DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST

Investing in Spiritual Treasures

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

rainy day 2

Do we have a spiritual rainy day fund?  Today’s experts suggest that we keep at least six months of income in reserve for physically emergency purposes. Spiritually speaking, Jesus gave the parable of the man who demolished his barn and built a larger one to store all his possessions. The problem was not building a larger barn, but not also being rich to God.

Our heart and attitude determines our motive. If our motive is pure and holy with God, almost anything is possible. If we have no care or concern of what matters to God, how do you think He will relate to us?

How does one store up a spiritual, rainy day fund?  Is it even possible? We could probably invest more time in prayer, Bible study, fasting, serving, and in the other disciplines of a Christ-follower, but is that enough? We could invest our time to serving the Lord in full time vocational ministry, but is that enough? We could do more of whatever, but is that enough? Most probably, it is not.  The important thing is to have our physical house in order where it doesn’t become the number one priority in our life. Didn’t David write in the psalms that he didn’t want to be rich, nor poor. The middle of the road is the most balanced. We all need emergency reserves to help us in our physical life. It also allows us to give to others who are less fortunate. And it also gives us the luxury to focus on the more important aspects of life.

Likewise, when our Lord is the number one passion in our life, everything else seems to fall into place. By walking with Him on a continual daily basis, we don’t have to have an emergency supply around when He seems to disappear from us. The reason is that He doesn’t leave us. We leave Him. He is always close to us. We sometimes build walls to keep Him away from us because we do not want to deal with an issue or sin in our life. But He is faithful. He has called us to a life transforming process that doesn’t happen overnight. He works daily with us, leading us to follow Him and depend on Him in everything we do. It’s only when we become independent of Him that our trouble begins to follow us.

The best way to store up spiritual reserves is not too. It’s to have your meal and walk with our Lord every day. It’s to live our life in His presence every, single minute. It is to remember that our citizenship is in heaven. Likewise, we need to remember that our treasure is kept in heaven. We do not have to worry about our return on investment or worry about robbers. Our crown is being kept in preparation for our wedding. Everything we do for the Lord is in heaven. Our reward awaits us.

As a disciple of His our calling and election is sure. Our faith is being built-up in hope and love for eternity. Everything we have learned in this life is ours to keep. Everything we have experienced is ours to keep. Everything is ours and will be kept in heaven until our resurrection. That is what we are storing up.  We are not accumulating physical wealth, but instead, spiritual treasures. Invest wisely.

OUR PRAYERPRAY 21

Our Faithful Dad, thank you for always being with us. Thank you for caring about each one of us each and every minute. Thank you for being concerned about our health and welfare. But help us when our unbelief confronts us.

Remove all doubt and hopelessness from our life. Always, always, help us to keep you as the center of our life. Let nothing come between us. You know our service, our heart, and mind. You know who we are and what we do each and every minute. Let us not fool our self in believing anything that is not true. Let your presence always be with us. Help us to trust you and invest in your Kingdom each and every day.  Your way is the passion that drives us each and every day. Let that passion always be channeled towards you in service and in the relationships in our life.  Help us to invest the time and opportunities in this life for the greater good of all.  Amen.

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Coach, Consultant, and Encourager

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God

 

Sometimes the Passion Carries Us Through

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

passion 2

Remember those college days when we could stay up all night socializing, studying, or working to complete a class assignment before the morning deadline?  It wouldn’t stop us at all to miss a night of sleep.  We were young, energized, and could easily abuse our bodies without worrying what affect it would have on us the next day.

Today, for most of us, that has changed.  If we are not in bed within a reasonable time, our body is going to drag the next day.  Sure, we could fool our self once in a while and cheat maybe once per week without feeling the effects.  But, if we did it on a regular basis, the price would severally hamper our effectiveness as a person.

However, those of us who are naturally energized are blessed.  For example, isn’t it a fact that when we have something that we personally desire to do, our passion motivates us towards its accomplishment?  Whatever sleep we may be missing don’t bother us as much as the sleep we miss due to the stress of job related activities.  When we are in a flow of doing what is enjoyable, pleasurable, and uplifting, doesn’t the body seem to forget the sleeplessness?

Isn’t it the same when we feel we are doing Kingdom work?  We say feel because at times don’t we question whether what we are doing is kingdom work or we think its kingdom work?  Either way since we feel it is kingdom work, the passion and spirit keeps us going.  Ssometimes when our heart is heavy, don’t we just naturally pray?  Or at other times when we have a tough decision to make, don’t we find quite time to meditate and seek answers from our Lord?  Then isn’t there time for church meetings, Bible studies, and emergencies when friends need someone that will listen to their problems?  Doesn’t such times seem so weightless on the spirit?  Isn’t the time going without sleep with we call the necessary, unpleasant work-related situations that steals our joy?  These are the energy draining events that require more grace than we possess at the moment.  But isn’t these times when we find sleep truly refreshes our soul?  And yes, staying up to perform Kingdom work likewise refreshes the soul.  Isn’t it only a matter of perspective and priority?

As a disciple of His, our passion is to serve Him whenever, wherever, whatever the situation.  No matter what the activity, somehow don’t we eventually learn that joy increases whenever we submit to His calling?

OUR PRAYER

PRAYER 1

Our Wonderful Dad, you have created us with emotion.  You have given us the drive and motivation to channel our passion in any direction we choose.  You have given us attitudes and priorities to convert into reality.  Everything was created for our use for your glory.

Help us to choose wisely.  Help us with the discipline to channel the energy in the direction that will magnify your Will.  Help us to live our life in your divine presence.  Make our heart desire you more and more each day.  Make our mind seek to understand your awesomeness.  Make our soul hungry for your a deeper relationship with you.  Let everything we do be done in your service and glory.  Thank you Jesus.  Amen.

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Coach, Consultant, and Encourager

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

 

A Disciple on a Mission

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

focused 2

If today someone deposited $86,400 dollars into your bank account with instructions that you either use it or lose it, what would you do?  If at the end of the day you still had $20,000 in the account, could you afford to waive it good-bye?

What if $86,400 was deposited into your bank account everyday hereafter under the same scenario?  Whatever you didn’t use would be taken away at the end of the day.  How would you plan your life thereafter?  Would you see to it that the entire $86,400 is used or invested each day instead of taken away at the end of the day?  Could you choose to either use it or lose it?

Coincidentally isn’t the time in our life just as valuable?  There is 86,400 seconds in a twenty-four hour day.  Are we not given this time each day to use and invest accordingly?  Whatever time we don’t use. we lose.  So this begs the question, how do we invest the time in our life?  Do we squander the time away?  Do we waste the time on unproductive projects?  Do we find ourselves working on unimportant assignments?

Somewhere in our lives, we were probably introduced to the 80/20 concept. Simply stated, we produce approximately eighty percent of the results in our life from twenty percent of the activities.  Likewise, with the remaining twenty percent of results, we produce with approximately the other eighty percent of the activities.  Understanding this principle, wouldn’t we try to focus on the first scenario?

Suppose we write out what is important in our life, including our personal mission statement, and then proceed to select which activities would give us the greatest payback to achieve the desired results we want.  Some people could have this exercise made over night and be living totally focused the next day.  Others however may take a few extra days of planning and prayer to start the journey.  Either way, after we start there is no going back.  When one becomes focus on purpose, one begins to use every resource at one’s disposal to accomplish their goals.  Typically, our mission takes on intense concentration, focus, and passion.  We can’t slow down if we wanted to because we have made the commitment to make a difference for the Kingdom of God.  We know God is with us.  We know our hearts and desires are true and pure.  We know our motivation  is godly.  We know whatever difficulties come our way, God will give us the inner peace and comfort through the Holy Spirit.  We won’t let up, because we are on Kingdom business.  We are disciples of His with a mission.  His missions don’t fail.  Ours may fail, but when aligned with God’s, look out!

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 9

Our Eternal Dad, thank you for creating us and preparing us for eternity!  Thank you for answering our prayers in regards to managing the time in our life.  Help us always to redeem each minute.  Help us to focus our attention on all the important areas of our life.  Help us to focus on you, our health, our family relationships, our time being productive at work without wasting the day away.

Our time is yours.  You have redeemed us.  You have redeemed our time.  Help us use each minute of every hour glorifying you through our actions, thoughts, and accomplishments.  Let your name be praised every minute of every day.

Thank you Jesus. Amen.

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Coach, Consultant, and Encourager

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God