blessings

God of Hope

Dr. Mike 2024 , , ,

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.   Romans 15:13

Without hope plans fail.

Without hope, your current situation is bleak.

Without hope, you are denying yourself a future.

Hope is the springboard for tomorrow.

Hope brings peace and joy on the ride.

Hope is God’s specialty.

Without God, hope is Shangri-la in the sky. With God, hope is real.

Life is designed for you and I to be effectively trained to serve in God’s Kingdom for eternity. The pain. The suffering. The challenges. The hiccups and slaps are all there to teach us how to lean on HIM. To come to know HIM. To partner with HIM on our journey through life. To learn to trust HIM as HE weaves and works to build HIS character in you and me. If we so choose.

Otherwise, you are on your own. Lost and confused. Jumping upon the next fad. Allowing culture to dictate your next move. A pawn in the hands of those who are manipulating you for their personal gain.

But God wants what is best for you. He doesn’t force himself upon you. HE allows you to freely choose your destiny.

You can try to do it all yourself. Like others before you. How did their life workout?

Or you can reach out to the God-Man who has already proven himself before the Almighty and others. And HE has many witnesses who have demonstrated a similar life worth pursuing.

What does hope have to do with all this?

When you come to know the Triune God, you develop a trust in HIM. You learn to walk with HIM through the good and uglies of life. You witness how HE carries you through the tough times. You are amazed at how HE directs your steps toward the answers you seek. Even before you recognize your need. You develop a relationship with HIM. You learn to communicate with HIM. You learn to trust HIM.

Your trust in HIM gives you hope. As HIS Spirit lives in you, you experience the joy and peace from HIM. As you move into a new day, the world around you may act in craziness, but you are hopeful. You know God is working out all things for your good. May not be what you expect. But it will be good. Good for you. Good for those around you. Good for HIS Kingdom. May not be what you initially identify as good. But in the long-term, you will learn the goodness of God. Even through the pain, suffering, and anxiety you are currently experiencing. You will trust and hope in HIM. For you know HE loves you. He wants what is best for you. And He reminds you each day HE is with you and cares for you.

So lean on HIM. Hope in HIM. Let HIM have HIS ways with you. HE will deliver you from the mess around you. Through it all, you will become stronger, surer, and more hopeful for the next adventure.

Remember: hope is God’s specialty. And HE is very good at it.    

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)

Books By Dr. Mike:

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Christmas: Extravagant Gifts From God

Dr. Mike 2022, Christmas , , , ,

Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places…

There are days I wake up and simply marvel in delight like a young boy on Christmas morning after opening the many gifts which have been waiting for him under the decorated tree. Which one do I focus on?

When I stop and begin to count the extraordinary blessings given to us by our Creator God, I am likewise gratefully in awe. In hindsight, those gifts were always there but not recognized until the time came for our eyes to be open, our heart to be captured, and our mind a blazed at the wonder of His generosity and personalized attention to details. He bestows upon us what we need when we need where we need how we need before we even know we need. He anticipates our every need and want before we even arrive to the moment or before we even ask him.

I’ve listed some of His gifts to us that crossed my mind today while reading the Book of Ephesians.

  • Chosen by God in Christ to be holy and blameless before Him (Eph. 1:4)
  • Adopted into His family (Eph 1:5)
  • Grace or unmerited favor overflowing upon us in Christ (Eph 1:6,8)
  • Redemption which means immediate, direct contact with Him (Eph 1:7)
  • Forgiveness of our sins (Eph 1:7)
  • Wisdom and insight into His plan for humanity (Eph 1:8,10)
  • Purposeful living (Eph 1:9)
  • Eternal inheritance (Eph 1:11)
  • Hope in Christ in everything we do (Eph 1:12)
  • Worship and praise the true God (Eph 1:12)
  • Sealed by the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13)
  • Guaranteed eternal life (Eph 1:14)
  • Knowledge of Jesus Christ and His significance (Eph 1:15-23)
  • Seated with Christ at His table (Eph 2:6)
  • God’s workmanship (Eph 2:10)
  • Peace in Christ (Eph 2:14)
  • Reconciled to God (Eph 2:16)
  • Citizens and Saints in God’s House (Eph 2:19)
  • Temple of God (Eph 2:22)
  • Boldness & Confidence (Eph 3:12)
  • Power through his Spirit (Eph 3:16)
  • Christ actively living in me (Eph 3:17)
  • Rooted and grounded in love (Eph 3:17)
  • Filled with the fullness of God (Eph 3:19)
  • Access to abundance (Eph 3:20)

You could easily add more to your personal list. But I am sure we can agree He is the most generous and caring Father none of us deserve but are grateful He is ours. 

I wish you and your family a peaceful and enjoyable Christmas!

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager, Faith-Integrator, Scribbler

Available for Your Devotional Study: 

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Grace is God’s Favor

Dr. Mike grace , ,

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Acts 6:8

When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose… Acts 11:23

So, they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. Acts 14:3

Wherever God is, grace abounds. Grace is God’s unmerited favor upon others. Grace is God’s expression of His generosity and love for us.

Our view of grace is typically short-sighted and so often limited. We say prayer over dinner and call it grace. Others speak about God’s forgiveness of sin and call it grace. Still others receive an unexpected blessing and call it grace. How do you view grace? 

The Hebrew old Testament definition is “favor.” The Greek new Testament defines grace as “unmerited favor.” So hereafter whenever you see the word “grace” in any of my writings, you may know the general context refers to the “unearned favor from God.”

When some people speak about “karma” which is doing good and receiving a blessing in return for their action, a cause and effect relationship, they do not consider this grace but the result of the “universe” responding to their actions. The Book of Job discounts this theory. We can do everything perfectly according to God’s law of love and receive harm in return. God blesses because He chooses too; not because we earned it.

When one realizes that everything in this universe and on this planet is the result of God’s unmerited favor upon humanity, one gets a bigger picture than the religious connotations expressed within the spiritual world.

In churchie circles, grace is most often associated and limited within the context of the forgiveness of sins. Yet in the practical world grace abounds all around beyond forgiveness of sin.

For example, creation is an outcome of God’s grace.

The goodness that flows out of evil events is God’s grace in action.

The Spirit of real unity among people of differences demonstrates His grace upon us.

The changes in a person’s countenance from total self-selfishness to concern for others first is God’s grace melting the hardness of heart.

When pride is stripped away to open up a heart of humility is grace in action.

When food is place on the table to eat, think of the work of many hands coming together for the common good. The farmer planting and toiling the ground, the sun and water fertilizing and impacting the seeds; the machines and hands harvesting the crop; the truck drivers hauling the wheat and vegetables to market; the stores packaging and distributing the products for the people to purchase and prepare meals for their families; all are the byproduct of God’s grace. Without God’s approval, such could never happen. (Ever see how quickly a worldwide pandemic shuts down nations).

The business person who is on the brink of going out of business and laying off hundreds of family breadwinners receives a check at the last minute from an unexpected place to make payroll – experiences God’s grace in action.

The parent with a sickly child told by doctors there is nothing more they can do – but receives news from the nurses that the child “miraculously” woke up 100% healthy this morning.

And yes, when one’s eyes are open to capture a glimpse of God Almighty and the bountifulness of His generosity and love for us, is only His grace touching lives for His glory and our benefit.

So, remember grace comes from the central source of all creation – God. Grace is His expression of love and generosity so often expressed through the hearts and hands of people like you and me. Grace is God’s unmerited, generous favor!

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