you, and help them make it across the wire.  If you are wondering what your purpose in life is, this is it.  Now Step Up.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ, who came to die that I might live.  Thank you for the the grace that you have provided so that I might one day join you in eternity despite my unrighteous life filled with transgression.  Help me Lord, to take on the challenge of every parent and teach my children and their children of your goodness, grace and mercy.  Give me the wisdom and courage to share your message with those I meet that they too can have eternity with you in paradise.  Convict my spirit Lord to desire your purpose in my life with a passion and fervor that leads my feet to enhance your kingdom.  I pray for my children, my wife, my family and my friends salvation Lord, that not one of them are left behind on judgment day.  Help me be a witness to them to provide guidance in their life to seek you.  I ask these things in Your precious and Holy name - Amen.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2012
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com

Happy Valentines Day

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Honey, Does This Look All-right?

"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." - Ephesians 4:15

 Face it men there are some absolute no-no's in creating and maintaining a loving relationship. 1) She never looks fat in anything; 2) Her casserole is always the best at the potluck; and 3) When she comes home with 2 for the price of 1, it's always a good deal regardless of how much it cost. As much as you may want to follow the normal trend of today's society and speak the "truth at any cost" we are reminded by scripture to speak the truth in love. It's okay to be truthful, but doing so with self restraint and humility is expected. Yet, we see in Proverbs 29:11; "A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back."

   So, we see from a biblical perspective we are to hold back feelings that are hurtful, yet at the same time speak the truth in love. This love represents agape love which comes from self-less servitude, humility and unconditional love as portrayed by Jesus Christ. In acting and speaking out in this manner we come closer to emulating our Savior. This is the desire of our Father in heaven, for us to grow up as Christians to represent the fullness of His Son.

  Putting it into place will take discipline and compassion for your fellow man/woman. When the opportunities present themselves, take a moment to quickly cast a prayer to the Lord for wisdom and discernment. He has promised that the Holy Spirit living within us will provide the right words at the right time. Do not hide behind lies or hurtful words, seek the direction of God and respond with truth in love.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2012
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com