disciple

The Spirit Is Always Moving

Dr. Mike Journey in Christ , , , , , , , ,
be still 9Like many children, I had great dissatisfaction for standing still in my youth. I had to be doing something all the time.  Today though, I have found it much easier to stop whatever we are doing and smell the roses. But even today, when we see injustice, pain, misery, sorrow, and the effects of sin in people’s lives, we cannot be still.  A strong internal drive from within the heart wants to reach out, hug them, let them know that God cares, and wants to help them.  An internal force from within our inner being wants to reach out at times and lay hands on those who ignorantly plan and execute evil unto others.  The Spirit of God cry’s out and can’t keep silent!
To be still and not do anything seems easier as we age. Maybe it’s possible because we become tired of exerting energy that disappears as we grow older. Or we convince ourselves that we have done enough already and let the next person do their share. Maybe we don’t want to get involved because it takes time away from our everyday routines. We would rather keep things as they arc than change them and we think by being still nothing will change. How lazy and self­ centered we can become over time.
Today I’ve come to see that “to be still” really means to be dead. It’s the person born in 1972, graduates from high school in 1990, dies in 1999 and is not buried until 2050. Physically he may still be around, but inside of him he died years ago.
To be still means to run away from our problems. To be still means not to accept personal responsibilities for our brother’s condition. To be still means not discovering God’s creation. To be still means having no intimate relationship. To be still means not enjoying life’s good things.  To be still is not the life of a disciple of His. His disciples always keep moving; even when they are still. She may be still, but exercising faith like Moses standing before the Red Sea with the Egyptian Army behind him. ”The Lord will fight for you; you only need to be still (Ex 14.14 N IV).” Or he may be still while praying and asking God to intervene on someone’s specific situation. Then again, she may be still and in communion with her Maker discovering His Presence at the moment. The point is that a disciple of His may look still on the outside but in the inside the Holy Spirit is leading him to response accordingly. It is very difficult to be still when God’s Spirit resides in you!  How do you response to the nudging of the Holy Spirit in your life?

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 8

Our Heavenly Dad, oh how our heart hurts with the injustice, pain, and sorrow that we see people inflict on others. Some of it intentionally, most of it out of ignorance. Either way, help us to pray for those who are being persecuted. To ask you to intervene in their lives that hurt, to lead them to you.

Our soul is restless for you. Our soul hungers for you. We cannot sit still until your Words and Holy Spirit has made their mark in the life of those who are hurting. Help us to be your witness. Help us be your servant. Help us to reach out and touch those who you know need help today. Let nothing prevent us from sharing your Word with others. Oh Holy Spirit, fill us with your fruit. Let it overflow and touch the lives of those around us. Let us not live a life of seclusion, but a life of service. Let us not be still, but alive in you. Let your richness overflow and make others rich. Lead us always unto your paths.  Thank you Creator Dad, thank you Jesus, thank you Holy Spirit.

 

Dr. Mike

 

It Will Take More Than A Moose to Change Our Direction

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

moose 1

Have you ever denied someone that you are a Christ-follower? Maybe out of fear, or rejection, or possibly even being physically harmed?

We know the story of Peter denying that he was a follower of our Lord. Not just once, nor twice, but three times in a single night. Most likely, you or I would have behaved in the same way.  But later, when he is brought before the courts because of his witnessing for the Kingdom of God, he doesn’t deny Him. He speaks up about Him. And gladly accepts a physical beating to speak up about Him.

I remember a backpacking trip with two friends the month before we had to return to college. It was a dreary, raining day. We had been walking single file for over three hours with my turn to lead. We each had over 60 pounds of weight on our backs, covered with a hooded rain poncho, our heads looking down on the trail with each step, our feet in rhythm with each other and with the rain. The trail was narrow, muddy, and slippery. It was raining so hard that with your head bowed down and eyes narrowed to the ground you could only see two to three feet in front of you. As we walked, I came to a sudden and complete stop. My friends couldn’t stop in time and both crashed into each other and into me. Fortunately, I was able to keep standing in place while leaning backward to prevent myself from crashing into the largest moose that we have ever seen. He stood over eight feet tall, antlers wider than the trail, and his face with nose snorting and eyes questioning my sanity looked me face to face. There was less than one foot that separated his bodily presence from mine. If he took one step forward and turned one of those antlers in my direction, it would more than hurt. What seemed like an entire freshman year in college, I yelled “Moose”, then “Backup” while stepping backwards and pushing my friends to reverse their direction. (Its amazing where one finds strength in a time of emergency.) When everyone realized what was happening, we all stepped backwards in unison. Step by step, inch by inch, foot by foot, until we were a safer distance from our new found friend. After discussing the situation we realized that it would take us twice as long to turn back and take a different trail. Therefore, we decided to take our stand and wait. Fortunately, we didn’t have to wait long. Our friend took a few steps towards us and then turned off the trail and proceeded on his lonely way. I felt like a prisoner released from jail. I knew somewhere, someplace this experience would teach me a lesson for life. And it has. When you believe in something strongly, don’t back away. Stand up to your true self. However, there comes a time when you may have to back up for a better perspective of the situation; a time when you need to view the forest above the trees; a time to evaluate the situation before moving forward.

As we grow older we realize that life is such that we may not only take three steps forward and two steps back in our journey, but sometimes its two steps forward and three steps back. But as long as we know our destination and our purpose for living, each struggle, each step, each obstacle is only a temporary delay of the inevitable. Our life is a learning process preparing us for eternity.

There is a time to step back. There is also a time not to step back. However, when it comes to living a life as a disciple of His, are you going to step back or are you going to fully accept His calling?

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 9

Almighty Dad, we thank you for always being here, for always being with us, for always guarding our steps. Help us always to walk with you. To allow you free access into our heart, mind, and soul. To allow you to lead us down paths where no matter what troubles or problems are ahead, we know you will help us through.

Help our unbelief to diminish. Help us to be strong. Provide us with directions each and every day in how we can best serve you and those you have given us to minister. Again, thank you. Amen.

Dr. Mike

God Has Big Plans For You

Dr. Mike Journey in Christ , , , ,

Growing up next door to the  automobile   capital   of  the  world (Detroit, MI) you couldn’t help to notice the small tool and die shops in many of the local industrial parks. I remember driving down one main street for over an eight-mile stretch and counting the small tool and die factories next to each other on both sides of the street. I was told that when the automobile companies would need a rush job, they would start on one side of the street and contact each establishment until they found someone who was willing to take the work for as low a price as possible. Many of these shops were own and operated by one or two individuals with a very small crew. What they all had in common was their age; most of the very good tool men then where in their fifties and sixties. Not too many young people were going into the tool and die trade because of the opportunities being developed in the computer world. But these professionals took great pride and honor in mastering their craft.

Between my freshman and sophomore college years, I took a summer job working in a heavy metal stamping  plant. For the eight weeks that we worked, and I mean work, we operated several large metal stamping presses that could easily reshape any human part found under its weight. It was here that I witnessed how professional toolmakers handcrafted their work. The engineer department would give them the drawings; they would build a prototype, test it, and then build the final die that would be the mold for the final part of the design. The mold would be taken by one of these professionals and installed into the metal stamping machine.  From there, labors like me would place a flat sheet of metal on top of the table. Here I would press the two buttons, one for each hand, and the heavy metal top would plunge on top of the mold exerting its heavy weight and force to reshape the metal sheet into a fender or grill or whatever the designed call for.

SEEDS 2

Likewise, when we accept our calling to become disciples of Jesus Christ, I sometimes wonder if a type of mold is pre-made in heaven for you and me. A plan is prepared by our Heavenly Dad, implemented by Jesus, and supported by the work of the Holy Spirit. That mold is to shape you and me into the perfect image of our Lord. It is to take our personality, mind, talents and reshape it upon the foundation of the righteous character of Jesus Christ. As we yield ourselves to Him, He takes the life experiences that we walk through and builds within us a new creation. (2cor5: 17)  In addition,

He may give us special gifts, talents and skills that we don’t naturally possess, so that we will glorify God by taking a journey we would normally never take on our own. Our Maker deserves all the credit. We are simply that piece of metal sheet that lies under the weight of life’s metal stamping machines that when harnessed reshape our lives into the perfect image of our Lord.

 

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 8 

Our Great Heavenly Dad, we glorify your work. And we glorify You. Everything of value and worth comes from You. As the Bible states, “every good gift comes from You.” You have taken this life and as I have yielded, You have molded and shaped it into a life of richness. You have allowed me to live in America; a land of freedom where even the poorest are better off than most people around the world. You have made me neither rich nor poor, but have given me enough to sufficiently live healthy and provide for my family’s needs. Yon have at times even blessed us with special occasions that we will remember forever. But more so, you have given us the assurance that you are creating and shaping us into your divine likeness. Though there are still many rough edges that need to be eradicated, we are always amazed to see those small changes that only you could bring about. Thank you for caring and always being there when we need someone to lend us a helping hand. As always, we come to you only because of the authority of Jesus. Amen.

Dr. Mike