Light the Way

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“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.  The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.” – Proverbs 4:18-19

  When the door closed, the darkness enveloped the room.  There was not a single point of light in the blackness that surrounded him.  Despite his efforts to adjust his eyes to his surroundings, as was often the case when there was a slight glimmer of light, it was impossible this time.  In his mind he drew a mental picture of the room and the obstacles from the memory captured by his eyes before the door closed and the lights were turned off.  He recalled that there was broken shards of glass on the floor to his right, and tacks scattered about on the floor to his left.  He knew there was a path of carpeted floor in front of him, but it abruptly would come to an end in about 5 feet and fall into a crevice with no exit.  Near the door about 10 feet away and to the left was a key hanging from a hook at least 10 feet up the wall, and there was a small step stool near the wall to his right.

  How trusting should he be of the mental picture he had painted in his mind?  Could he trust his judgment without actually seeing those things in front of him that were dangerous?  Should he just stay where he is at and lose this round of the competition?  What would you do in this situation?

  The reality is that we are all facing obstacles and challenges in life that are beyond our perception and control.  You cannot control the car coming around the corner begin driven by the man who has had too many drinks.  You cannot always foresee the acts of others who may choose to bring harm to you and your loved ones.  We cannot predict the diagnosis of  cancer or the death of a loved one, yet it happens all too often.  If we could anticipate the rise and fall of the financial markets we could all be quite secure in our investments and remove the fear of financial burdens from life.

  In your mind, you know the future might be painful, difficult and filled with uncertainty.  But, just like our victim above, there is also an understanding of where the key is to unlock the door and bring light into the situations you face.  The step stool is Jesus Christ, and the key is the plan of salvation.  Through our embrace and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we can receive salvation and open the door to our future with Him.  As we accept Him, His light shines upon our footsteps and we are given the confidence, strength and courage to take on the challenges in this life, and see clearly through the obstacles.  It does not mean the obstacles are gone, but that that we are able to overcome them through His strength and light, not by our means.

  Be filled with His love, spirit and light today and always.  Let His light shine that others might see it within you and you might be given the opportunity to share His love with them.

             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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Always Look Up

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“With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." – Mark 10:27

If you stand at the base of Mount Everest and look to the sky, you will see the challenging 29,029 feet summit reflecting the bright sun.  If in winter you will see the chilling winds blowing the ice and snow as if a volcano had just erupted.  The jagged rocks edge and the ice covered terrain create a fear of unknown and danger to the onlooker.  But in 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary, along with Tenzing Norgay, looked up at this magnificent wonder from the creator of the universe and ascended to the summit.  Together they rejoiced in the accomplishment and buried a cross and a few sweets at the top in remembrance.  They had accomplished something that had been tried many times for the 30 years prior, yet had never been done. People had died in their attempts, and some had successfully made it back down to tell the stories that it could never be done.  Today, there are groups of 40 at a time that reach the summit, alongside the help of trained expert Nepali sherpas, and lots of oxygen tanks.

What is your Mount Everest?  You don’t have to travel to Tibet to take on the unfathomable task.  Remember, “You cannot climb a mountain without looking up.” (Rich Palmer)  There are things in your life everyday that have you at a point of despair and ready to give up.  Finances, health, relationships, rebellious children or even the large task at the office.  God is an ever present source of answers in your life and through the Holy Spirit is engaged in your daily activities and decisions.  Turn these big challenges over to the Creator of the Universe, with a humble heart and desire for Him to take control.  It may not be accomplished in a day or two, because in many cases it is a learning experience for you and those around you.  But, God hears your prayers and will carry it through in His timing.  We see in Philippians 4:19, “my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus”  You need to trust and have faith in this word from the Lord.

Prayer:Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your love and Your all powerful spirit within each of us.  Thank you for guiding our footsteps in the way of your will that we might have the opportunity to impact the lives of others for Your name’s sake.  Let this prayer fall within Your will for my life, as I lift my struggles to You fully knowing that You can handle all things.  I humble myself before You and look to follow Your ways in dealing with this situation, for it is bigger than I am able to handle.  Lord, bless me as Your servant and show me the way through this circumstance that is within Your will.  In Your name I pray - Amen

             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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But I Asked in His Name

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“And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." – Luke 22:42-43 

I’m sure you’ve been there.  Needing something desperately, at the end of your rope, no way out and filled with despair.  Hitting your knees, and lifting your words to heaven in the most earnest prayer possible, you ask the Lord to help.  I’ve been there myself, crying out to the Lord for a specific answer, knowing in my heart that it had to be in God’s plans.  I waited patiently for His answer, for the circumstances to miraculously change and my prayers to be answered.  Time passed and no answers, no changes in the situation and if anything it had gotten worse.   

