It’s Not Yours

Make 2014 a year of Sharing

“If you are really eager to give, it isn’t important how much you are able to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you don’t have.”  – 2 Corinthians 8:12

 I took Lisa out to dinner a few weeks ago.  We had just been approved for our build-loan so we decided to treat ourselves.  The food was great, the company was better, but the waitress was incredible that night.  She ensured that we always had full water glasses, brought additional warm rolls and honey butter and spent time with us as if we were the only ones in the restaurant.  She laughed with us, carried on a conversation and made sure that she met all of our needs that night.  As I received the bill, without a second guess I wrote in the tip of 20% on top of the sizable bill.  

Generosity has never been a shortcoming in our household.  It is a love language of both of us, and we have to consistently check each other with a discerning objective counsel to ensure that we aren’t being taken advantage of.  In life we are blessed, not for the purpose of our wasteful spending, but for the purpose of helping God’s children in need.  Tithing 10% of one’s income is the only place in the bible where God specifically tells us to test Him.  Whatever means we have, His request is for us to cheerfully give 10% to the church and live off of 90%.  Certainly God wants us to tithe, not because it’s a monthly bill or legalistic; but because we want to see the expansion of His Kingdom on earth.  If we can tip a waitress 10% for the basic act of serving our food, are we not willing to give the Lord 10% for providing a path of salvation and eternal life?  He asks us to give of our time and our talents to help those who are in need.  As a matter of fact He asks for us to give everything to serve Him. 

What a novel concept.  How many people do you know that have given everything to serve God with 100%?  They’ve given up the luxuries for the simplest of necessities.  They’ve given up their dreams to pursue the dreams of a small child in Haiti.  They’ve given up their college education to ensure that the addict on the street corner makes it into the rehab center to get a fresh start.  They’ve given up the corporate office to spooning up stew and soup at the local food shelter.  When you’re ready to give, it is important to give everything you have.  God has blessed you with so very much, and I’m not talking monetarily.  You have talents, gifts and love to share with all of those around you.  What is stopping you from helping the man or woman on the corner that hasn’t eaten in two or three days?  Is it their appearance, is it their addictions, is it a distrust in what they’ll do with what you give them?  I suggest that you put those thoughts aside the next time and take the action to expand God’s Kingdom by one more person.  Share yourself with another and bring them love, comfort and peace for one night.  Let God show Himself through you, He has placed you in this position for a purpose.  Use what He has given you to it’s fullest potential.  It’s time.

Prayer:
Loving Father,
You have given me everything I have; my wealth, my health, my home and my family.  You have blessed me with abundance, that I might use it to propagate and further Your Kingdom.  Place me in the right place at the right time to ensure that those who need it most are found to be favorable in Your eyes and blessed by what You have given me.  I seek to be Your feet and Your hands on this earth, give me Your eyes for just one moment to understand how You see them and love them.  In Your name we pray – Amen

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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Being All In

Make 2014 a year of Sharing

“Therefore I encourage you to take some food, for this is for your preservation, for not a hair from the head of any of you will perish.” – Acts 27:34

The pains were only minutes apart and the pressure was intense as they got into the car.  He brought the bag and she grabbed the cellphone.  Tonight was the night their life would change, and the 2 of them would become 3.  With nervousness he sped through the traffic as his wife laid her seat back and breathed in short exhales.  As he sped through the red light, he knew it was a mistake, but she was screaming and in pain.  The light changed to red just before he entered the intersection and he pressed the gas, the hospital was less than a mile away now.  As he came through the intersection he looked in his rearview mirror only to see the reds and blues of a police car right behind him.  Without abandon he pressed on.  He was on a mission and had to get his wife to the hospital, the policeman was going to have to wait.  He pulled up to the curb with the policeman right behind him.  The young man ran around the car, grabbed the wheelchair and helped his wife into it as the policeman walked up to him.  A nurse came out of the door, and wheeled her away as the young man was bent over the front hood of his car, and cuffs were placed on his wrists.  He yelled, “I love you babe.” as she disappeared into the hospital. 

The policeman then stood him back.  “What the @#$@# are you doing driving like that through my town?”, the officer asked him. 

“Well you see Sir, when God says it’s time to bring a new life into the world, I don’t want to be the one to stand in His way.”, was all he could reply. 

“You’ve violated at least 4 different traffic laws and endangered every pedestrian and motor vehicle on the road tonight.  You could serve 5 years in prison.”, commented the policeman as his voice softened. 

“Yes Sir, I realize that there were risks, but I also realize that God has incredible plans for that baby and it all begins tonight.  I sure don’t want to miss the first 5 years of the incredible journey God’s planned for him or her, if there’s anything you can do about that.”

With a smile, the officer turned him around and removed the hand cuffs.  “Go park your car before I give you a ticket for double parking, and get in there with the lovely wife and baby.  Good luck son, and be much more careful on the drive home.”  And with that he shook his hand and returned to his squad car.

God has a plan for each and every one of you.  There is not a man on this earth that can stop it from happening if you are fully in it with God.  In Acts 27 we find Paul, the Apostle, a prisoner on a ship being tossed in the Mediterranean Sea.  The ship was breaking apart and certain to sink, while Paul held firm to the fact that God wanted him to stand before Caesar.  He knew without a doubt that God had set up his arrest and this sentencing for the exact purpose of getting His message to the Roman Emperor.  Paul’s life was spared on numerous occasions after his conversion.  God had incredible things to do with him and surrounded him with protection in miraculous ways.  Why do you believe He wouldn’t do the same for you?  Do you believe God values your life less than He did Paul?  Hardly.  Perhaps we should consider that Paul was 100% in though, and fully embraced his purpose.  Just imagine what you could do for this world if you did the same. 

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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Seeking the Goal

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“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:12

When the plans you have for this life are thrown into an upheaval where are you turning to?  You had it all planned out, you knew where you were going.  You have set your goals, you’ve checked them off one by one, and then something happens.  Something comes out of the darkness and knocks you down, standing over you laughing and challenging you to get back up.  Life is full of bully’s who are not interested in your success or your goals, they are only interested in seeing you fall.  You are the one left with the choice on how to react, how to overcome and put it back together.  Like most bully’s, once they’ve knocked you down their challenge is over and they move on.  The weak will stay there and look for one to blame, the strong will press their hands into the ground and get their feet underneath them again.

I’m not sure what’s knocking you down today, but in my spirit I know that many of you are struggling and are afraid of what’s coming.  The presence of evil in this world is very real and you need to realize that you are a target.  John tells us in 1 John 5:19 that “Satan is the Prince of this World (earth)” and we see in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness where Satan tempts Jesus with “the authority over the entire Kingdom which has been given to me.”  Do you not believe that he will do everything he can to prevent you from reaching the fullness of God’s plan?

Recognize he and his demons are real.  Do not be mistaken.  As you begin to press into God’s bosom the power of this world will not give up and walk away.  Life is going to be difficult and you must press on holding closer to the Creator.  Satan drew Adam and Eve away from their perfection and their purpose, and from that he has continued with every soul born of mankind since.  The one exception was Jesus Christ, not born of mankind, but of the Spirit.  Jesus authority came directly from God perfection.  Despite Satan’s attempts to take it from Him, Jesus pressed into a closer relationship with His Father and overcame the evil of this world.

You have the same ability if you so choose.  Your Father in Heaven is there and ready to battle on your behalf.  Because you are born of mankind though, you are inherently drawn to the sinful nature of this world.  It will require you to draw closer to Him.  How?  Be in His word, be in His presence and be in His spirit every day.  Draw from His well the strength for each day, abide in Him and He will abide in you.  Accept that He alone is your King and your authority despite what this world might suggest to you.  As a child of the King you will overcome the authority of this earth and receive the fullness of His glory one day.  That is the ultimate goal to achieve, even if some of the boxes on your goal sheet are left empty.  Pursue this goal with a passion.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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What a Beautiful Day.

Share it - Help another today.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” – Ecclesiastes 3:11

I have a friend who is an incredible gifted photographer.  He shoots pictures of animals, people, landscapes, sunrises, the sky, nature and industry with such magnificence.  We look at a street of old abandoned buildings, broken windows and walls that have collapsed upon themselves, and he has the skill and wisdom of exactly how to shoot a picture of unbelievable romance and beauty.  What we might view as depressing and broken, he is able to capture with life and purpose.  It comes down to a perspective and seeing the beauty in all things.

So it is with God’s view of you and your life.  You look at the negative from yesterday and it haunts your thoughts and causes you to be depressed, worried and ashamed.  God’s perspective though is that of wonder, life and purpose.  He is looking at the span of your life in which there are many negative activities and thoughts, but there are even more positive and encouraging actions and thoughts.  We tend to focus on the negative because it leaves us with a challenge to improve.  He focuses on the positives in your life because it represents the real you.

Your life will span 29,200 days (average lifespan of 80 years), or 42 million minutes.  In that span of time you will influence 10’s of thousands of people in a positive manner or a negative, the choice is yours.  Circumstances will occur and you will do things that you regret, but you will also do amazing things that you will brush off as nothing.  What percent of your day are you focusing on the good you bring to this world vs. the wrongs you have done?  If it’s a 50/50 split, that is 14,600 days of your life or 40 years.  Keeping in mind that time is linear, once you have lived it, there is no 2^nd chance.  Your choice to carry the negative with you actually shortens your life through stress, worry, anger (raises blood pressure), loneliness and regret you are giving up precious moments in this life that you could be joyful and happy. 

Yes, I realize that life is hard and nobody is perfectly happy all the time.  But, we must admit that we tend to exaggerate the negative and minimize the positives in our life.  I propose to you today to focus on removing the negative as quickly as it enters.  Spend less than 10% (100 minutes) of your waking day today dwelling on the negative and seek the positive for the remaining 90%.  Give the negative to God when it happens, let it go and move on.  He has promised to remove it as far as the east is from the west, so it is no longer present.  Ask for forgiveness right away from whom you have wronged, and likewise grant forgiveness to those that have wronged you.  Dwelling on a situation and carrying it with you only leads to furthering the negativity in your life.

God has a beautiful day planned for you.  Rid your mind of the negative thoughts and live out His blessings as thoroughly as possible.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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God’s Not Dead

Make 2014 a year of Sharing

“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 10:32-33

I saw a great movie over the weekend and came to realize that for the most part we are allowing the world to take our faith away from us little by little.  The movie is called “God’s Not Dead” from Pure Flix Films.  It opened in 787 theaters on Friday night in the US and was the number 2 grossing film per theater for the weekend, compared to movies out of Hollywood which were shown in thousands of theaters, including Divergent and the Muppets.  I won’t go into details here about the movie because I believe each of you should find it in your local area this week and go.  Take a friend if you can, it’s the best $20 you could spend.  It has me thinking though, how would I defend the faith when faced with the extreme pressure as was the young college student portrayed in the movie.

We are all called to stand up for the truth of His grace and mercy.  That doesn’t mean we have to stand on street corners with a sign and scream at people, but it does mean we have to defend the faith when it is challenged.  Most often we find ourselves giving in to the pressure from society when our beliefs are challenged rather than taking a stand.  Human emotions get in the way of speaking His truth and we often times feel pressured to “fit in” or “just get along” so as not to offend those with an alternative opinion.  How many of you have friends that do not believe there is a God, yet alone that Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord?  Are you challenging their position on the truth from His word, or are you ignoring the situation?  If the later, what is it that keeps you from opening up this dialogue with them?  If you aren’t willing to take a stand for His truth in your interactions with them, then who is? 

You see, most of us don’t want to offend our friends or family, we just want to get along.  I get it, I’m the same way.  I make sure they know my position and then I leave it to them to pursue God, rather than pressing upon them my beliefs.  After all, it is the choice of every individual as to what they will do with this single question in life:  “Is Jesus Christ the Son of God?”  Those who say there is no God (Atheists), well, their answer is quite obvious, as is their destiny.  Those who say they believe there is a God, but have no faith in Jesus Christ as the single path to salvation, fits into a group that has been deceived by the devil in the world around them, very much like Adam and Eve were deceived in the Garden of Eden.  To believe in a supreme being, but not believe in His path for salvation means that the individual has bought into the lies of this world and has claimed their position against God and His plan of eternal peace.  It is that black and white, though we try to complicate it with shades of grey and soften the rules.  God has made it clear that there is one path to salvation and that is through His Son, Jesus Christ, the redeemer of mankind.  Matthew 10:32-33 tells us that our resistance to stand up for Him in this world will result in our eternal absence from Him in paradise.

I’m working on this myself, believe me, but I am committed to stand for my Savior in all opportunities that God places before me.  Eventually, I will become stronger and will pursue those opportunities to defend my faith in the eyes of this world.  It is a journey I am pursuing and I hope you will join me in doing the same.  Step out of that comfortable box of evangelizing to other believers and start actually spreading His word to those who need to hear it.  Be bold, confident and courageous in your endeavor though, because I can assure you, the enemy will be ever present in trying to stop your pursuit.  Trust in Him who was the Creator of it all, and press on in the fight.


© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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All in a Day’s Work

Make 2014 a year of Sharing

“But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’” – Matthew 20:13-15

The dryness caused their lips to crack and pus ran from the scrapes and cuts on their arms and legs.  The window of mercy and forgiveness had come and gone and they were left with the full conviction for their crimes.  Their attempts at restitution or reconciliation had failed and the death sentence was rightfully administered.  Their bodies weakened as the effects of gravity pulled at their internal organs and caused the collapse of their lungs upon their heart making it near impossible to breathe.  As the life began to drain from their bodies, one of them looked up and despite his failures, weaknesses and unrighteousness asked the Son of God to “Remember me when you come into Your Kingdom” (Luke 23:42)  And so it was as Jesus confirmed the man’s salvation moments before the man’s body succumbed to life on this earth.

Christianity is not based on living a perfect life, or even a righteous life for that matter.  For being or becoming perfect is impossible based on original sin of mankind in the Garden of Eden.  Christianity is based on an acceptance and acknowledgement that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior of mankind.  Are you jealous of those that have lived a life of crime and receive salvation with their dying breath?  The scriptures tell us clearly in Luke that it is indeed a reality and an acceptable condition for eternity with the Father.  Furthermore, it goes to show that salvation is not dependent upon the works of the individual but the single act of sincere acceptance of Jesus Christ.  Now, one can question all day long the sincerity of one’s salvation, but we aren’t authorized to make that call.  That is uniquely the role and responsibility of Jesus Christ alone.  Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”   Should we judge whether God can forgive a man and allow him to enter into eternal peace?  Far be it from me to take on that role.

Is it fair that some live a life of lust, debauchery, evil and disgust, and then give their life to Jesus moments before death or on death row?  My answer is yes, it is fair.  It’s very hard to accept, but none the less it’s completely fair.  If God sent His Son to die that ALL mankind might repent and receive salvation, than we should be celebrating when any child of God returns to the Father, regardless of when it is in their lifecycle.  Think of the Prodigal Son returning to his father after spending all of his money on wild living in pursuit of earthly pleasures.  The response of his father was one of loving grace and acceptance, as is our Father in heaven’s response when one of His children turn and come home. 

Jealousy, envy and claims of unfairness are truly nothing more than a representation of selfishness.  We want all the benefits we deserve and do not want others to receive benefits from their work.  In the above scripture Matthew 20:13-15, Christ shares a parable of the vineyard workers .  The owner of the vineyard early in the morning called men to work the fields and agrees to pay them a denarius.  At nine and again at noon and three o’clock, he does the same thing.  He does it again at 5 in the afternoon for all of the remaining workers.  At dark he calls them in and pays them all the same wage, a denarius.  Of course the men that had worked the entire day were angered for not getting more than those who came in at the end.  The vineyard owner has every right to grant the same benefit to each and every individual what he determines is justice, irrelevant of the others opinions on fairness.  It is his money, they agreed early on to do the work for that price, therefore removing any dispute about fairness.

The work that was accomplished by those that began earlier was exponentially greater than those that came in late in the day.  So it is with our Christian walk.  The earlier in life we make the decision and commitment to follow Jesus Christ the greater our work and our ability to improve His Kingdom.  Our reward is equal to every other person that has accepted Jesus Christ, but the fruit of our labor represents a greater blessing to our Father in Heaven, who receives all glory for our work. 

So, you see, salvation is available to all mankind, right up to their very last breath.  To some this is an excuse to party and live unrighteously right up to the end.  This selfishness for their own life may cost them salvation as they are not in control of their death, and indeed it might cost them salvation because they have intentionally denied Christ their entire life.  Only God can determine that.  The moral of the story is to accept Jesus Christ with a sincere, repentant heart and mind, then seek the opportunities to pursue him with your life.  In doing so, you have great opportunity to bring glory to God and help others come to a similar place in life.      

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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Let It Go

Make 2014 a year of Sharing

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” – Psalm 103:11-12

Where are you going?  I mean in this life.  Where are you heading to, what are you trying to accomplish?  Are you satisfied with waking up each morning, going through the same monotonous minutes of each day and then synching up on Facebook, Twitter and catching the news before calling it a night, only to wake up the next morning to do the same thing?  There is so much more to this life that the Lord has given to you, and you are fully capable and ready to go and get it.  The decision rests completely in your hands on whether or not you want too.

I know many of you are disqualifying yourselves immediately because of things you have in the old history bucket.  I can only tell you to get in line.  There is nothing in your history that is unique in this world.  You may think it is because you only see the world in 20 foot increments, but I promise you that the Father in heaven, who calls you His own, sees your life in it’s entirety at all times.  You can’t see the greatness that your interactions in this world have stimulated and there is a reason for that.  It is not for your glory or credit, but uniquely for His.  It is normal for each of us to look back on our past and see those areas where we fell short and beat ourselves up for being unrighteous in our actions or words.  The reality is that it is washed away and removed completely once you have taken it to the Lord.  He casts every sin unmeasurably far away from your presence.  It is the evil one in this world that keeps reminding you of it.

Likewise, you fear your weakness and unpreparedness will prevent you from being a productive participant in God’s plan for the future.  Before you even think about picking up His purpose and living for Him, you have defeated yourself in your own mind based on your own fears of what may or may not ever come to be.  You are a child of God and you need to accept that fact, and realize that when you are pursuing His purpose in your life, it cannot fail.  You may not see the immediate impact, but it will succeed if He has called you to it.  You must stop allowing your past weakness to prevent your future success.  We all need to learn to Let it Go, so start today.  There is no reason to wait even one more day.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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