Author: Dr. Mike

Christmas: Extravagant Gifts From God

Dr. Mike 2022, Christmas , , , ,

Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places…

There are days I wake up and simply marvel in delight like a young boy on Christmas morning after opening the many gifts which have been waiting for him under the decorated tree. Which one do I focus on?

When I stop and begin to count the extraordinary blessings given to us by our Creator God, I am likewise gratefully in awe. In hindsight, those gifts were always there but not recognized until the time came for our eyes to be open, our heart to be captured, and our mind a blazed at the wonder of His generosity and personalized attention to details. He bestows upon us what we need when we need where we need how we need before we even know we need. He anticipates our every need and want before we even arrive to the moment or before we even ask him.

I’ve listed some of His gifts to us that crossed my mind today while reading the Book of Ephesians.

  • Chosen by God in Christ to be holy and blameless before Him (Eph. 1:4)
  • Adopted into His family (Eph 1:5)
  • Grace or unmerited favor overflowing upon us in Christ (Eph 1:6,8)
  • Redemption which means immediate, direct contact with Him (Eph 1:7)
  • Forgiveness of our sins (Eph 1:7)
  • Wisdom and insight into His plan for humanity (Eph 1:8,10)
  • Purposeful living (Eph 1:9)
  • Eternal inheritance (Eph 1:11)
  • Hope in Christ in everything we do (Eph 1:12)
  • Worship and praise the true God (Eph 1:12)
  • Sealed by the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13)
  • Guaranteed eternal life (Eph 1:14)
  • Knowledge of Jesus Christ and His significance (Eph 1:15-23)
  • Seated with Christ at His table (Eph 2:6)
  • God’s workmanship (Eph 2:10)
  • Peace in Christ (Eph 2:14)
  • Reconciled to God (Eph 2:16)
  • Citizens and Saints in God’s House (Eph 2:19)
  • Temple of God (Eph 2:22)
  • Boldness & Confidence (Eph 3:12)
  • Power through his Spirit (Eph 3:16)
  • Christ actively living in me (Eph 3:17)
  • Rooted and grounded in love (Eph 3:17)
  • Filled with the fullness of God (Eph 3:19)
  • Access to abundance (Eph 3:20)

You could easily add more to your personal list. But I am sure we can agree He is the most generous and caring Father none of us deserve but are grateful He is ours. 

I wish you and your family a peaceful and enjoyable Christmas!

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager, Faith-Integrator, Scribbler

Available for Your Devotional Study: 

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Spiritual Awakening

Dr. Mike 2022 , , ,

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Is God knocking on your door?

I am always amazed at how our beloved Creator consistently pursues each person until they arrive at a place in life where they have to make a choice. The decision is whether or not God is for real.

For if God is not real, then you & I can live one’s life being #1. We then can also easily justify combating all others who may want to challenge our seat of authority and power. But if God is real and the creator and owner of the universe, which includes all space and matter, then we are HIS creation and subject to HIS decree. Otherwise, we are in rebellion and face the wrath of the government HE leads.

Yes, Jesus knocks on everyone’s door in their lifetime. Yet, because of the noise in our life, we may not hear. We may become, with the everyday struggles of making a living, or preoccupied with enjoying the music and sounds around us, unaware of the doorbell ringing. Yet when life quiets down, and we find ourselves alone without tasks to perform or people to entertain, reality slowing invades our world.

Sometimes when trauma occurs, one realizes their need for help. When a loved one passes away, we are reminded of our mortality. When a relationship turns sour, the pain of upside-down love tears at our heart. When we accomplish a major goal in life, we stop and ask if this is all there is. When we experience the best of the best, is that as good as it gets? Or could there be more about life than the accumulation of wealth, power, and fame?

Each of us has a hole that is longing for fulfillment. We chase after dreams, goals, and relationships thinking we will find full satisfaction upon their accomplishments. But when achieved, we stop realizing we are not yet fully satisfied, we want more. So, like a greedy two-year-old that wants too much, they seek more. But the end result is the same. More money, more power, more fame, more, more, more, and more soon comes the realization that more of the same isn’t the answer.

Without God, there is only the physical world of matter. But with God, the physical world is only a portion of reality. God is Spirit and also lives in a spiritual dimension. When one comes to realize that man needs not only the physical to prosper, but also the spiritual (MT. 4:4) to become a complete person, then a whole new world opens up.

Now the spiritual world can be a dangerous place without proper guidance. Ignorance is bliss until reality slaps one’s face.

When Jesus knocks on your door, HE is letting you know he wants to have a personal relationship with you. He is inviting you to his table. He wants to spend time with you and share HIS life with you and you share your life with HIM. In this relationship, HE provides you with the guidance, support, and wisdom to help you lead a full and abundant life.

