Add Value

Dr. Mike 2026 , , ,

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth… “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”  Matthew 5:3-5, 7-8.

What are you bringing to the party?

Your charming, fun-loving personality? Your oversized wallet? Your favorite deep-dish pizza? Your over-the-top wisdom?

What about us Christ-Followers?

Those of us who are poor in spirit. Who are meek and mourn. Who are pure in heart and seek peace. 

Jesus gave us the Kingdom of God manifesto recorded in Matthew chapters 5 to 8. For those who seek to walk under the auspices of God’s Kingdom, these are our marching orders. Each point emphasizes the way to live under a grace-paced life. For most people initially introduced to the Sermon on the Mount, they would say impossible. Life isn’t that way.

Yet Jesus lived it. Practiced the life with His disciples. Who likewise over time practiced and taught the same Way to others.

Living life under the umbrella of God’s Kingdom is counter intuitive. It is the ideal that humanity desires but lack the courage to practice. For unless one surrenders their kingdom to the Lord of Lords, they are correct. But when one captures the vision of Jesus’ gospel message, everything changes. Repentance leads one to accept Jesus as the Lord of their kingdom. One then surrenders their kingdom under the domain of God’s Kingdom. The relief allows them to begin participating within the Triune God’s inner circle of life.

The value they now bring to the party is not themselves. But the message, love, and hope of God’s way and purpose of life. The Spirit within them doesn’t allow them to hide under a deceptive façade. Instead they have been given the privilege of sharing God’s truth and Spirit with others. Even if they kept their tongue tied, their walk and mannerism would shout the love and joy they carry with them.

The value they add in the lives of others is giving them a taste of Kingdom living. Others see and desire to share in the same bountifulness. You become a walking billboard of the Kingdom of God on earth today.

They get to witness what a real Christ-Follower brings to every party. The Spirit of love, joy, and peace. The hope of glory. A Way of life that enriches self and others. A life with purpose and meaning. The opportunity to meet someone who knows Jesus, HIS Father, and the Holy Spirit. Plus God’s transformational power to enrich one’s soul on earth now.

God has a plan for humanity. You are included. So why not accept HIS finished work and take part in the preparation of the largest party this world will ever see.  

It all probably began because someone added value in your life at the last party… 

 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   

Recharge

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , ,

” And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he (Jesus) departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” Mark 1:35

My daughter and her husband recently purchased a used electric vehicle. She loves it. It allows them to travel around the neighborhood without filling up at the gas station. From their garage, they can plug the unit in each evening and the car recharges its battery overnight. The savings on the gas bill and the convenience of driving a high-tech car has its value in their eyes. Yet, to operate, it needs to be recharged on a regular basis.

My smart phone is a fantastic piece of technology. Today’s user takes for granted the power of the device. A tiny box that serves as a phone, camera, and computer. It allows one to speak with anyone in the world. It takes pictures better than any Polaroid camera I grew up with. And immediate connection into the internet brings the entire world into your hands. Yet it also needs to be recharged on a regular basis.

The male lion is a mighty strong animal. Many consider it the king of the jungle. Yet it rests or sleeps some 20 hours per day. All that strength requires time to recharge its muscles and body to operate on a regular basis.

The same is true for us humans.

We may not need 20 hours of rest each day, but we do need our sleep. Try going one or two days with only a few hours of sleep and see how you function. Most of us by the third day would be a danger to those around us. If driving a car, we would be arrested for “drunk driving.” Our decision-making would be chaotic. Our response time would be awkward and untimely. We would not be in a good condition.

When patients enter the hospital for a length of time, the danger of muscle atrophy sets in. Many a patient upon leaving the hospital has to enter physical therapy so they may learn to walk again. Lying in bed all day causes the muscles to weaken. They need to recharge the muscles in their legs.

There are other mental, social, and economic examples of the need to replenish one’s strength to face life. Yet, the most important one is the relationship with our heavenly Father. If we don’t have a regular routine to keep connected and recharge our spiritual focus, look out. Life will unexpectedly break us down.

Jesus understood this better than anyone. HIS habit was to rise early in the morning and spend quiet time in prayer with his Papa God. He knew where his strength and life came from. He practiced what he preached. He walked the talk.

We all need to recharge. Thinking we can operate at a half-tank only steals from others by us not giving our best in service to them. Love cares. Love cares for others and for the self. But most importantly, love wants to stay connected with the One who loves us the most. For the more we hang out and recharge with the Love Maker, the more love, joy and wisdom we have to share with others.

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

You are Blessed

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , ,

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

In my early days, I was taught that this Scripture told us to be humble. That humble people experience the Kingdom of God. But when one starts to study the Greek, one reads nothing about being humble. Instead, it speaks about those who are spiritually in poverty. Those who are in spiritual bankruptcy. They have the kingdom of the heavens at their disposal.

A slightly different meaning then being humble.

The human heart has difficulty in understanding the basis of the Kingdom of God. To recognize oneself as spiritually bankrupt in the western civilization is a rare occurrence. We are a people surrounded by wealth. We are overly stimulated by the media. We eat three meals a day with snacks between. We sleep in air-conditioning homes in the hot summer and heated abodes in the winter. Our lives are blanketed in material prosperity. How can anyone be spiritually poor?

In Revelation 3:17-20, Jesus is speaking to the Church in Laodicea. He warns them that they think they are rich and need nothing. They do not recognize their spiritual condition. They confuse the outer world as a picture of their interior heart. Instead of being spiritually rich, they are poor. What must they do to change? Repent. Accept Jesus into their home and build an intimate relationship with him. Break bread together. Become friends. HE will share his life with you. And you will share your life with HIM.

When you reach the point you are beaten, busted, and broken, you view the world slightly different. Where your identity has been shifted out of you, you feel empty. Where you have nowhere to go. No purpose. No meaning for living. Nothing to live for. Then you may have reached the point of spiritual bankruptcy. You are at the doorway of the Kingdom of God.

God’s Kingdom awaits you. HIS government rules the heavens and earth. Your acceptance of Jesus as your Lord opens HIS generous grace upon you. When you have nothing to offer HIM, but your surrender, you are in. You are then welcome to participate with HIM and HIS work. HIS favor is yours to experience. HIS wisdom. HIS discernment. HIS servants. All are at your disposal. Your life then becomes rich as you join HIM. HE shares HIS wealth with you. HE shares himself with you. He shares HIS entire Kingdom with you.

Yes, when you have reached the point you have nothing to give him, you then understand his love for you. You come to realize what his vicarious life has done for you. HE died for you before you even knew him. HE knew you before your parents were even born. And HE will give you a life more than you can even phantom. He covers your sins. He closes his eyes to your stupidity. He laughs at your incompetency. He cries in your pain.

HE knows more about you than you do. HE knows your potential. HE knows you.

You are blessed when you recognize your spiritual poverty before him. That is when HE and HIS Kingdom become more real in your life. When HIS Spirit has your approval to complete the work HE started in you. When you can participate with HIM under the umbrella of HIS Kingdom in your corner of the world. That is when you will truly know how blessed you really are.  

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