focus

Fall in Love

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , , ,

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  Matthew 22:36-39

The other day around the table we were discussing our favorite disciplines. For those unaware, disciplines are the practices we use to keep our mind and heart focused on God. They are a means of grace to help yield us to the working of the Holy Spirit in our life.

The majority of replies were similar. Prayer, Bible study, and fellowship were the dominate themes discussed. But, one person mentioned a discipline that brought a huge smile to my face. His was to learn how to better love God and others.

The essence and purpose of love as a discipline came to life. Did not Jesus teach us the same on the night before his death? Did HE not state that we are to learn to love one another the same way HE loved them? Did HE not show us what love looked like by serving those around HIM? Did HE not sacrifice HIS life for humanity?

To fall in love with Jesus is the best place to be. To practice and model HIS love before others is also a good place to be. To submit to others. To serve others. To sacrifice for others. Are not these the means of grace we are to practice each day?

If you are looking for a discipline to practice that will make the largest difference in your life, this is the one. To fall in love with Jesus. To share HIM and HIS ways with others. Not necessarily with words, but with quiet action. Find ways to support those around you. To uplift those near you. To help those around you find their place under the Son.

Remember in your youth when you became infatuated with that one special person? You would sit in class stealing glances at them all day long. You would fantasize being with them. You would look for excuses to be near them. They were the center of your life. Though they probably didn’t know you existed, Jesus is the opposite. HE already knows you. He wants you to get to know HIM. HE wants to spend time with you. HE desires what is best for you. HE wants to share HIS life with you as you share your life with HIM.

But HE is waiting for you to invite HIM into your life. HE has already made the first move. Now HE is waiting for you to capture the vision of how life can be with HIM.

Yes, if you want one discipline to practice each day, focus on ways to love Jesus and others. Not for selfish purposes; but for what you can bring to the party for the sake of the other. One simple way to start is find ways to support Jesus. The other is to support those closes to you. When you help those around you, you are also serving Jesus. Practice the way of sacrificial love and you will discover the essence of life. For life becomes a love adventure as you fall in love with HIM.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book Format Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Distractions

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , ,

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4

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Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, Philippians 3:13

What is your ONE thing in life? What are the distractions that prevent you from your ONE thing? How do you keep focused on your ONE signal from the noise around you?

King David’s ONE thing was to live with God in the center of his life. The apostle Paul was so focus on serving Jesus that he would always focus on the future. He did not look back at the hurdles and sufferings of his past.

But what about you and me. What is the ONE thing you are focused on at this moment? Is it the main thing? Or is it distracting you from your ONE thing?

In my long business career, I learned a few habits which carried over into my personal life. One was knowing when my work for the day was done. As an executive, one’s day is an open book. The options, choices, and decisions are limited by time, money, and resources. Every opportunity either maximizes results or ends busted. There is nobody to accept responsibility but yourself.

Like the homemaker whose day is never finished, so it the professional manager. But life is more than work. There are other responsibilities. In many ways we are like a circus juggler tossing five or more pins into the air. They keep them moving without dropping one, so are the days of our life. But we don’t juggle pins. We balance life activities with: God. Health. Family. Friends. Work. Play. Social. Academic, and the list only grows thereafter. So how does a person keep focus on the main thing all the time?


I learned the principle of three. With a to-do list longer than a roll of toilet paper, I would end the day listing the top three activities for the next day. These were the most important activities from the list. They were not the most critical. They were not the most fun. They were the ones when completed provide the greatest breakthrough for the organization.

This became a productive habit over the years. When those three items were completed, my major accomplishments for the day were done. Anything else was a freebie. The longer I practiced this method, the better life became.

I learned to do the main things first each day. Personally, this included quiet prayer time with God. It also disciplined me to exercise for physical health. It helped chisel the time doing those items that made life more enriching. At work it helped separate the signals from the noise. At community events, it helped align priorities built on strengths with greater impact.

But it all begins knowing what your ONE thing is. When you choose wisely, your ONE thing will leave a path of dividends for the rest of your life. If you choose foolishly, your life will be one of confusion, trouble, and mental anguish.

Distractions are the enemy’s game. When you run life’s obstacle course, there are many choices to make. But when you are focused on the ONE, life is much better.

Learn to keep focused on the ONE; chisel away the noise and allow HIS signals reach you. It takes planning and execution. But when done properly, life is better. Jesus is the ONE.  

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book Format Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message! | Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Where Did You See Jesus This Week?

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , ,

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receives their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”  Matthew 11:2-6

In our morning life group, the question we start each week is the above. Where did you see Jesus this week? It is always enjoyable to see the replies from each of the men. Some men focus on the physical blessings that occurred. Others on the spiritual essence at the time. Yet a few are still looking for HIM.

At times, we may rephrase the question. Instead of using Jesus’ name, we list his characteristics.  For example, the fruit of the Holy Spirit includes love and joy. And since Jesus was fully empowered by the Spirit, the fruit would always be displayed. So we also ask, “where did you see love? Joy? Peace? Patience? Kindness? Goodness? Gentleness? Self-control?” We often receive more replies from others.

Then there are times we ask, “when you looked into the mirror this morning, did you see Jesus.” This one makes each man realize that Jesus is alive and lives in each man. But are you allowing HIM to express HIMSELF through you?

The real reason behind these questions is to provoke one to focus more on Jesus. We all get busy and distracted. So it’s comforting to know that through it all that one question over time becomes a repeated mantra in our minds. So when times get tough, or an event occurs in front of you, stop and look. You may be witnessing Jesus in action.   

In today’s Scripture, John the baptizer was in prison. He needed confirmation that Jesus was the Messiah. So he sent his disciples to Jesus with the question. Jesus replied to tell John what they saw and heard about HIM in action. In other words, what did you see Jesus do this week? HIS reply focused on the healing miracles and the good words they heard spoken by HIM.

When we start looking for Jesus in our small corner of the world, HE will reveal HIMSELF. We will see HIM through the Spirit’s work. We will see spiritual fruit blooming in the lives of others. We will see improbable events occur. We will hear voices from heaven. Encouraging words in time of need. We will see a helping hand in a time of trouble. Sunshine in a place of darkness. The world may be in turmoil, yet peace rests upon you. At the fork road of a major decision, wisdom appears. While waiting for a solution, answers come. Not too many to choose from, only one. The one which propels you to your promise land.

Even when times are hard, you realize you may be broken, busted and beaten, but still hopeful. You know your redeemer lives. HE is holding you together. HE is transforming you into the mold you were wired to become. You accept the short-term pain knowing the long-term gain is truly worth it. Even though you see yourself as a total wreck, a voice within you reassures you that HE is with you. Hang in there. This part of the transition is almost over. You will come out stronger. More trustful. More assured. More on fire for the God you serve.

Yes, it starts when you focus your day on what Jesus is doing in your world now. Afterwards, you know Jesus better than ever before.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book Format Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message! Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved