Journey in Christ

What’s It All About?

Dr. Mike Journey in Christ , , , , , , ,

Jesus came to redeem the world. Since Adam & Eve rebelled against God, this world’s beauty has become disarrayed by evil. As a people we have messed up almost everything we have touched. We have tried to create a world order apart from God. But the good news is that through Jesus each one of us has the opportunity to taste how life was initially created to be.

Sin is an old-fashion term but a modern day event. Many people don’t even know what the definition of sin is. There are those who make it into some religious ritual. There are others who call sin anything that is fun and enjoyable. Others define it only as an action and not a thought. Some define it as a spirit or attitude that opposes the Will of God.

sin3

The Bible provides us with several definitions of sin. Whether we miss the mark, transgress the law, break His commandments, rebel against God, live alienated from Him, or perform any action without faith, hope, and love are all symptoms of sin. We are surrounded in sin and many of us are even saturated in sin. We lavish in sin and even enjoy the pleasure of sin. But until sin’s penalties leave its mark on us causing pain and sorrow, we live life trying to ignore it.

Many of us try to manage sin. We believe we are stronger than any sin that comes our way. We seek temptation rather than flee from it. Many times we are blind to sin’s attempt of capturing us. We walk right into sin’s traps like a dodo bird in a fashion show. We parade our stuff only to lose again at evil’s game.

The Bible also states that the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life. We all must die. There is no escaping that fact from planet earth. The question remains then what? If there is no life hereafter, than we might as well party and wallow in our sins. If this is all that there is, than mankind is one cruel joke. Simply put, if Jesus lived His life like history records it, than many of us better look twice. For either He is the Messiah or He is not. If He is not, than we better have sufficient proof. But if He is, like many who believe He is, why not accept His offer?

His desire is that you enter into a relationship with Him and His Dad now and for all eternity. His plan includes everyone that freely and willfully accepts His offer. His offer includes all the benefits of being a child of God. His plan is to bring you back into the Family of God, to redeem you from this world and sin, to grant you His gift of eternal life and all its treasures. His desire is that your life be rich and successful like His. Daddy knows best. Why not accept His offer?

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 8

Our Wonderful Dad, thank you for being so merciful with us. Thank you for allowing us the freedom to choose. We know there are many who choose you out of fear. There are those who choose you out of self-preservation. But we also know that there are many that choose you because of your love. You are the most loving, giving, gracious being we have ever known. We thank you for being involved in our life Though we are sinful with a natural disposition towards sin, we thank you for loving us even in our sins. Help us to live life away from sin. Change our heart with Your Spirit. Keep sin and its power away from us. Let the righteousness of Jesus surround us. Bathe us with your righteousness. Wash us thoroughly from all that we naturally are. Let your Holiness abide in us without pain or discomfort. Let your Home always be within us and let our home always be with You. Thank you Jesus for everything in your name. Amen.

Dr. Mike

The Spirit Is Always Moving

Dr. Mike Journey in Christ , , , , , , , ,
be still 9Like many children, I had great dissatisfaction for standing still in my youth. I had to be doing something all the time.  Today though, I have found it much easier to stop whatever we are doing and smell the roses. But even today, when we see injustice, pain, misery, sorrow, and the effects of sin in people’s lives, we cannot be still.  A strong internal drive from within the heart wants to reach out, hug them, let them know that God cares, and wants to help them.  An internal force from within our inner being wants to reach out at times and lay hands on those who ignorantly plan and execute evil unto others.  The Spirit of God cry’s out and can’t keep silent!
To be still and not do anything seems easier as we age. Maybe it’s possible because we become tired of exerting energy that disappears as we grow older. Or we convince ourselves that we have done enough already and let the next person do their share. Maybe we don’t want to get involved because it takes time away from our everyday routines. We would rather keep things as they arc than change them and we think by being still nothing will change. How lazy and self­ centered we can become over time.
Today I’ve come to see that “to be still” really means to be dead. It’s the person born in 1972, graduates from high school in 1990, dies in 1999 and is not buried until 2050. Physically he may still be around, but inside of him he died years ago.
To be still means to run away from our problems. To be still means not to accept personal responsibilities for our brother’s condition. To be still means not discovering God’s creation. To be still means having no intimate relationship. To be still means not enjoying life’s good things.  To be still is not the life of a disciple of His. His disciples always keep moving; even when they are still. She may be still, but exercising faith like Moses standing before the Red Sea with the Egyptian Army behind him. ”The Lord will fight for you; you only need to be still (Ex 14.14 N IV).” Or he may be still while praying and asking God to intervene on someone’s specific situation. Then again, she may be still and in communion with her Maker discovering His Presence at the moment. The point is that a disciple of His may look still on the outside but in the inside the Holy Spirit is leading him to response accordingly. It is very difficult to be still when God’s Spirit resides in you!  How do you response to the nudging of the Holy Spirit in your life?

