christlike

Patience Under Construction

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

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Remember in our early business careers how restless we became when events and situations didn’t occur as quickly as we had planned?  We would probably become frustrated and at times outwardly angry because of it. Some of us were probably even an explosive bomb with a very short timer. Then one day we found our self waiting in the lobby of a customer. Previously to this time, we would have waited for a few minutes and if the customer didn’t arrive, we would reschedule and move on to other important priorities of the day. But remember that first time when it was different? When we found our self waiting patiently for their late arrival. There was no frustration. There was no anger. There was no explosion. There was only calm, reassuring patience. We may have even forgotten to this day what was the result of our meeting except for the fact that we had exercised patience for the very first time in our life.

A friend shared this story with us a few days ago. He mentioned that at seventeen he started to realize he needed to change and to improve himself. So he began working on improving his character via the old Benjamin Franklin method. He would list the character traits that he knew needed improving and was working diligently to make himself a better person. But patience was not on top of the list. It was way, way, down on the list. There was what he considered more important items that needed to deal with. This is why he marveled. He didn’t do anything to change his behavior in regards to patience. His focus was working on other leadership traits that he considered more important. This was his first experience of truly marveling at the power of God working within him. He came to realize that the real permanent internal change was not caused by him building habits of success. But the real changes in his life came from the Holy Spirit creating within him a masterpiece that only He could produce. This time is was patience. He truly then realized that he is under construction and the Master builder is God.

Since that time he has come to realize that his priorities for spiritual growth are different than God’s plan for him. Why would a young man desire patience? Are there any other more important characteristics that he could use to shape the world? In his case, patience was the first fruit of the spirit that God must have considered more important in his life at that time. Now we see why.

It is through patience that faith comes alive. It is through patience that love is revealed. It is through patience that joy is expressed. It is through patience that peace rules. It is through patience that self-control is exercised. It is through patience that kindness is exemplified. It is through patience that goodness wins out. It is through patience that gentleness makes its mark.

To walk by patience is to walk with God. God is very patient with us. He wants us to learn from Him and to become like Him. As a disciple of His, we are also disciples of patience.  God truly knows what is best for us. Let us walk with Him and trust Him to patiently create His masterpiece in us as we live in Him.

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 8

Thank you Lord for building your patience in us. Help us in our lack of it. Let your Spirit fill us with the entire Fruit of your Spirit. You know which one we need most today. Let your glory and honor always be revealed in your children. Amen.

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Coach, Consultant, and Speaker

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God
Portal: Be Radical…EnjoyLifeInChrist.com

 

Let’s Praise the Creator, Not the Created

Dr. Mike Journey in Christ , , , ,

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                   What feeds our internal motivational drive? Is it the comments,feedback, or applause from others? Is it the acknowledgement from our parents or other family members? Is it the acceptance of our working peers, next door neighbors, or community sponsors?

One of the hardest lessons we have to learn from life is to separate our value as a person from our economic value. Typically, it isn’t until our mid-30s that we come to understand that our worth as a person is not measured by personal achievements or people’s applause. Yes, our economic value is proportionally measured by how well we accomplished goals and objectives that fiscally benefited others. However, our value as a person is separate from our value as a capitalist. To paraphrase Jesus, one’s life is not measured by the abundance of one’s possessions. It is more than that. Yes, one needs physical comforts. But. real life is measure by the abundance of God’s spirit living in us and through us. Real life is a channel of love, joy, peace, goodness, self-control, faithfulness and everything else that defines God. We as a people want the physical benefits from God without the internal character of God. We take shortcuts in life so we can enjoy eating the apple pie without having to take the time to prepare and make it with real, natural ingredients.

As a disciple of His our praise goes to Him and our satisfaction is receiving feedback from Him. Specifically, that we are a faithful servant. We now know that every innate ability, every opportunity to excel, every skill developed, every challenge conquered, every goal achieved, every creative plan presented, every source of financial or human resource obtained, everything comes about only because He ultimately provides it; and allows us to use it. This is His grace showered upon us.  Therefore, every praise or glory now goes to the Creator and not the Created. Today, every time praises are directed in our direction, we gladly point to Him; to our Dad, our Lord, and our Comforter. It is He who deserve all the praises and glory. We are only doing what a servant is required to do. Our master is the brains, the power, and the wealth behind our success. We now know it and acknowledge it.

The praises belong to God. They don’t motivate us any longer.  Instead, we find them to be a deterrent in our walk with Jesus. They take our focus away from Jesus and place them back on us. We would rather keep our focus on Jesus. You can call it escapism. But escapism with Jesus is the best place we have found in this life. Praise Lord Jesus!

 

OUR PRAYER

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Our Creator Dad, everything is yours! You own the earth and everything on it. You own space and everything in it. You own time and everything that exists through it. You own the universe and every galaxy, planet, and star that inhabits it. You own it all!

Everything is yours! The talents and gifts you bestow upon us come from you. The relationships in our life are people that you created. The opportunities you give us to work come from you. The love. joy, and peace in our life come from you. You own it all!

Everything is yours! The material we use to build our homes, cars, and clothes. The water we drink and the air we breathe. The imagination and creativeness of our minds is your masterpiece. You own it all.

Everything is yours! The music we sing. The books we write. The scientific truths we discover. Everything comes from you and glorifies you.  You deserve all praise and glory and honor for now and evermore! Amen. Amen.

Consultant & Coach for Christ-Centered
Business Owners & Executives

Dr. Mike

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God

 

 

Pre-eminence Belongs To The King

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

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Do you recall in the early grades when you competed with other students in speed-reading?  You and they would probably take turns being the first one to read any material and then recall the contents for the teacher.  Was our motivation to read with speed and comprehension or simply to be first?  Later in life when you were playing sports, was it to be the best you could be or to be the best among your peers?  Likewise in college while wasting time in the student activity center playing cards with your peers, was it to win all the time, or just to be better than your peers?  Did you walk away with a trophy or two back then, but if you were honest with your motivation was it to be the best player or the internal drive to be better than your peers?

Throughout life, those of us with a competitive or achievement spirit tend to have a strong motivation to be number one among our peers. When we sold, who had to he # 1 at the end of the year in sales? When we did whatever, can we admit our motivation was to be the best in comparison with our peers, no matter what the price?.  If you are like many of us, we have a strong internal drive that we can’t control but had to be satisfied. It would drive us in whatever we did.  It wasn’t until we totally surrendered our life to God that this motivation dissipated and eventually disappeared.

In scripture, we read how Satan wasn’t content in being a servant of God, but wanted to be in charge of God’s Kingdom. He persuaded one-third of the angles to work with him to overthrow God from His throne. But instead of victory, he learned that God is in control and no one is going to remove Him from His Office. Likewise, we have come to learn who is Number One in our life.

There is a great sense of peace and contentment knowing that you don’t have to be better than anyone else. That God wants you to be the best you can be. That we are all created differently but distinctly in the image of God with the purpose to live for all eternity working with Him in whatever is best suited for us.  In fact, nowadays instead of seeking pre-eminence, we find ourselves serving others with more joy than ever before.  Instead of trying to become number one, we work at helping others to excel.  Instead of seeking the glory for self, we let it shine upon others.

As a disciple of His, we find it easier to put the pre-eminence where it belongs and that is on Jesus.  Instead of crawling over one another and competing against one another, we find it easier to place Jesus central and learn to serve Him and those He chooses to send our way.

OUR PRAYER

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Our Glorified Dad, thank you for being number one in our life.  There is a great sense of peace and comfort knowing that no matter what we do or accomplish you will always be the Best in our book.  Help us to see others through your eyes. Help us to serve others through your eyes.  Help us to build up others especially those you have placed into the church.

Thank you for the assurance and faith to live this life as your child and pupil. Thank you for your tutoring and thank you for the privilege of serving others.  Help us channel the energy you give us to serving others and revealing you as first in life.  Whenever the opportunity comes, help us to always place you first in the eyes of others and keep this servant in humble submission to your Kingdom.  Amen.

Your Consultant & Coach for Christ-Centered
Business Owners & Executives

Dr. Mike

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God