Life Tools

Pray. Listen. Do.

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms, Life Tools ,

John 18:37

…Everyone who is of the truth listens to my (Jesus) voice.” ESV.

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When a crisis occurs in your life, how do you normally react? When you are at the end of your rope for solutions, where do you turn to? When no one seems to understand you or care, where do you go for support?

We are all human with similar needs, desires, and responses. How we react to adverse situations over time is typically a byproduct of a learned response. Whether we have a violent temper, a foul mouth tongue, or a beaten-up self-image, there are multiple responses as there are people. However, one response has proven over and over again to work most effectively when given the chance. When one turns the matter over to our Creator and watch how He reveals His love and care for you, then you learn the power of praying, listening, and doing.

The Kingdom of God operates through the heart of its citizens. Unless one is in contact with the Lord of the House, one doesn’t really reap the benefits of having a personal relationship with the King. When you have the King’s ear, you have someone who can make the difference in everything you do. So, when you learn to listen and do what your King suggests, you have a very good source of knowing what is best. Therefore, stop your busyness and explore all the other possibilities you haven’t considered.

Most of us start with the doing phase. We focus on what must we do. Instead our focus needs to be on leaning more on Him through prayer. And in our prayer, we need to spend more time listening than speaking. The Spirit already knows the best solution for your dilemma. We only have to learn to pray, listen, and then do.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
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

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Copyright 2013-2018 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

 

 

 

 

What Do You Mean by That?

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms, Life Tools

Proverbs 3:13

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding…ESV.

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One of the biggest challenges you will face throughout your life is thoroughly communicating with others. Whether we are speaking with our mates, children, or fellow associates at work, the ability to understand and be understood is one skill highly desired by many in the leadership world.

Johnson O’Connor Research team has conducted studies of thousands of CEOs in this country and have shown that the number one skill most score highest in is the ability to communicate. Even in marriage, the struggle between two people unable to communicate their feelings, emotions, and position on any one topic is one of the largest complaints for divorce and separation.

One key point that we have learned over the years is to fully understand the other person before trying to explain your position. How many times do we make assumptions that later on proved incorrect? However, if we first only began to clarify the definition of certain words, wouldn’t we find ourselves more effective in speaking and writing?

Among our fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord, we spend probably more time than anyplace else clarifying the meaning of certain phrases and words that are used throughout the Christian culture. For example, such words as faith, grace, incarnation, salvation, kingdom of God, Trinity, and many more are used interchangeably with a different meaning among us. Before answering or jumping to conclusion, we have found it necessary to draw word pictures or stories to clarify the definition of one word.

Now I am not an English major, nor a word smith, but I know enough that the purpose of words is to communicate a concept or thought.  So, I don’t get bent out of shape when words may be poorly used as long as we both are looking at the same overall picture meaning.

One simple tool to clarify how the speaker is using a word is to ask, “what do you mean by that?” The more both sides have a clearer picture of what is being discussed, the easier you will find a meeting of the minds.

So, like Proverbs 3:13 states, you will find yourself blessed when you get understanding and then the wisdom to apply it. It all begins when you ask, “what do you mean by that?”

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
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!

Copyright 2013-2018 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

 

 

 

Symptom or Problem?

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms, Life Tools, Shaped By The WORD

Matthew 23:25

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. NASB.

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Many in the Church today focus on outward behavior rather than the matter of the heart. By heart, we mean the emotional, thinking, value-center operating system which makes you, you.

We point to Adam and Eve who committed the first earthly sin. For most people that sin was disobedience toward God. Yet, my argument is the sin was committed even before then. For the outward behavior of sin is really the result of a deeper inner problem.

The real sin was separating oneself from God. Instead of leaning on Him and partnering with Him, Eve began developing a relationship with the Serpent. It was the Serpent who came between God and Eve. He came to divide and lead one astray from the Center of Life. He does the same today.

Sin occurs even before the behavioral act is displayed. Jesus himself throughout the Gospel books emphasized the heart of the matter rather than the physical act itself. The outward act is only the symptom of an inner problem. The problem is a heart empty of God’s presence.

For it is from the Holy Spirit living within you that strengthens you, coaches you, and leads you away from destructive behavior. Jesus was born by and with the Holy Spirit from the beginning of his earthly life. For the rest of us, we allow the Spirit to enter into our inner self only after we have accepted His authority in our life. The Bible identifies this as being born again.

Jesus also refers to the Kingdom of God beginning from within you. When the Spirit is married with your spirit and you learn to cooperate together, you will find the inner attitude and confidence to handle any temptation with the same faith Jesus employed against Satan in his wilderness temptation.

You will also begin to experience life dancing with the Almighty through your daily routines. Life becomes more than judging each other’s outer performance. Instead, it becomes life in the Spirit preparing you for eternity while training you to be more effective each day glorifying Him through your work, relationships, and struggles.

So, don’t focus on the symptom. Rather identify the problem and you will quickly arrive at a solution to move you toward your objectives.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
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!

Copyright 2013-2018 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved