Author: Dr. Mike

Outcomes

Dr. Mike 2025 , ,

In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.   Ecclesiastes 11:6

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And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.  Deuteronomy 8:2

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Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”  Daniel 3:16-18

One of the principles that I teach in management class is expectation of outcomes. Many of the students in class are in the leadership training program. They are people of high intelligence and accustomed to finish with a top grade. They are achievers. For them to get anything less than an “A” on their essay paper or test is unbeknownst for them.

Their self-perfection mindset though is soon broken. It begins when they form teams to play a business simulation game. Some try to implement their personal willpower to produce their expectant outcome. Others struggle to reach mutual agreement on strategic decisions. If they do reach consensus, they are perturbed by poor business results on each turn. Their frustration leads to blaming others for the outcome. They have difficulty acknowledging that maybe their judgement was wrong.

They review their work and are confused why their formula didn’t respond as expected. The formula was correct. The decision was based on good facts. Everything was done according to the book. Then how come the outcome was so poorly attained. The closed environment of an academic setting has unprepared them for the real world. My job is to prepare them to be managers of uncontrollable outcomes. Systems are manageable; but people are not.

Systems operate within the bounds of mathematics and logic. People operate under the guidelines of emotion and willpower. Faith is an open system. Trust and belief are dependent on others. You may believe. You may be trustful. You may be able to control yourself. But what about the others? In business, you have your customers. Your vendors and suppliers. Your competition. You have the local, state, and federal governments. And yes, there is always God. There are a lot of others who have a say in the matter.

Daniel’s three friends Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego knew what they believed. They were also willing to die for it. But they also realistically knew that God could save them, but didn’t have too. They were being tested and willing to accept the outcome.

Remember how Moses helped the nation of Israel escape from Egypt. It was only a 13-day journey to the promise land. But they found themselves wondering in the wilderness for forty years. They didn’t expect such a short trip to take so long. Yet through the process they learned humility, faith, and trust in their God.

It takes a life time for most of us to learn the important things. You can do everything according to the Book. You can manage your response. But the outcome is best left to God.

When you can lay the outcome in HIS hand, you learn to walk with HIM. You learn HIS Spirit is involved in your life as well as in the life of others. That there is a greater purpose being shaped then the results you seek in your life. As HIS disciple, you are being morph into the character of Jesus. So are others. We are all in this together. Your responsibility is to do your part as best as you are able. And let God and HIS Grace do HIS.

So, like I teach our future managers, focus on what you can manage and let God manage the outcome.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“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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Your Expectation of Jesus

Dr. Mike 2025 , ,

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come… the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.  To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelations 1:4-6

You experience life from what you focus on each day. Yes, everyday there is the possibility of the unexpected to confront you. But most often, you experience what you plan for the day. You go about your routine to fulfill your responsibilities. Your world may include taking care of other family members. You may have customers to serve at work. You may also intermingle with those in the community as you run errands for the day.

Yet, what is your expectation of walking with Jesus in HIS kingdom this day? How do you include HIM in your daily affairs? What do you expect from HIM this day?

Learning to walk each day with Jesus is an experience rarely seen in movies or even in most homes. In fact, I recently watched some preachers and teachers of HIS word on YouTube this past week. Very few even discussed the subject. Most focused on the acquisition of theological knowledge. Some even spent more time pushing the sale of their merchandise. But walking with Jesus as HIS disciple in the marketplace wasn’t their concern this week.

Jesus promised to be with us till the end of the age. But where is HE in your walk with HIM today?

If you aren’t sure HIS Spirit resides in you, you may want to spend some time in prayer with HIM. You may want to ask HIM to reveal himself to you today. HE may not reveal himself the way you expect, but HE will in a way you will grasp.

There is a certain confidence you gain knowing that you know that HE knows and HE knows you know. HE is with you. HE is for you. HE is rooting you to become the person HE needs you to be for HIS kingdom.

Learning to live in HIS presence each day assures you of HIS involvement in your life. When faced with a difficult decision, you can turn to HIM for advice. When confronted by a difficult person, you can rely on HIM for insight and wisdom. When interacting with the store clerk you can allow the spirit of Jesus reach out and share HIS love with them. In fact, if the opportunity presents itself, you may even share the gospel with them.

The best time to position Jesus in your focus for the day is upon arising. When planning out the day’s activities, include HIM. When crossing out the items from your to-do list, thank HIM. When messing up for the umpteen time, let HIS grace shower you. And when your children mess up for the thousandth time, let HIS grace also shower them.

Jesus is more than a Savior. HE is also our King and Lord. The Bible also reveals HE is our elder brother and friend. So why not let HIM be so as you venture out and experience life the way HE is preparing you for eternity.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“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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Responsibility Matures You

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , ,

 

 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned…For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.  Hebrews 6:4-12

Your salvation is a gift from God through the work of Jesus Christ. But what you do with that gift determines your destiny.

The gospel written by John emphasized a deep abiding relationship with Jesus is the doorway to life. As we walk with HIM, imitate HIM, learn from HIM, we become one with HIM. We begin to see the world through HIS eyes. As we grow and mature in the faith, HE bestows more and more of HIS riches upon us. The more blessings HE pours upon us, the more we can bless others with the same. HE is the source of life and purpose in everything we do worth our time and effort.

While as children, we depend on our parents for food, clothing, and shelter. We watch and learn from them how to cope with life. As we grow and seek out our independence, we slowly mature. Responsibility is given to us. As we fulfill our obligations, we gain confidence in our abilities to perform. We then take on more roles which impact the lives of others. Others begin to trust us. We learn to accept the responsibility of being held accountable for results.

Give a person no responsibility, and they will behave like a baby for their entire life. Give a person more responsibility holding them accountable, and they will grow in character. They will also be seen favorably in the eyes of others. People whose walk agrees with their talk are highly in demand. They are mature in their actions. Their service for others is noticed and praised. They don’t need to be told what to do. They are aware of the needs and concerns of those around them. They accept their strengths and shortcomings. Their confidence and assurance lead them to take action whenever necessary.

When a child of God takes up their cross, they are accepting the responsibility of trusting Jesus. As they learn to trust HIM in small ways, their faith grows. As they practice self-denial to follow HIM, they learn HIS Spirit is alive and active in their heart and mind. As trials and tests are thrust upon them, they lean on HIM to walk through the mess. They grow. They mature. They become more like HIM.

Some of us are wired to carry more responsibility than others. Some of us need less responsibility to grow. But we all need to be responsible for the gift given to us. Life is precious. Much prayer is required to keep tuned with the ONE who is maturing us unto eternity. Accept the responsibility of your calling and witness how HE shapes your life. Your destiny awaits you.   

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“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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