enjoy life in christ

Graceful Love or Legalized Affection

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

LOVE 8

Love is one of those expressive words that has been overused and underperformed in the 21st Century.Typically, if you asked 10 people for a definition of love, you would probably receive as many remarks.They would include such catch phrases as:

an emotion that makes one feel good

a decision to act

a sexual encounter

a worshipful moment

an exhilarating experience

an intimate friendship

a temporary relationship

a hookup

an act of giving

There are other statements you have heard that you could also include on the list. Yet, at the end of the day isn’t the best standard of love the source itself: the Triune God. We witness that love in the relationship between our heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Both sides totally giving of themselves for the other. Not a 50%/50% partnership. But 100%/100% of total sacrificial blessing toward the other. Totally unconditionally as exemplified through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for humanity. He died for us while we were still rebelling against him. A graceful love is a totally, unconditional, freely given sacrificial expression without any strings attached.

On the other hand, how often have we experienced the legalized affection that some label as love. We have all witnessed that love somewhere in our lives. For example:

The parent that denies their emotional praise unless the child behaves according to specific demands.

The boss that manipulates others with a caring facade for the purpose of achieving their objectives; if not accomplished according to their desires, you end up in their dog house with no option for restoration.

The politician that kisses each baby in exchange for your vote. (every see a politician kiss a baby after the election?)

The wife or husband who refrains from sexual activity unless their mate meets their specific demands.

The little female princess that behaves accordingly to get what she truly wants from her Dad.

The neighbor who forcefully smiles across the fence at you yet internally mutters that life would be better off if you simply dropped dead.

The list is endless. The bottom line is we exhibit loving affection as long as others live up to our level of expectation. But the moment our standards are not met, we want to throw the bum out.

Legalized affection is “playing nice for what we want out of the relationship.” Graceful love is sacrificing ourselves for the betterment of the other with no other conditions except that God is glorified in the end. When God is glorified, Love gracefully wins. Which do you believe is the one God wants us to live?

OUR PRAYER

prayer 5

Holy Father, Holy Lord, and Holy Spirit – thank you for revealing to us what makes love work. Help us out of our ignorance, pride, and lust. Let your heart manifest our actions, thoughts, and words so that you are always glorified. Whatever we lack physically, mentally, socially and financially, provide us with the means and the resources to bless others as you bless us. Thank you Jesus for showing us the way. Amen.

Yours In Christ,
Dr. Mike
Consultant, Coach, Encourager

A Mirror Image of Jesus

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

mirror image 1

In Jesus’ time, people knew you were a Jew because you kept the law.  A visible part of that law was the keeping of the seventh day Sabbath.  As a Christ-follower, our sign to the world is not how well we keep the law but how well is Christ formed in us.

What advertises us to the world is a way of life rooted and built on the foundation of Jesus Christ and expressed through the power and love of the Holy Spirit.  When people see something different in us, that difference is the heart, mind, and soul of God.  In our relationship with our Heavenly Dad, iron sharpens iron. Our Triune God’s influence in our life is changing us to reflect His glory, love, and nature before others.  If we are an authentic disciple of Jesus, than isn’t Jesus living in us and expressing Himself through us?

When Jesus sees us, isn’t our hope and vision that He sees a mirror image of Himself?  Though most of us would have to admit that is not always true of us.  Aren’t there many times a day when the mirror becomes gray, cloudy, and difficult to see?  Like many of the saints before us, isn’t it a daily discipline to keep the mirror clean?  What we find though that works best for many of us is simply to keep our focus on strengthening the relationship between the Triune God and ourselves.

One of the best analogies is the relationship with our spouse.  From the day we were infatuated with her to the day we married, and from the day we married till today, our love has grown deeper and our relationship stronger.  It didn’t happen via fiat.  It has happen because we both focused on exercising the necessary disciplines in our relationship to make it happen.  It is important for us and we therefore invest the time in nurturing and enjoying each other’s companionship.

Isn’t it likewise with God?  Ever since our Heavenly Dad grabbed our attention, led us to our Lord Jesus, and introduced us to the Holy Spirit, life has been one infatuated, passionate journey of discovery and relationship-building.  Just like we will not do anything deliberately to harm our relationship with our spouse, don’t we likewise not want to harm the relationship that has been built with our Eternal Partners?  In fact, just like we work to strengthen our marriage relationship, don’t we likewise work to improve our relationship with our Eternal Partners?  Just like it takes time and priority to build a strong marriage, it likewise takes time and priority (even more so) to build a strong relationship with our Invisible God.

Our daily goal is that nothing comes before or between our relationship with each other. When Jesus returns, doesn’t our heart, mind, and ears deeply desire to hear His words, “Well done my faithful servant?”  Until then, we gladly lift our banner as high as we are capable each and every day.  For our banner is Jesus Christ fully expressing Himself in us each and every day.  Like Paul wrote in the book of Galatians, ”I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”  And with that we say Amen.

OUR PRAYER

PRAYER 1

Our Heavenly, Awesome Dad,  thank you for everything you are and everything you represent and everything you do for us.

Now we only ask that you continue to create and complete within us your divine nature.  That you bestow upon us your great favor and compassion.  That you always shower upon us your mercy and love.  In return, help us to live a life that glorifies you.

We have tried everything that this life has to offer.  You know our heart.  The only passion that we have left is living the spirit led life rooted in Jesus for your glory.

Help us to live it with your honor and glory always first.  Thank you for making everything possible.  Thank you, Jesus. As we always pray in your name and authority. Amen.

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Consultant, Coach, and Encourager

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God

What Is Wrong with Work?

Dr. Mike Journey in Christ , , , , ,

work

What is wrong with good, old-fashion work?  When we mix work with solid faith, godly values, and diligent application, doesn’t work become the creative expression of oneself?  When we remove the exterior facade of status, importance, or prestige, are we not left with the outer expression of our inner character?  Since our character is revealed through our choices and actions, isn’t the real us manifested through crisis on the job and through conflict with others?  Isn’t it a fact that the real us is showcased through the challenges and responsibilities we face each and every day?

All this begs the question, what does your work express about you?  Is the fruit of the Holy Spirit manifested in our most challenging moments?  Or do we crumble because our life is built on shifting sand(not the solid rock of Jesus Christ)?  Have you ever noticed that work is our test for the day?  Doesn’t how we handle the decisions between personal gains versus outward service to others reveal what is truly in our heart?  God notices.  We may be disappointed many times throughout the day for not living up to His standards, but God notices.  He knows what we are made like.  He knows our strengths and weaknesses.  He allows us each day to face the challenges so we discover how much we need Him.  Over time He chisels at the blemishes in our lives until one day they are gone.  Then we realize the glory and honor goes to Him for the new masterpiece He is creating in us.

Each and every day we keep plowing forward moving towards the personal goals in our lives yet ready to deviate from them upon the Lord’s assignment for that day.  Each day we go about our normal routine until the Lord tugs at our heart.  Then we respond faithfully, sometimes reluctantly, to His lead.  Each day we surrender ourselves to Him.  We may have personal plans, objectives, and desires that we are working towards to turn into reality, but the real mission of other daily life is to serve our Lord and Master.  We are His disciples first.  Our work is to serve Him first and last every day.  Our relationship is built on trust, faith, and hope.  Our walk is surrounded with His love and passion for life. He is the real reason we work.

Our work will only stop when our life stops, when we are laid to rest.  Afterward, we wait for the resurrection when our body puts on immortality and the testing is behind us.  That is when the real work begins.  It is then our Lord will give us an assignment that will be one hundred percent fulfilling in service to others, to self, and to God.  Today, we serve faithfully waiting for our next assignment.  Tomorrow, we will serve faithfully waiting for our next assignment.  In eternity, we will also serve faithfully, waiting for our next assignment.  It all comes together with good, old-fashion work.

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 4

Our Faithful, Wonderful, Heavenly Dad, thank you for your gift of work.  Thank you for giving us the ability and talent to exercise them for the benefit of others.  Thank you for giving us a mind and spirit to express ourselves and to find fulfillment in the work we produce.  Thank you for sharing your life with us.

Help us to be successful in our work for your glory.  Help us to share that success with our families, friends, and community.  Let that community be more than our local neighborhood.  Help us to reach out and discover those people struggling with their situations.  Help us have the wisdom and resources to assist them on the road to recovery.  Help us take the opportunity to preach the gospel of Jesus through our actions to all that has an eye to see.  Let the work of our hands, mind, and body be service to you.  Let your Spirit be exemplified through our work.  Jesus we thank you.  Amen.

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Consultant,Coach, and Encourager

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God