Someone once told me that us humans are like the wicks of dynamite. Some of us have short wicks and others have long wicks. But when lit, the spark burns along the wick until the dynamite explodes. People are the same way. Some catch the fire, and their world quickly explodes. Others have to wait for the spark to hit the center of the trigger before they experience the new life.

God uses different means and different vehicles to draw us to HIM. But each one begins with us having our eyes open to the spiritual dimension around us. When that happens, then we need to choose which Spirit to follow. I, like many others before and now, believe Jesus Christ is the central core of God’s creation. When you come to know HIM, than you discover all your travels include HIM. Yet some roads are substantially more rewarding than others. But with HIM being the center-focus, the Spiritual dimension of life aligns with the physical and the physical with the spiritual.

And yes, when you actually catch God’s Spirit, you will begin to experience a more enriching physical life without the trappings of carnal passions. You awake to a world of beautiful-good but also realize the inhuman evil and ugliness around you. But with God, you are able to put everything in better perspective to help you navigate through life.

Isn’t it interesting how God’s plan from the beginning of time is to unite the physical with the spiritual (Rev 21:1-7) into one world?

If Jesus is knocking on your door, I hope you have the courage to open the door and start a relationship with HIM.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager, Faith-Integrator, Scribbler  

Available for Your Devotional Study: 

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Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Religious Trap

Dr. Mike 2022 , ,

Joshua 23:11-13

Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God. For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you,  know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good ground that the Lord your God has given you.

When God brought the Israel people from slavery in Egypt to their promise land, Joshua was their leader. On his last few days on earth, he recorded the above warning (Joshua 23:11-13) to the people. Since God did a mighty work removing many of the nations around them, Joshua reminded the people to be careful and not associate with those people still remaining who do not follow the Lord. In other words, do not be influenced by the religious practices of others.

The situation is no different today as back then. We live in a multi-religious world. There are those who believe no difference exists between the religions. They are generally the people who have no faith except in themselves. Those who have a belief are either fully committed in their way or simply live culturally within the community. And every religion has multiple divisions within themselves. So, stating they are all the same is a distorted observation of a complex situation. 

The religious trap is believing all faiths are the same. That there is no difference and one of them can’t be more correct than the other. They all worship the same God but choose different methods of expression is the false illusion of the trap.

If there is no absolute truth, than one’s person opinion is as good as another. However, if you believe in objective truth, than only one faith is on target and all the others are leading people away from experiencing God’s fullness and purpose.

I remember the start of my own journey in pursuit of God.

As a teenager with a mission to discover what is the purpose of life, I read everything I could get my hands on.

I took classes on world religions. I read about the eastern faiths. I read books by people who discussed their faith and the reason why they practiced their faith. Even though I was raised in a Christian culture, I was open to everything else. I wanted to know the truth and wherever the evidence led me I followed.

In some ways I completed a circle of knowledge. But this time I had evidence, factual history, and experience of putting God to the test and seeing circumstances and situations come together in a pattern weaved over time. My entire worldview was reshaped. Today, the best grasp I have is knowing God as Triune consisting of Father-Son-Spirit.    

Now when I read Scripture with God’s macro plan in mind, I plan and execute strategy built upon my micro plans knowing HE is involved in our lives more than we even realize. As I pursue my work, HE is accomplishing HIS objectives with me. As I yield to HIM and learn to walk HIS ways, HE occasionally lets me see what HE is doing in the lives of those around me. After these many years of applying myself to do things HIS way, slowly the eyes become more attuned to HIS Kingdom and purpose.

The world is a chaotic place. The institutions and practices around us were developed over time to put order into the culture. Generally, though, the systems are most often built upon ungodly principles unless its founder was a Believer. Even then though, unbelievers’ step-in overtime and changed the Judeo-Christian foundation into a secular rock. You can look at many of the Ivy universities in this country as an example. The majority of them started as Christian institutions for the development of pastors and lay leaders. But today, they are all secular.    

When you understand that God’s way allows you to order your way in this world patterned after HIS character, you have a roadmap on how to deal with others and prioritize your life values for the greatest return on your time and investment. Life becomes more than survival or experiencing the next thrill. Life is designed to groom you and me for eternity. When you capture God’s macro vision for you, you find purpose and meaning behind everything you do.

In fact, you realize others may call you religious, but in reality, you are not religious but living life to the fullest with the least amount of heartache, and a Spirit of abundance in everything you do. The trap is failing to choose the faith that maximizes your human potential while serving others to achieve theirs. Pursue God and HE will let you find HIM. This is not religion, but a deep, intimate relationship with the Master Designer of Life.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager, Faith-Integrator, Scribbler  

Available for Your Devotional Study: 

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved