enjoy life in christ

A Gift from God for You        

Dr. Mike 2022 , , ,

Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart. Eccl. 5:18-20

How fast does time move?

It took less than three seconds to type this line. Another minute has gone by as I think what to write next.

Though time has moved past me just now, it doesn’t bother me as much as it did in my younger days. Why? Because God has put His joy into my heart which allows me to experience HIS presence as time moves on. He lives in me.

In my younger apprentice days, HE resided in me, and I didn’t allow him full access into my inner chambers. Today, that has changed.

Today, HE has full access into any room of my heart, mind, and soul. HE has my permission (even though HE doesn’t need it) to engage me wherever HE knows what is best for me in the long term. Though I may initially complain and get angry for HIS interference, I slowly calm down and remember the work HE has started and committed to finish in me. For that I am thankful.

In reading the above Scripture, I am reminded that you and I may have accumulated wealth, possessions, and other favorable toys, but unless God places HIS joy in us, all is lost in frustration, worry, and fear. God’s gift for you and I is the power to enjoy them.

In doing so, we not only accept our social status and class position; but enjoy them along with the work of our hands. This is God’s gift for you and I.

The fact is, because HE has gifted us to enjoy what we do, the time of life seems to move so fast that before we know it, we have lived a full life with fond memories. Yes, there were probably a few challenges in between, but they seem so far removed from the joy set before us.

God is good. He is a Giver of goodness. His goodness includes HIS Spirit of joy. Again, I can only thank HIM for HIS love and sharing this precious gift to me.

For those who care, there are 86,400 seconds per day. Each second is either accompanied with or without joy. If you haven’t done so yet and want to experience the same with the Creator of the universe, ask HIM. Today. Now. Put HIM to the test.

Ask HIM to lead you into work that is fulfilling for you. But more importantly, ask HIM to fully live in you. There may be some initial pain in the beginning as every change brings, but the long-term impact is well worth the trials and tests that shape your inner character. Otherwise, when you look back at your entire life, what will you be thankful for?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & 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

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God Speaks

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , , ,
“Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” John 8:47 ESV

speaks 3

How many different ways does God speak to us?

The Bible is the means that most evangelical Christians claim God speaks to us. This is true. Yet, is it the only way?

How about in prayer? (Psalms 66:19)
How about in our dreams? (Matthew 2:12)
How about through visions? (Luke 1:22)
How about through angels? ((John 20:12-13)
How about through other people? (Jeremiah 35:15)
How about through a burning bush? (Exodus 3:2)
How about through secular poetry? (Acts 17:22-31)
How about through creation? (Romans 1:20)

There are probably many other ways that don’t quickly come to mind. If you can add to the list, I would love to hear from you.

Bottom-line: don’t limit the way God speaks with you. He only wants an attentive, believing heart that makes himself or herself available to listen.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Consultant, Coach, 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

Relate or Influence

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , , ,
” For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” 1 John3:11 ESV

love lead

What do you seek from your relationships? Friendship? Love? Intimacy? Or do you simply use people for your personal agenda?

The older I become the more thankful I am for the friends and family in my world. What I realize now more than ever is that I didn’t go about asking them to change for me nor I for them. Instead, we accept each other as who we are and learn to appreciate each other as God created and gifted us. Whereas in the workplace in those early years, I made the immature mistake of wanting to change others. The focus was on influencing them by whatever means at my disposal. My goal wasn’t to build a mutual, beneficial, unconditional relationship, but to accomplish my agenda for the day.

Isn’t that how many of us relate with others? We either accept them for who they are or we try to influence them to change. That includes our children, parents, siblings, and yes our mates.

The other day I overheard a young woman who was recently married state that she loves her husband but there are a few things she is going to have to change about him if they are going to have a successful marriage. It brought back memories of my early married days when there were certain habits that my wife had (and still has) that I was going to change. Likewise, she would admit that there were many habits that I had (and still have) that she was going to change. Thankfully, we learned early enough that one can’t successfully change the other person from the outside-in. Instead we focused on building up the relationship rather than persuade the other person to our point of view.

Think about your relationships. Is the goal to mutually enjoy the love, friendship and maybe even the intimacy of marriage? Or is the goal to influence the other person to change for your sake?

I am always amazed at how Jesus related with other people. Have you ever noticed that His tenancy was to first relate with people by actually taking the time to love them and respect them for who they were? When verbally attacked, he would defend himself with the appropriate answer. The only time he emotionally exploded was in the temple with the money changers and again with the self-righteous religious leaders who constantly tried to trap him (even then it could be debated that he was practicing tough love techniques). Otherwise, he spent his time solving people’s problems. He healed them. He ate with them. He partied with them. And as a rabbi, he taught them.

His primary focus was to first love the people wherever he went. His influence came later through the people who he invested time with during his 3 1/2 year ministry. His influence was a byproduct of his relationship. He loved first; and then let his love be the influence that transformed lives in and through others. Isn’t that a good plan for all of us to follow?

Rooting For You 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