2025

Why Be Thankful?

Dr. Mike 2025 , , ,


“…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:18

Ever notice how difficult it is to be thankful in all circumstances? Especially in those hard times when your world is broken. When the people around you don’t even know you exist. When you are in pain. When you are physically, mentally, and emotionally drain. Those times when you don’t want to speak with anyone. You only want to withdraw and cry. Those are the times when you feel no one seems to understand what you are going through. You are in a self-pity party and no one else wants to show up.

We have all been there. If not yet, wait. One day you will find yourself at the end of yourself. In need of a savior.

The apostle Paul writes here that we all need to give thanks in all circumstances. Why? Because that is how the Triune God acts.

Through the incarnation, you and I are now buried and resurrected in Christ. Baptism reminds us of this. When we surrendered to Jesus, we committed ourselves to follow HIM. Our responsibility today is to learn to live the way Jesus lived. We don’t become like HIM via fiat. It is a process of transformation of the mind, heart, and will.

Every watch how parents struggle to teach their child when and how to express the words “thank you?” It doesn’t happen naturally. When someone gives their child a present, the parent coaches the child to say thank you. Most often, the child is repeatedly reminded. Then one day the words come out without the parent’s nudge. The entire process of learning may take years. Yet this is only behavior modification.

How much longer do you think it takes for the Holy Spirit to train our emotional heart to be thankful? Where our spirit is thankful without any coaching. And not only thankful, but with loving action. Where we follow through with our willpower to act like Jesus in the circumstances we face.

When we are thankful from the heart, we are expressing love in the situation. We are acknowledging our humanity and appreciation for what we gracefully receive. We are also focusing on God who is the ultimate giver. In a sense, being thankful is a mode of repentance. We are refocusing our mind toward Father-Son-Spirit. The giver of all good gifts.

When we are truly thankful, our attention is focus on others and not ourself. We find in so doing God’s love is extended toward others. The giver shares in their act of giving. They are being blessed. Jesus reminds us (Acts 20:35), “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” The cycle of giving and receiving allows both to enjoy the experience.

Thankfulness is the starting gun of every race. It leads one into putting everything in perspective. It allows love to lead. It focuses on God and others before self. It allows our spirit to align with God’s Spirit in the moment.

Learn to be thankful and you will learn to be more like Jesus.

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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Thus Says the Lord

Dr. Mike 2025 , , ,

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”  Hebrews 1:2

“Thus says the Lord” is a phrase you will come across many times throughout the Old Testament. The prophets and judges of the nation of Israel spoke to the people as God instructed them. They were careful to speak only what God instructed them. For a prophet was recognized by their words coming true. When Moses spoke, people listen. When Samual spoke, people listen. But when prophets spoke without fulfillment, they were to kill such false leaders. This is the seriousness God places on people representing HIM.

So, when Jesus came along, the religious zealots at times wanted to kill him for blaspheming God. Yet they failed. His life and teachings were constantly being tested. But the Holy Spirit always produced results for Jesus to highlight HIS ministry. Father God was always with HIM and HE supported HIS Father in heaven with the work given for HIM to fulfill.

There are ministers today who prophesize falsely in HIS name. What they say are their personal dreams, not God’s word. They are exploiting their hearers. They are using God’s name in vain. What they say and preach fails to come about. Their charismatic ministry is built on a lie for self-aggrandizement. In the Old Law they were to be stoned. Today, their seems to be an acceptance of false rhetoric among their congregants. But God is not fooled. HIS name is being abused. How much longer they survive and continue down this path only God knows.

HE has the last word. HE gives us all a rope to either hang ourselves or lasso HIM in repentance. The Bible states that those of us who teach are held in a higher standard by God. What standard does God give those who prophesize in HIS name? I would not want to stand before Jesus and give an account of leading HIS siblings a strayed. So be careful and wise. If a so-called prophet gives a prediction that fails to come about, put them in the ignore pile. If what they say comes about, proceed with caution. Pray, verify, and confirm with our Lord that they are the real McCoy. Let the fruit in their lives confirm they are who they say they are as 2 Peter instructs us.

Yes, God speaks through people. But we need to confirm what they say agrees with HIS Word and Spirit with concrete results.     

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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Oneness

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , ,

 “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”   John 17:21-23

Someone once asked me if I was either a fan or follower of Jesus? My reply shocked him. “I am inclusively neither. Yes once I was only a fan and later a follower. But today I strive to walk in oneness with Father-Son-Spirit.”

Jesus is still my hero and I am definitely one of his most favorite fans. But winning or losing when the times get hard does not make me switch allegiance like a fan. Fans are fickle. They cover their heads in brown bags when their team is losing. But they wear the latest clothing gear and can’t say enough positive things when they are winning. The same could be said about some people who are only fans of Jesus.

Jesus is still my rabbi. I look to HIM for guidance and wisdom in dealing with people and situations. He is my Lord and teacher. Not just for spiritual guidance, but in every area of life. But that relationship has grown over time. Like a student who has graduated and is now teaching others, we share similar interests. He remains more knowledgeable of the subjects than me. But we still tackle certain subjects together exchanging lessons learned through the process. But the relationship is now deeper than before.

Today there is more of a oneness between Jesus, Father-God, and Holy Spirit with myself. In every area of life, we now seek a mutual oneness. I am more and more trying to align and focus myself with the Triune God. For example, in negotiating transactions, I now seek to make all sides win. In relationships, how can I best support you and God and myself. In establishing priorities, how can I best rearrange schedules for all parties.

It is no longer simply about me. It is also not about you. But it involves you, me, and the Triune God. This oneness grows through surrender, sacrifice, and service for the sake of others. It is centered around God. This allows us to produce fruit in our life without sinful desires being resurrected. God knows what I need and others need. Now the goal is to learn how to align what God desires with others and the self.

Oneness is a nice place to be. You are in the center of God’s presence. You are in the center of HIS will. You are in the center of reality. A solid foundation from where to view the world and operate. Do I fail at times to capture the moment? Yep. Do I often misjudge what God is doing at the moment? Yep. But God’s grace is more than enough to keep me going.

Bottomline: Thank you Jesus for praying to allow us to be one with you and Papa God and Holy Spirit. Help us always walk in oneness with 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)

Aspirations and Writings Neatly Bound in Book Formats:
* indicates audio version available at Apple Books

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Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved