2022

Lost. Lost. Lost.

Dr. Mike 2022 , , , ,

Luke 19:10

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

At one time or another, you will or have found yourself lost. Whether as a child, separated from your parents at the store or as an adult traveling toward a destination and your GPS leads you to an unknown place outside your knowledge base. At that moment the realization hits you that you are lost.

The only one who was never lost was Jesus. When HE started his ministry, HE looked around and began to intentionally focus on others. Even as a twelve-year-old separated from his family during the Feast, his parents searched frantically and couldn’t locate him until they eventually found him safe and secure with the teachers in the synagogue. Jesus’ only reply was HE was going about doing his Father’s business. Jesus wasn’t lost, but his parents were.   

So, who is lost today?

When you look around, you begin to notice how more and more people seem to live with a fearful purpose. Their head is in the clouds and their feet move in the opposite direction from their mouth. They have lost their way.

The worst part though is they don’t realize it. They move with great speed and determination but have no clue where they are going. Or they just woke up from a spiritual stupor and don’t realize whose bed they are laying on. They keep looking for love and companionship in the wrong places. But most often, many are suffering from spiritual dementia and don’t know where their heavenly home is located nor recognize their heaven-bound siblings.

When Jesus preached about the lost, he included you, me, and everyone else in that equation. He demonstrated with parables that:

You are lost because you don’t know where is your true, permanent home.

You are lost because you don’t know where you are going after this life.

You are lost because you don’t even know where you are at in God’s plan.

HIS life revolved around fulfilling the mission given to him by our Heavenly Father – to save the lost.

HE did.

You and I have a home with Him, His Father, and Holy Spirit. Since the foundation of the world, the Triune God planned to birth a family (Eph.1:4-5). You and I are included.

Through HIS life, death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven, HE has opened the door for you and I to know HIM, walk with HIM, and learn from HIM in preparation for our eternal role.

Because of HIM, we are no longer lost. We know our home, we know our destination, and we know where we are today. Life aligns up with HIM for now and forever more.

Once we were lost; but today we have been found – in HIM. And so are you!

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Holy Swagger

Dr. Mike 2022 , , ,

2 Timothy 1:7

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

David had the walk. Peter also had the walk. So did Paul. And so have many others who have embraced our Lord’s purpose. But have you?

The walk is the confident sureness one has of having seen God Almighty intervene in your life so often, you know you are a child of HIS. You have witnessed the work of the Spirit morph you from that self-centered, ego maniac into a humble, serving student of God’s Kingdom. You have experience in yourself and watch others become more and more Christlike. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is becoming more and more alive in you and through you.

The outcome of your surrender and commitment to Jesus Christ is that certain walk I call Holy Swagger.

Paul writes here to Timothy, a young minister, reminding him of the work God has started in him which includes giving us a spirit not of fear, but of “gevurah, ahavah, and havchanah” or miraculous power, love, and sound judgement as the Jewish Orthodox Bible translates.

The power we have been bestowed upon comes from heaven. God’s power alive in us. The more we deny our self-carnal desires and allow God’s Spirit to penetrate the core of our being, the sooner we begin to experience HIS character through our heart and mind. We become “little Christs” as C.S. Lewis would refer to the definition of a Christian. 

When you know God is for you, with you, and in you, your entire disposition changes. You are at awe and you are humbled. At awe how God is working to change you from a broken person to an engaged, spirit-led witness of HIS handiwork. And so, you are also humbled that HE chose you and given you the opportunity to experience HIS riches in your life today.

Yes, the outcome is that confident walk that let’s the world know you know who is in control, and it’s not you, but your Heavenly Father. Your walk includes an attitude of spirit that resembles the fruit of God’s Spirit which includes the love, joy, and peace that surpasses understanding. In fact, your Holy Swagger begins to mimic the heart, mind, and worldview of your Lord and Rabbi, Jesus Christ.

You probably have experienced the Holy Swagger walk many times in your past. But only for a few periods of time. But as we mature in the faith, and witness more and more of God’s workmanship in the lives of others and in yourself, the walk becomes more and more evident. Before you know, you find yourself walking into the next chapter of life facing some of humanities greatest evils with a peaceful, loving, self-control disposition that you smile, lift your eyes to heaven, and prayerfully thank God for the opportunity to be HIS witness at a time like this.

The glory, honor is HIS. The Holy Swagger is also HIS. You know it. HE knows it. Now we shall let the world know it.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

How Are You Wired?

Dr. Mike 2022 , , , ,

Romans 12:6-8 (NLT)

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So, if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

The Apostle Paul identifies here in the Book of Romans certain aspects of our human makeup which we were born with and therefore have a natural inclination for its manifestation in our life. He refers to them as abilities. Some theologians call them motivational gifts. They result in acts of prophesying, servicing, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, and being kind. Which one or more of these come natural for you?

One of the challenges we face early in life is to determine what are our natural talents that we can use as the foundation for building our skill-sets. Life is much easier and more satisfying when we employ God’s gifts of human endeavor into our work and play.

Yet, if you haven’t done so, you may want to try some of the online tests which allow you to gain insight into your natural and spiritual gifts. One spiritual test you can use is under the God, You & Work tab on this platform. There are many others – some more detail than others, but each may help you identify your natural strength and makeup.

Sometimes you may have to ask those around you for confirmation. Your parents, teachers, and coaches who have witnessed your growth over the years may shed some light. Also, those you meet at your workplace or socialize over similar interests could likewise clarify your strengths and weaknesses. Don’t be shy to ask. Many want to know but few are willing to face the embarrassment of admitting they aren’t sure.

When I was in my twenties, I had the desire for business. Didn’t know specifically the career, industry, or direction to take. So, I tried every opportunity that came my way. Failure is a great teacher, but a costly one of time and resources. In hindsight, I would have been better off asking for directions instead of trying to do it myself. Looking back though, God used that time to draw me closer to HIM and led me to the people and community which opened the door for a full and satisfying career and life.

I was helped by mentors from the marketplace and church community; along with organizations like Johnson O’Connor Research Foundation which help me identify my strongest natural abilities in comparison with other professionals in their field.  In addition, I read books and articles on faith, work, and business; and developed relationship with other Christ-followers who likewise had the desire to serve God and others through their work in the marketplace.

Looking back, one more easily can see the dots arranged in an orderly sequence from the young man leaning on the Incarnate God and having his steps directed toward one challenge after another into a life worth living.

Discover your God-given natural ability. Develop a skill-set upon them. Keep your mind on God’s macro plan for humanity which includes you and everyone else. And ask HIM to lead and direct you in your work, play, and relationships while you manage the challenges of life’s ups and downs, pains and pleasures, and failures and successes; everything at the end of your life will happen better than your early expectations.

God is good. He has wired you for good work. But you need to exercise some judgement and motivation to experience what HE has laid out for your life. The potential is there, and you begin by first knowing HIM and allowing HIM to lead you to discover how HE has wired you.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!