Christianity

Reality of Life

Dr. Mike 2025 , , ,

“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” John 14:2

Life is God’s most precious gift to us. Somewhere back in time, you and I were not here. Today, we are breathing with the living. Somewhere in the future, our body will no longer take breath on planet earth. Between the time we are born until the day we die, we have the privilege and blessing to experience human life.

How we experience life in most cases is subject to what meaning and purpose we place on our existence. If we believe in a Creator God, then we accept HIS plan for life. If we do not believe in a divine being but life is a happen chance, then we operate from a position of being our own god. Whichever route we choose will determine the outcome of one’s life experience.

One life lesson I learned from business is to build teams and processes with best practices. My first major business project, I started by re-creating “the wheel.” After working super long hours and taking many arrows in the back, I knew there must be a better way to do the task at hand. My mentor saw my pain and made a quick suggestion that changed the way I would pursue life thereafter. Why re-create the wheel? Instead, why not gather the best practices already implemented by others. Then make small modifications to fit your situation.

This same approach that worked in the business world also works in everyday life. When you review all the worldviews, Christianity explains life better than the others. The Bible is the number one seller each year for a reason. When one lives the lessons of forty authors all inspired by the same God, life becomes an adventure built on solid ground. One is able to customize the best practices of life into one’s personal world.

You discover the One God of humanity. You learn HIS purpose for your life. You accept HIS declaration to be adopted into HIS family. You gladly surrender and sacrifice your personal agenda to support HIM and HIS ways. You become engaged with Papa God, Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit. Your everyday world expands. You join others sharing the good news of Jesus with those who haven’t yet seen what you have. You learn to dance with the God-Man in your daily routines of life. As you hang out with the Divine, your spirit and soul become more patterned after the image of Jesus. You are being prepared for eternity with HIM.

What happens after this life is yet to be determined. As a believer, my faith and hope are connected with Jesus of Nazareth. The God-Man who claimed to be divine. Who substantiated HIS claim through a resurrection from the dead. And verifies HIS claim every day by the Spirit living in those who believe. HE lives in us today. We have been promised our spirit will be with HIM after we take our last breath. Then we wait to share in the resurrection of all humanity. When God will judge and assign HIS children new responsibilities. This is the fruit of living life with God.

For those who choose not to live with God, reality is painfully different. Judgement will hurt. Your will, will be done.

Life is precious. You are unique. God has a place prepared for you. But HE only wants those who are willing to share in HIS life HIS way. Rebels are welcome as long as they surrender to HIM and HIS way!

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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God’s Plan For You

Dr. Mike Jesus Apprentice, Scriptures , , , , , ,

reflection 3

“For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.” Jeremiah 29:10-14 ESV

Every time I hear a message about God encouraging the nation Israel through Jeremiah with the above words, I cringe. Most of the time I hold my breath because someone most likely will extract a portion of this scripture to illustrate a point without fully expounding its ramifications. I have been taught to read scripture in context first, understand its cultural and historical significance in its time, and then expound its application into today’s world. Most of the time lately this scripture is used from the pulpit as a short cut to motivate people to trust in God with their future plans.

When read in context, one quickly recognizes that the Lord made a specific promise to Israel. After being disciplined through seventy years of exile, He will restore their nation. A specific prophecy for a specific nation for a specific time in history. What this scripture truly reveals is that the Lord’s purpose will always be accomplished.

What does this mean for you and me?
* God has a plan He started at the foundation of the universe that includes you.
* It is God’s plan, not yours or mine.
* Our plans most likely are not God’s plan.
* The earlier we learn to accept God’s plan and join him in it, the quicker we will experience a deeper relationship with Him.
* As we develop a deeper relationship with Him, the greater His Spirit lives in us, influences us, and empowers us to live life the way He originally created life too be.
* The brokenness of sin slowly dissipates from our lives and is replaced with the riches of His eternal glory.
* We don’t have to wait for heaven; heaven arrives now in Christ as He lives in us.

We do not have to take scripture out of context to make a point. God has a plan that includes you and me. His desire is for all humanity to join him within the Triune God circle. Today, we are heirs, children, and servants of the King of Kings. He joyously and lovingly invites us to now participate in His work to redeem all creation into His original intent (Romans 8:20-21).

So why misuse scriptures to make a point? Isn’t the truth already radical enough?

Yours in Christ,

Dr. Mike

Executive Chair, Consultant, Encourager
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
* Great Business Emulates a Good God
* Be Radical…Follow Christ!
* Simply The Messenger
* Unequally Married

Learn. Integrate. Grow.

 

The Greatest Blessing

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , , , , , , , , , ,

During a recent breakfast conversation, the question arose; “what is the greatest blessing you can receive in this life?” The answered varied depending on each person’s journey through life. Some answered “a large family,” another “financial independence,” yet another stated “totally in love with one awesome person.” Each person’s answer typically reflected their complex value system. For most of us though, the answer was the “one thing that would truly make us happy for the moment.” Yet would it?

The answer that grabbed my attention though was one that has taken years for this disciple to realize. In one of our recent small group meetings, one of the men (grandpa many times over) made the statement that he never realized until recently what life could be like living in a personal relationship with the living God. He grew up in a rule-oriented culture and didn’t experience the grace-based, life-giving life style until several years ago. Now looking back, he is amazed at the quality of life that fills his insides and expresses itself from the inside-out. For him life is not about the physical toys or accomplishments anymore (that is how he measured his life in the early days). Today it is about a personal relationship with the living King of Kings.

Yes the greatest blessing one can receive in this life is a personal relationship with the living Triune God. Yes, the same God who created the heavens and earth; implemented a plan for human redemption; and has big plans for humanity in a new age. A relationship built not on a contract but a commitment. Theologians like to name it a covenant. But a covenant is simply a committed promise between a faithful God and a double-minded mankind. God always fulfills His side of the promise no matter how many times we fail on our side. But more than his promises, the joy of knowing Him and Him knowing us is greater than any promise. Knowing Him is better than heaven, eternal life, or salvation itself. When one begins to enjoy hanging out with the living, Triune God for no other reason than the joy of the relationship, than one truly experiences the greatest blessing that this life has to offer. Anything else doesn’t even compare.

OUR PRAYER

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Holy True God, thank you for being true. Thank you for being real. Thank you for sharing your life with us. Thank you for designing our life to experience you more and more each day. Help us to become more intimate with you. No matter the circumstances, help us enjoy life the way you have created it to be. Help us to focus more of you and less of us each day. Whenever the circumstances may stink, help us truly to be grateful for life. You are always good. Let your goodness rub-off on us. Wherever we go, whatever we do, however we think, let it bring you glory. Let your blessings bless others. Help us to truly enjoy all of you forever and ever. Amen.

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Consultant, Coach, Encourager
Author of Great Business Emulates A Good God