Fall in Love

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , , ,

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  Matthew 22:36-39

The other day around the table we were discussing our favorite disciplines. For those unaware, disciplines are the practices we use to keep our mind and heart focused on God. They are a means of grace to help yield us to the working of the Holy Spirit in our life.

The majority of replies were similar. Prayer, Bible study, and fellowship were the dominate themes discussed. But, one person mentioned a discipline that brought a huge smile to my face. His was to learn how to better love God and others.

The essence and purpose of love as a discipline came to life. Did not Jesus teach us the same on the night before his death? Did HE not state that we are to learn to love one another the same way HE loved them? Did HE not show us what love looked like by serving those around HIM? Did HE not sacrifice HIS life for humanity?

To fall in love with Jesus is the best place to be. To practice and model HIS love before others is also a good place to be. To submit to others. To serve others. To sacrifice for others. Are not these the means of grace we are to practice each day?

If you are looking for a discipline to practice that will make the largest difference in your life, this is the one. To fall in love with Jesus. To share HIM and HIS ways with others. Not necessarily with words, but with quiet action. Find ways to support those around you. To uplift those near you. To help those around you find their place under the Son.

Remember in your youth when you became infatuated with that one special person? You would sit in class stealing glances at them all day long. You would fantasize being with them. You would look for excuses to be near them. They were the center of your life. Though they probably didn’t know you existed, Jesus is the opposite. HE already knows you. He wants you to get to know HIM. HE wants to spend time with you. HE desires what is best for you. HE wants to share HIS life with you as you share your life with HIM.

But HE is waiting for you to invite HIM into your life. HE has already made the first move. Now HE is waiting for you to capture the vision of how life can be with HIM.

Yes, if you want one discipline to practice each day, focus on ways to love Jesus and others. Not for selfish purposes; but for what you can bring to the party for the sake of the other. One simple way to start is find ways to support Jesus. The other is to support those closes to you. When you help those around you, you are also serving Jesus. Practice the way of sacrificial love and you will discover the essence of life. For life becomes a love adventure as you fall in love with HIM.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book Format Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Distractions

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , ,

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4

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Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, Philippians 3:13

What is your ONE thing in life? What are the distractions that prevent you from your ONE thing? How do you keep focused on your ONE signal from the noise around you?

King David’s ONE thing was to live with God in the center of his life. The apostle Paul was so focus on serving Jesus that he would always focus on the future. He did not look back at the hurdles and sufferings of his past.

But what about you and me. What is the ONE thing you are focused on at this moment? Is it the main thing? Or is it distracting you from your ONE thing?

In my long business career, I learned a few habits which carried over into my personal life. One was knowing when my work for the day was done. As an executive, one’s day is an open book. The options, choices, and decisions are limited by time, money, and resources. Every opportunity either maximizes results or ends busted. There is nobody to accept responsibility but yourself.

Like the homemaker whose day is never finished, so it the professional manager. But life is more than work. There are other responsibilities. In many ways we are like a circus juggler tossing five or more pins into the air. They keep them moving without dropping one, so are the days of our life. But we don’t juggle pins. We balance life activities with: God. Health. Family. Friends. Work. Play. Social. Academic, and the list only grows thereafter. So how does a person keep focus on the main thing all the time?


I learned the principle of three. With a to-do list longer than a roll of toilet paper, I would end the day listing the top three activities for the next day. These were the most important activities from the list. They were not the most critical. They were not the most fun. They were the ones when completed provide the greatest breakthrough for the organization.

This became a productive habit over the years. When those three items were completed, my major accomplishments for the day were done. Anything else was a freebie. The longer I practiced this method, the better life became.

I learned to do the main things first each day. Personally, this included quiet prayer time with God. It also disciplined me to exercise for physical health. It helped chisel the time doing those items that made life more enriching. At work it helped separate the signals from the noise. At community events, it helped align priorities built on strengths with greater impact.

But it all begins knowing what your ONE thing is. When you choose wisely, your ONE thing will leave a path of dividends for the rest of your life. If you choose foolishly, your life will be one of confusion, trouble, and mental anguish.

Distractions are the enemy’s game. When you run life’s obstacle course, there are many choices to make. But when you are focused on the ONE, life is much better.

Learn to keep focused on the ONE; chisel away the noise and allow HIS signals reach you. It takes planning and execution. But when done properly, life is better. Jesus is the ONE.  

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book Format Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Trust Papa’s Process

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , , , , ,

“for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13

God is at work. HE is a master designer. HE is a master planner. HE is a master operator. HE makes university-level genius’ look stupid.

HE started the plan of salvation from the foundation of creation. HE wants to have a human family join HIM in HIS Triune circle. HE didn’t want preprogrammed walking robots. But independent thinking people who choose to love and share life with HIM. So HE created time, space, and matter. HE then added life. All sorts of life. From plants, fish, and insects to crawling lizards, flying birds, and over-size elephants. And of course people.

People made in HIS image. To represent HIM on earth. To govern and serve HIS creation. People with attributes patterned after their Creator but limited in physical form. Children given a taste of adulthood. They may not be ready for full responsibilities to manage the universe. But they can now play the game as if eternally real.

Most importantly, HE gives the option to choose between joining HIM in HIS way of life or not. If we choose to follow HIM, HE provides personal help and training for eternal adulthood. If we decide to live outside HIS will, HE will not force you to join HIM. In fact, HE will accept your decision. HE loves you more than you realize. HE doesn’t force HIS Will upon you, but honors your decision.

But if you do decide to join HIM on HIS adventurous training program to eternal adulthood, HE will work with you. HE created you and knows how you are wired. HE knows how you may add the most value to HIS Kingdom. HE will share HIS advice and coach you into becoming the best person possible. HE will mirror your worldview, attitude, and character after Himself. History knows HIM as Jesus.

HE started the process at the foundation of the world. HE continued the process through HIS life, death, and ascension from earth to heaven. HE now intervenes on behalf of humanity before our Father God. HE now leads HIS siblings toward the restoration of everything HE planned from the start.

The process hasn’t changed, but the relationship has. HE has formally adopted us into HIS family. We are now heirs of an eternal home with HIM. Yet we are not ready. The training has only begun. As HIS disciples, we are learning to lead, govern, and serve others with Jesus. We are being prepared for eternal responsibilities. We are being morphed into a new creation. A new human. Where the divine nature smooths out human nature. Where a divine heart replaces a stony heart. Where Kingdom values replace self-centered values. Where sacrificial love replaces fleshy desires. The process is the divine work of a supernatural being in cooperation with the recipient.

We may not understand how HE manages the entire process. How HE gives us the free will to choose and yet is sovereign to fulfill HIS plan. Yet we experience the fruit. We over time see the outcome. But in between, there is the pain. The struggle. The disappointments. The hurt. The failures. The dreams that die. The hope that is stretched to the max. Our relationship with Father/Son/Spirit is put to the test.

We understand the process. We know diamonds are made from coal through the pressure. We know gold is refined through the heat. We understand the test and trials are necessary to prepare us for eternity. But man, can a guy get a break. This may be our current mindset, but as we pray and lean on HIM, HE restores are heart. HIS peace comes upon us. HIS joy returns. We acknowledge HIS love for us and our love for HIM.

HE is the master designer. HE is the master planner. HE is the master operator. HE knows how to best manage the process. HE is also the Best PAPA any earthling can have. You can always trust HIM.

Thank you Daddy for caring and preparing us for eternity with Jesus.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book Format Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message! | Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved