Thank You Lord Jesus

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , ,

Psalm 57:9

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.

A thankful heart is a witness of God’s handiwork. One cannot walk with God for any length of time without noticing the change of heart in thanksgiving to Him. No wonder why Scripture emphasizes this action throughout the entire Bible. Therefore, rather than I write a few more words of being and expressing thankfulness, below are a few Scriptures taken from the English Standard Version of the Bible. Read responsibly and let the Holy Spirit interpret each verse for you.

1 Timothy 4:4

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

1 Thessalonians 3:9

For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God,

1 Thessalonians 5:18

…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Colossians 2:7

…rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Ephesians 5:20

…giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 Corinthians 2:14

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.

2 Corinthians 4:15

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 9:15

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

2 Corinthians 9:11

You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

1 Corinthians 1:4

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,

Romans 1:21

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Romans 14:6

The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

Acts 27:35

And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.

Luke 22:19

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Daniel 6:10

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

Jeremiah 33:11

…the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord: “‘Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!’ For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the Lord.

Isaiah 12:4

And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.

Psalm 9:1

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 28:7

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Psalm 30:4

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.

Psalm 44:8

In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever.

Psalm 50:14

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High,

Psalm 50:23

The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”

Psalm 57:9

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.

Psalm 69:30

I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 86:12

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.

Psalm 92:1

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High;

Psalm 95:2

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

Psalm 100:4

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Psalm 106:1

Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

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 2013-2020 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

God Lives and Works Through His Church

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , , ,

Ephesians 2:18-22

For through him (Jesus Christ) we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by] the Spirit.

Where is God’s home?

Since HE is omnipresent, which means everywhere at the same time, we may not emphasize at times that includes within you and me – the Church.  For Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now you are the body of Christ and individual members of it.” In other places we are told:

  • Through the Holy Spirit, we are baptized into the Church. (1 Corinthians 12:13)
  • Everyone who has the Holy Spirit living within them, belongs to Christ. (Romans 8:9-11)
  • You are God’s temple. (I Corinthians 3:17)
  • The Church’s mission is to recruit and train others in Christ’s teachings. (Mathew 28:19-20)
  • Jesus Christ is the head of HIS Church. (Colossians 1:18)
  • The Church is the “Body of Christ” – Jesus Christ’s hands and feet on earth today. (Ephesians 1:22)

The Biblical Church is not an institution, a denomination, nor a faith community. The Church consists of people allowing the Holy Spirit to live and work and lead through their heart, mind, and soul. And where the Holy Spirit is, so is Father God and Jesus Christ – the Triune God.

Yes, people attend a faith community which may consist of Believers full of God’s Spirit and also those who are seeking God. And yes, there are faith communities where God’s Spirit is dormant while people go about doing their business as they desire acting for God yet without following the lead of Jesus Christ. And yes, there are faith communities small in number but leverage their hands and feet to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit doing God’s work and reflecting HIS glory throughout their community. And everything in between.

We are all a work under God’s construction. Yesterday, I didn’t know God. Today, I know him a tiny more than yesterday. Tomorrow, hopefully we will grow and discover more about HIM. It is the same for all of us individually and collectively.

Some faith organizations are more vibrant than others. Some faith organizations are dead in Spirit and full of themselves. And many faith organizations are in between. But God’s universal Church, consisting of those with the Spirit fully living within their being, are actively reflecting the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.  They gladly seek to be led by the Holy Spirit in service to God and mankind.

You shall know them by their fruit. (Matthew 7:20; Luke 8:14)

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 2013-2020 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Live the Good News

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , ,

2 Timothy 3:5

…having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.

People like to put on a good front. We dress for success. When others are watching, we paste on a smile of happiness. Yet, one of our fears is to be discovered we are not the person we pretend to be.

I recall as a youth around 17 years old coming across a quote. I do not know who to give credit too and I may not have the exact words, but paraphrasing it read: “Shame on my parents for making me who I am, but shame on me for staying that way.” This quote has stayed with me my entire life. It always reminds me not to accept being a victim but realize we can choose to change.

After following Christ for a whole number of years, I woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and felt the impact of one of those spiritual slaps. It shook me. I came to realize my life was far from how a disciple’s life is described through the pages of the Bible. I would read how an apprentice of Jesus Christ would experience HIS peace, joy, and love along with all the other fruit of the Holy Spirit. How a student of Jesus would yearn to be like his Rabbi. Yet when honesty took me by the hand, I had to admit the emptiness was deafening.

Yes, I put on a good show. The smile, the handshake, the proper words at the right time, everything one is trained to work a room for personal gain. But the power of God was missing. I questioned my beliefs. Was the Christian faith a facade? Another religion created by people to control the masses and make one feel good about themselves? Well, it wasn’t working for me.

Then, we dug deeper. Remember the quote: Shame on my parents (teachers) for making me who I am, but shame on me for staying that way, became my mantra. Opening the Bible, we began an in-depth study of being a follower of Jesus Christ. And as any long-term student of HIS will attest, HE led me through Scripture, books, and people and eventually to a place of repentance of failing to empty myself for HIS name sake.

To live the good news of Jesus Christ means replacing oneself as the central core of life with HIM, his Spirit, and his God. When one empties themselves of pride, channels their desires built on the Triune God’s value system, and puts into practice the ways of HIS government, one begins to experience the power of a relationship with the Creator of the universe.

The inner sanctuary of the human heart becomes a peaceful and joyous home for your Maker. You begin to realize God lives in you and moves you like a partner on a ballroom dance floor. You don’t understand all the nuances, but learn to trust someone who loves you so much you cannot fully express the thankfulness of the situation.

The power of God resides in you. Yet you need to learn how to allow God full access into your inner chambers of the heart and mind. When you do, you begin to experience and express real godliness in your life without even attempting to make it happen. You begin to live the Good News, experience the Good News, and share the Good News with others.

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 2013-2020 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved