2025

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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Suffering. Endurance. Character. Hope.

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , 
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:2-5

Why is suffering a problem for many people who blame God for its existence? The question arose again this week at our weekly small group meeting. The man has a friend who is a “good person.” But now he is going through medical challenges. This is causing hardship and pain within the family. Why does God allow it he asks.

Some of us have the illusion that suffering is the exception. When in reality, it is the norm. Being free from suffering is the exception.

Suffering is the event that God uses to bring about his spiritual masterpiece in you and I. No one wants to suffer. But a broken world with broken people produces a broken society. In due time, we all will suffer pain.

It may be physical, emotional, relational, or financial. It may cause us to lose our freedom, our dreams, and our well-being. Yes, even good people will suffer. Ask Jesus.

A perfect, sinless man who confronted the masses and political machines of his day. His contribution to society led him to a most torturous death. Yes, even HE could not escape the human clothe of suffering.

Suffering is part of the human condition. One can either wallow in it or accept it. One either moves on or allow its teeth to mull you into oblivion. Yet as the apostle Paul writes, Christ-followers rejoice in their suffering. For believers know God’s Spirit lives in them. HE is doing a work through the pain that will produce a spiritual masterpiece. For suffering produces endurance to lean more and more on Christ. As we lean on HIM, HIS Spirit is remaking our inner heart after HIS image. As we look at the fruit, our hope grows more and more on our relationship with HIM. We see HIS involvement in our life.

Yes, we may not like the process. It hurts. It produces hardships. Yet we have learned to trust HIM. Our focus in on eternity. Our desire is to yield ourselves into HIS arms. To allow HIS Spirit to produce the character needed to serve HIM and others in HIS Kingdom forever.

Yes, suffering produces endurance, character, and hope with the Spirit that lives in us. The sad truth though, without the Spirit, suffering is a waste of energy and resources. A painful trip without meaning and purpose. Thus, lean on Jesus and allow HIS Spirit free reign in shaping you for HIS purpose and plans. 

It is not the story I planned in my youth, but it is the narrative I have chosen to follow. This is HIS story and HE has allowed us to participate with HIM through it. It includes suffering from poor decisions on my part. It involves suffering from the acts and decisions of others. It is the narrative that confronts us on a daily basis. How we respond and follow through is the story-line we write. Through the painful process our heart and character will be shaped. Hopefully, as we trust our Maker, yield to the Spirit’s influence, the final image we reflect will honor HIM.

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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