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 8

Our Heavenly Dad, oh how our heart hurts with the injustice, pain, and sorrow that we see people inflict on others. Some of it intentionally, most of it out of ignorance. Either way, help us to pray for those who are being persecuted. To ask you to intervene in their lives that hurt, to lead them to you.

Our soul is restless for you. Our soul hungers for you. We cannot sit still until your Words and Holy Spirit has made their mark in the life of those who are hurting. Help us to be your witness. Help us be your servant. Help us to reach out and touch those who you know need help today. Let nothing prevent us from sharing your Word with others. Oh Holy Spirit, fill us with your fruit. Let it overflow and touch the lives of those around us. Let us not live a life of seclusion, but a life of service. Let us not be still, but alive in you. Let your richness overflow and make others rich. Lead us always unto your paths.  Thank you Creator Dad, thank you Jesus, thank you Holy Spirit.

 

Dr. Mike

 

What Shape Is Your Lawn In?

Dr. Mike Journey in Christ , , ,

It Takes Diligence to Have a Green Lawn

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How does your lawn look? If you live in the rural country, it’s a moot question. However, if you live in the suburbs of America, than you know what I mean. Your neighbors keep you in line regarding the condition of your lawn. They don’t want the value of their real estate to become jeopardized because of an unkempt neighbor’s lawn. So, whenever your lawn doesn’t measure up to “their” standards, you feel the internal pressure to measure up. Again, this is ridiculous if you live out in the country, but in the city you have to meet the competition and do battle everyday with your lawn or else you will be defeated.

After living in our house for about five years, I decided to discharge our lawn spray service and fertilize the lawn myself. We weren’t happy with the results and decided to save ourselves some money in the process. Little did I know what we were asking for. The first year was no problem, I applied applications three times that year and thought that this was easy and I should have discharged the service earlier than I did. The second year though brought out the enemy in masses. I never saw so many weeds in my life in the same acreage. My lawn went from 90% grass to 90% weeds over night. (or though it seems). I was stunned. Someone must have sneaked over during when we were out of town and planted them? How could this be? Wasn’t fertilizing on a regular basis? What are we doing wrong? What did we have to change? This was serious. After seeking counsel from those who were wiser than me on this subject (those neighbors whose lawns belong on the cover of homes and gardens magazines), I implemented a three front immediate attack.

First, we covered the lawn with weed and feed application. Next, we sprayed each individual weed with chemical elimination. Then, we went and hunted each weed pulling it out by its root. After which, we covered the lawn with another application of weed and feed. Then we rested. One month later we started the process over again. This time though there were substantially less weeds to defeat. Afterward, we rested again. The next month we found way less weeds to contend with but followed the same process over again. We are happy to report that our weed episode is over but not yet complete. As long as we maintain a regular, scheduled lawn maintenance program, not letting up, but diligently applying the process above, we don ‘t have to worry about being overtaken by those lawn enemies, the weeds.

And isn’t this true of the spiritual weeds in our life? When we let up on spiritual disciplines in our life, are we not more easily overtaken by the sins and cares of this world? But when we are diligent and maintain an active walk with our Lord, the weeds are few and more manageable. By exercising, celebrating, and maintaining the spiritual disciplines of life, we find ourselves on the grassier side of the lawn. And isn’t that a more pleasant experience than rolling in the weeds?

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 8

Dear Lord, thank you for the weeds in our life. We know they help strengthen our walk with you. They make us come to you for help as you transform this lowly servant into your image. Help us to walk with you as you work with us to manage the weeds in our life.  Amen.

Dr. Mike