Unanswered prayers are on the lips of all of God’s children, some for our good and some for our growth.  I have found that often times when I am discouraged and impatient with God’s timing, is when I am focusing on my own desire for the prayer to be answered, not on His will.  Do you believe that God has an eternal perspective and not a moment by moment perspective?  If so, if you believe God to be omniscient, then you must understand that just because we want something, it might not be in His will.  This is the hardest part.

 What we don’t see in our myopic view are the halo effects of the Lord’s response.  As an example, you might be praying for a miraculous healing of a loved one’s illness.  Could the Lord reach down with His healing hand and remove the sickness, cancer or infirmity?  Instantly, if it were within His will to do so.  But, it may not be.  So, why wouldn’t it be within His will?  What if, hypothetically the medical practitioners could be influenced through the circumstance and come to a relationship with Jesus Christ as a result?  Or if your relationship with the Lord is strengthened, and you become more dependent and accepting of His control and power as a result.  You see how the perspective of the Lord is bigger then the circumstance that is right in front of you.

So it was with our Savior as captured in Luke 22^nd chapter.  Jesus Christ knelt and prayed that the cup be taken from him.  Knowing that He would be captured, beaten, tortured and die; He prayed that the Lord find another way to solve the problem if possible, so He would not have to endure it.  God, in all of His Sovereignty and loving control said, “No, my Son.  As much as it hurts Me to say no, this is My plan of salvation for mankind.”  As a father of 5, and grandfather of soon to be 3, I could not have that much courage.  I could not make a decision to watch my own flesh and blood be beaten, tortured and crucified.  I would fight with every ounce of energy I have, even to death, to protect and keep them from suffering. 

So, what if God had answered Christ’s prayer and decided to save His Son that night?  The plan of salvation, grace and eternity would have been halted at that moment.  The halo effect of God’s decision that evening before Christ’s arrest has covered your sins, mine and the worlds ever since that glorious day of His resurrection.  God knew the eternal plan was more important than the immediate desires of His Son’s heart and left that prayer unanswered.  This must be kept in perspective as we look at the prayers that we lift to our Heavenly Father.  We do not see the halo effect of the outcome when we look through our eyes.  So, although we may not like it and it might even hurt (emotionally or physically), we must trust and have faith that God is in control and He will work all things for the good of His kingdom.

Prayer:Almighty God,
Creator of the Universe and all that is within it.  We kneel before You with our hands raised and our hearts open to Your will in our life Lord.  We humble ourselves to know that You are in control and that we do not understand the mysteries of Your ways.  We trust that You are working all things for Your good and that it may not align with our desires and plans in this world.  We accept that You are Sovereign and we are here for Your glory, and that in all things You will be praised.  In Your name we pray – Amen.

.

             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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Don't Be Misled

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“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”  – Ephesians 6:13


A wise man once told me, “Always listen to God and be prepared for the worst.  It wasn’t raining

when Noah built the Ark.”  We are watching as more and more immorality and corruptness become the accepted norm in today’s society.  Watch the news, listen to the talk shows, read the blogs and newspapers. 

I recently heard a story of a police officer who observes an older pickup driving straight through a Stop sign early one morning.  He pursues the truck and hits his lights and siren.  Assuming the man was simply late for work and in a hurry, he radio’s in the information of the vehicle before walking toward the pickup.  As the police officer nears the vehicle the report comes back that the vehicle in question was involved in a convenient store robbery and the driver is assumed armed and dangerous.  The police officer did not hear the report as he was too far from his vehicle at the time.  He moves to the driver’s window and before he can ask for a driver’s license and registration, the barrel of a gun is pointed at his chest and a blast goes off.  The officer falls backward into the street, laid out flat on his back.  The suspect, fumbles with his keys trying to start the truck and get away, before realizing that the police officer is standing once again and has pulled his gun and fired twice.  The first round hits the windshield, but the second goes through the door and hits the suspect in the leg.  At this point the armed robber drops his weapon and surrenders to the police officer.  The officer’s forethought and preparation by putting on his Kevlar vest that morning saved his life.  He had no idea that this pursuit would result in a gun being fired, but he was fully armed and prepared for the worst possibility.

The war we battle each day we wake up is not with man.  Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12 that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authority and power of this dark world.  Satan, and his demonic spirits are alive and well in this world in which we live.  You don’t see him walking the streets with red cape and horns, no he is much more creative and maniacal than that.  He works in the spiritual realm by working in your mind and heart.  He will find the slightest opening in your faith and pry it open as a burglar might in the middle of the night.  He uses emotions, guilt, and worldly things to entice, seduce and lure you into his darkness.  Many are blinded by his manipulation of the truth and follow along unknowingly because it doesn’t seem to hurt anyone else, therefore it must be good.  People have told me, “I’m a good person, I don’t drink, swear or do drugs; I’ve never hurt anyone, stole anything or lied; I help the homeless and work at the nursing home on Thursdays.  I’m sure God will take me to heaven, when I die; why wouldn’t He?”  This sounds like the perfect Christian role model.  The person I am referring too doesn’t believe in Jesus Christ though.  Satan’s misleading this person to believe that all “good” people go to heaven.  Another of his tremendous lies that is influencing today’s world in an enormous way.  Jesus himself teaches us in Matthew 7:21-23 that doing good works without a relationship with Jesus Christ himself is considered evil work.

Satan is going to use our laziness, our busyness and our lack of patience against us in these last days (no prediction here, could be hundreds of years from now).  Face it, we are a society looking for a quick answer to today’s problems and lacking any answers, have shown a willingness to settle for the next best thing.  Just as the police officer prepared for his day by putting on his Kevlar vest, we need to put on our armor every morning as well.  Start with the word and prayer each day, asking God to walk with you, protect you and watch over you.  This is the first step each of us should take to battle Satan in this world.

Prayer:

Almighty God,

You have given us Your word as a weapon against the evil in this world.  Let it live within us, real and inspiring to protect us when we are pursued by the trials and temptations of the day.  We draw upon Your name and Your protection against Satan and his power, equip us to fight the battle for You.  In Your name we pray - Amen
             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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Follow Your Guide

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“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” – Psalm 32:8

 Do you believe that God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth?

I mean, do you truly believe it, without a doubt – 100% committed in your belief.  If you answered yes to this question after careful consideration, then ask yourself the next question:  Did God create me, or am I a simple random act of conception resulting from a passionate encounter between my biological mother and father?

If like me, you believe that God created you within your mother’s womb, despite the act of intercourse that led to the conception, than you must have been created for a purpose that He has arranged and scripted.  You are given one life to live.  From the moment of conception to the moment of your last breath, there are a given amount of days that you will walk upon this earth.  

If you are like most of us, you wake each morning, looking at the day-timer and calendar to align your priorities.  Then the day unfolds in a manner that is nothing like the way it is written on paper.  Problems are not prescribed, they happen.  Your ability to react to the problems that arise are the key to a successful and joy filled life.  Nothing can occur in your daily walk that is not already foreseen by the same authority that created you.  The question is why aren’t you turning to Him for the answers.

Do you believe that the Holy Spirit walks with you, everywhere you go?  The triune God: (The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit) are one in the same.  The scriptures tell us that the Holy Spirit will be your comforter, counselor, teacher and helper.  You must accept that He lives within you and is your guide, your mentor and will convict you of your sinful nature.  He does not condemn, but also cannot condone the sinful nature by which we live.  He will bring to your recognition the sins and transgressions and bring you to the point of receiving redemption from the Father.  There is no place where you might escape His presence, and there is no problem you are facing that He has not already overcome.

Receive the Holy Spirit, and acknowledge His presence in your life.  Then strengthen your relationship with Him to draw you closer to understanding God’s will in your life.  Through the Holy Spirit your heart can be purified and your mind set free from the bonds of this world.  When mankind is pressing down upon you, reach inside and draw from the righteousness that resides within your soul.  Your path is laid out before you, but it is completely your responsibility to place one foot after another down that pathway of life.  Trust in the Holy Spirit to clear your path for you and light the way.


             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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Give Up the Wheel

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“For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." – Matthew 6:13b

 Humility begins with you.  It’s a condition that requires that you must put aside your desires, your thoughts, your greed and your selfishness.  It is a contradiction to everything you will learn in this world.  Your friends, your family, your co-workers will all give you advice from a perspective of what is best for you in their opinion.  You will think of what it is that you want for yourself and those around you as you attempt to take care of them with the depth of your wisdom and knowledge.  Why?  Yes, why are you trying to solve the problems in your life with the limited thoughts and knowledge that you might have obtained in your time on this earth when you have access to the Creator and King of all Kings.

 Do you not understand that He is your Father and wants nothing more than to work through you?  His desire is to be alive in your life every single day, every moment and every breath.  You are limiting His participation in your life because you don’t want to give it up.  The simple truth is that you are just like me and the majority of believers in that way.  We hold onto the steering wheel and control of our life, knowing that His way is better and that He is our Supreme Authority.  We are inclined to keep Him just outside of the perimeter of our heart and soul, because we want to continue in the life we have chosen, despite what He may have chosen for us.

 I want you to read Matthew 6:9-13 closely today.  Open up your heart to God the Father before you read it, ask Him to speak to you through these words.  You will find that these words are strong, powerful and fully empower you to the richness of His presence and grace in your life when you embrace them as fact and not just something to memorize.  Study the words, swallow them and digest them into your life.

  God is the Supreme Lord of all things.  His power and glory cannot be matched by anything in this world.  The power of mankind, the power of evil, the power of Satan and his demonic spirits are nothing when we involve God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in our battle.  We are overwhelmed and destined to fail time and time again, despite our knowledge, wisdom and strength; unless we open up our hearts and mind to His power and authority.  The Holy Spirit dwells within you and will fight on your behalf, only if you will allow Him too. 

 Is the Holy Spirit truly welcome in your life?  You must ask yourself this question and desire it.  Living for Him means every aspect of your life, not just the easy ones when other people are watching.  Open up every filthy corner of your life to His embrace and let the Holy Spirit cleanse your mind, your heart and your soul.  Let Him fill you with love, peace and the desire to serve your Lord completely.

             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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Living Your Life

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At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven" – Matthew 18:1-3

  There is within each of us a competitive spirit that comes naturally when necessary.  It forces us to evaluate our standing in life against that of those around us.  There are times when a woman will look at another woman pushing a baby stroller and resentment may rise because the first woman is unable to have children.  There are times when a man looks at another man’s car or home and is deep with envy and jealousy over the material possessions that he has been unable to obtain.  At work, how many times are you challenged by a supervisor to work harder like so and so?  Certainly in the area of sports the competitive spirit flows freely and often times destroys individuals dreams and aspirations in life.

  God charges us to be humble and to be child-like in our faith.  We often find ourselves judging our walk with the Lord against our neighbor, friend or family member.  I cannot count the number of times I have heard a fellow Christian make a rude or judgmental comment about another person.  This could not be farther from the representation of God’s love for mankind.  Calling out the weakness’ of another’s person walk with Christ is never going to strengthen your walk with Christ.

  Think about it this way.  We all look at the great evangelist’s and unintentionally (or sometimes intentionally) we begin ranking them on a scale against the accomplishments of their peers.  For example: Take this list: Billy Graham, Ghandi, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther, Joel Osteen, Nic Vujicic, Michael W. Smith, Pope John Paul II, Charles Spurgeon and Jim Elliot.  Who is the greatest?  If you had a scale from 1 to 100 would any of these individuals fall below 95 on that scale?  Now ask yourself this question:  Where are you on that scale?  I might be in the 5-10 range if I’m brutally honest with myself, looking at it from my perspective.

  Now, think about that same list of individuals and add the other 10-12 billion people in history to the list.  Is Jesus Christ death, resurrection and sacrifice any more valid for the above list of 10 individuals than it is for you?  The answer is an emphatic “NO”.  Jesus Christ died once for the propitiation of mankind’s sins.  We are all offered the same grace and eternal glory that is available to the Saints, Popes, and greatest evangelists of all time.  So, from the perspective of salvation we are on par with every other person.  The differences come from what you are doing with the gift that was provided to you.

  The reason we hold these individuals and others like them in high esteem, is that we admire their contribution to the Kingdom whilst here on earth.  They have chosen to give it all and pursue God’s call on their life with everything they have.  They have helped or are helping others discover the love of Jesus Christ, and they are doing it for God’s glory, not their own.  You are given that same opportunity in life, but are you doing anything about it?  Your eternal destination is set, and that’s a great thing.  The real question is are you helping anyone else set their’s in place along side of you.  What you do for God’s Kingdom while you are here on this earth is your daily purpose, once you have accepted Christ as your Savior and Lord and secured your eternal peace.  I don’t care how old you are, the challenge is still before you.  The disciple John wrote the entire book of Revelation in his late years while he was on the island of Patmos, banished there by the Romans.  Billy Graham stood in a pulpit just four years ago, in his 90’s and preached an incredible sermon of redemption and grace.  So get up, quit making excuses and go do something for God today.

             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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