Author: Dr. Mike

Celebrating Days

Dr. Mike 2024 , , ,

“One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.”  (Rom. 14:5-6)

Which day of the year is most important for you? Is it Christmas or Easter? Is it your wedding anniversary or birthday? Or is it Passover or Atonement? Is it the first day or last day of the school year? Is it your annual Ferris Bueller day off? Or the day you visit your favorite aunt?

What makes one day more important than the other?

Isn’t that between you and your Lord?

I had a discussion some time ago with a person who looked forward to certain days of each year. He was shocked to discover that I didn’t have any favorite days. The days on my calendar most highlighted are days that are important for those closes to me. I guess you may consider them my favorite days. Not because there is something special about these days. But because the event they represent is important to someone I love. This mostly includes the anniversaries and birthdays of family members. The twenty-four hour time slot on its own is not important for me. But the event which occurred on this day in the past is a reminder of something special in our lives.

Take the resurrection of Jesus. This is an important event in the life of humanity. The religious community selects one day per year to remind us of this life-giving event. I though celebrate this event every day; not just this one day. I rejoice daily for this blessing.

Take the day I was born. When I became an adult I would call and wish my mother happy birthday. Why? Because she gave birth to me. It’s her birthday. She did the work. I only participated through the event. In fact, it reminds me of much more. It isn’t the one day. But everything she and my father did each day sacrificing for their family.

So if you want to celebrate a certain day because it reminds you of something important in life, so be it. That is between you and your Lord. But, if I choose not to celebrate the day as you do, don’t panic. It is not because the event isn’t important, but in my world I celebrate it in a different way.

I rather rejoice and celebrate every day. God makes each day so we can live with meaning, purpose, and thankfulness in HIS presence. In my book, all important events are reminders to celebrate each day. For the fact is there are not enough days in a calendar to rejoice over everything God has done, is doing, and has yet to do. So I choose to celebrate HIM through Jesus each day.

In Christ, everything worth celebrating and rejoicing over is already included in HIM. HE is the center and core of all important events. Thus, I rejoice in HIM. Yes, it makes keeping a calendar of important events easier to maintain. But HE is the reason for each season, each person, and each event worth rejoicing over.

So, celebrate your days unto the Lord. God approves. And for those who choose not to celebrate certain days unto the Lord, God also approves. It is between you and your Lord. Meanwhile, let’s keep celebrating Jesus on a daily basis.

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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God of Hope

Dr. Mike 2024 , , ,

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.   Romans 15:13

Without hope plans fail.

Without hope, your current situation is bleak.

Without hope, you are denying yourself a future.

Hope is the springboard for tomorrow.

Hope brings peace and joy on the ride.

Hope is God’s specialty.

Without God, hope is Shangri-la in the sky. With God, hope is real.

Life is designed for you and I to be effectively trained to serve in God’s Kingdom for eternity. The pain. The suffering. The challenges. The hiccups and slaps are all there to teach us how to lean on HIM. To come to know HIM. To partner with HIM on our journey through life. To learn to trust HIM as HE weaves and works to build HIS character in you and me. If we so choose.

Otherwise, you are on your own. Lost and confused. Jumping upon the next fad. Allowing culture to dictate your next move. A pawn in the hands of those who are manipulating you for their personal gain.

But God wants what is best for you. He doesn’t force himself upon you. HE allows you to freely choose your destiny.

You can try to do it all yourself. Like others before you. How did their life workout?

Or you can reach out to the God-Man who has already proven himself before the Almighty and others. And HE has many witnesses who have demonstrated a similar life worth pursuing.

What does hope have to do with all this?

When you come to know the Triune God, you develop a trust in HIM. You learn to walk with HIM through the good and uglies of life. You witness how HE carries you through the tough times. You are amazed at how HE directs your steps toward the answers you seek. Even before you recognize your need. You develop a relationship with HIM. You learn to communicate with HIM. You learn to trust HIM.

Your trust in HIM gives you hope. As HIS Spirit lives in you, you experience the joy and peace from HIM. As you move into a new day, the world around you may act in craziness, but you are hopeful. You know God is working out all things for your good. May not be what you expect. But it will be good. Good for you. Good for those around you. Good for HIS Kingdom. May not be what you initially identify as good. But in the long-term, you will learn the goodness of God. Even through the pain, suffering, and anxiety you are currently experiencing. You will trust and hope in HIM. For you know HE loves you. He wants what is best for you. And He reminds you each day HE is with you and cares for you.

So lean on HIM. Hope in HIM. Let HIM have HIS ways with you. HE will deliver you from the mess around you. Through it all, you will become stronger, surer, and more hopeful for the next adventure.

Remember: hope is God’s specialty. And HE is very good at it.    

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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Team Prayer

Dr. Mike 2014 , , ,

I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,   Romans 15:30

Sainthood is a team event. When saints come together, they worship the great I AM God. They sing. They pray. They learn the Word of God together. As disciples of Jesus, they learn to follow HIM individually and collectively. Sainthood is not a sole adventure. But a community of people sharing life together.

One discipline done in private and together is prayer. As students of Jesus, we learn the importance of prayer. We start off in private prayer talking with our Maker. Over time we build up a relationship with an invisible God. As we grow in faith and trust, a personal relationship develops. Likewise, when we are together in community, relationships are being made. We share stories. We share food. We share time together building a community of believers who each have come to know their God.

As we come together, we also learn more from each other who God IS. When we pray together, we experience the heart and soul of a person in relationship with the same God we serve. As we worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we come to know more about HIM and ourselves in the process.

The apostle Paul relied on the support of his fellow saints to fulfill his calling in life. He would ask for their prayers on his behalf. His struggles and personal battles to preach the gospel would often overcome him. His solution was always to look for Jesus Christ to provide the strength to carry him through. He was not bashful to request help at times such as in Romans 15 when he believed his life may soon be over.

Yes, we are to pray in private. But we are also asking to pray whenever the occasion calls for it. That means when you are out in the public arena and eyes may be on you. That may mean during a football game when one of the players are severely injured. That may mean in the parking lot of a shopping mall. Or when someone is in desperation and needs help beyond your capacity to deliver. Especially when you are witnessing a live event in a public arena and unable to intervene in a violent situation.

Yes, our relationship with the living God is such we can pray either privately or corporately. Whoever is watching doesn’t change our intensity and intent. Why? Because our relationship with our heavenly Father is real. We know our heavenly Dad’s heart on the manner. We share in supporting HIS ways. And we know HE always hears us and acts on our requests. May not be when and how we expect. But we trust HE knows what is best for all involved in the situation and will see the best long-term solution is made.

So, when you have the time to share prayers with other members of God’s family on earth, take it. Let others come to know the God who walks with you. They and you will grow from the experience.

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)

Books By Dr. Mike:

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved