2025

Which God Do You Most Entertain?

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , ,

“‘You shall have no other gods before me.”   Deut. 5:7

Tell me your god and I will know more about you in the quickest amount of time. Whichever god you focus your attention on is a reflection of how you view life. Your beliefs, values, and practices are a byproduct of the god you entertain.

There are many gods in the world. They may be spirits, images, or even other people. They may be movements, religions or political affiliations. They probably represent something good in life. Faith, family, and country affiliation are some examples. Health, education, and career are some others.

You worship what your heart desires and longs for. For life is a constant process of making decisions on who you are going to serve.  Whatever becomes the center core of your life is the god you eventually entertain.

If money is your god, your values and practices will reflect your actions. You will pursue your god without ever finding full inner satisfaction. If your god is family, again your values and practices will reflect your actions. Family is a good thing. But you will likewise still find that inner hole empty and unsatisfied over the long haul if they are your central means of worship.

The list is endless. There are many gods seeking your attention and allegiance. But there is only one who will truly satisfy the thirst of your inner soul. The God-Man Jesus Christ. HE is the Incarnate Triune God.

When you come to know HIM, you come to the place where you realize your story has always included HIM. But you ignorantly never realized HE was always there.

As you refocus your heart, mind, and will toward HIM, you come to the place of inner peace, love, and joy. You realize when HE is first in your life, everything else falls into its proper priority. HE is the culmination of all the other good gods. HIS ways and purpose put to shame all the evil gods.

When HE gave this commandment to Moses, HE did so for our sake. HE knew what a mess we would become by pursuing all the other gods in this world. But HE also knew when you and I abide in HIM, life is much better.

So, take a hard look at the gods you entertain and serve. Which one has been good for you? Which one has robbed you of your freedom? Which one has enslaved you? Which one steals most of your time away from being the person God has made you to be?

After your evaluation period, compare your god with Jesus Christ. Read the Gospel of John in the Bible for yourself. Discover more about HIM and how HE wants what is best for you. Set aside the rumors and gossips of ignorant folks. They most likely are people who never stopped to investigate the real Jesus. Instead, accept HIS invitation to engage HIM in your daily life. Make HIM the core of your life and watch what a difference HE makes.

Yes, keep HIM before all the others and HE will help you keep all the other gods in their place of priority. In fact, when HE is your central command center, all other gods are aligned and eventually bow down their presence in serving HIM. HE brings out the best in all of us.        

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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Home with Jesus

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , 
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.   John 14:23
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For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on[a] we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.  2 Corinthians 5:1-5
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Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

Jesus gives us two homes to share life with HIM. The first is our earthly body. The second is our heavenly abode. Whether on earth or in heaven, we are at home with Jesus.

As our physical body wears out, we look forward to our eternal home. Until then, we care and govern our bodies.

Paul writes that our bodies are God’s temple. God’s Spirit resides in us.  Father God and Jesus Christ share their life with us via the Holy Spirit that lives in us. At the same time, we share our life with the Triune God. There is a mutual bond and relationship.

The more we spend time together, the greater the bond grows. The more we share our interests and discover each other, the deeper our love grows. Though God’s love for us is more than we can even fathom. It is our love for HIM that blossom.

As we share life together, we grow to worship HIM. We learn and teach HIS ways to others. We magnify HIS Kingdom ways. We gladly sacrifice our ways for the greater good of HIS purpose.

Yes, home is wherever Jesus abides. Today, HE lives in you and me. HE also lives in heaven. One day when earth and heaven are merged together in the new age, then our permanent home with Jesus will be in place. Until then, we are humbled and honored to have HIS Spirit share space with our spirit in this tent called the body.

Meanwhile, do enjoy this Easter season and be grateful for everything Jesus has done for 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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Expectations

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , 
For nothing will be impossible with God.”   Luke 1:37

Expectations limit God. They put HIM in a box. The impossible becomes discharged by only the known possibilities. We see this over and over again throughout Scripture.

Here in the first chapter of Luke a virgin is pregnant with the Messiah. Impossible? Not for God.

An angel tells her a relative who is beyond childbearing age is now six months pregnant. Impossible? Not for God.

In Acts 3, a lame man is begging for money in front of the temple. As Peter and John walked by him, the beggar is expecting to receive money from them. Instead of meeting his expectation, Peter reaches out and touches the man by the hand. He commands him to stand. The man stands up and begins to walk. Impossible? Not for God.

In Mark 6 and 8, Jesus is preaching to crowds of 4,000 and 5,000. HE realizes the people are hungry. But there are only 5 loaves and 2 fish among them the first time. And only seven loaves the next time. The disciples are instructed to feed the masses. How? An impossible situation you say? Not for God. Not only does Jesus multiply the food present and feed the crowd, but there are leftovers.

Over and over again, our limited minds focus on what we believe is possible. Yet, our creator God who understands the natural forces at work, also knows how to bypass their limits. HE is the God who surpasses our expectations.

So why do we get upset when our expectations are not met? When we pray for an outcome and the results are often the opposite of what we desire? Is God playing a game with us?

In most cases, I find God simply wants us to learn to trust HIM. HE focuses on building an abiding relationship with each of us rather than a Santa Claus affair. HE wants us to love HIM for who HE IS, not what HE can give us. The gifts, blessings, and favors are easy for us to accept. But will we love HIM for being HIM when the toys stop coming?

HE will keep chiseling away at all our idols. Those mini-gods that prevent us from having a deep, trustful relationship with HIM. HE wants us to be assured that whatever HE has promised, HE will deliver upon. HIS Word is HIS bond.

This type of relationship takes time to build. But when completed, HE and you will have a bond stronger than anything or anyone can separate the two of you.

So, let’s remember to keep our expectations under control and trust God. Let HIM be God and do what we label as the impossible. For nothing is impossible with HIM. Yes, do your part. Then watch as HE showers HIS grace upon your situation. The outcome most likely will be nothing that you expected. But the results will be a long-term victory for all parties involved.

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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Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved