God’s Favor

Grace Changes Everything

Dr. Mike 2024 , ,

“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”   2 Corinthians 9:8

Grace changes everything. Grace changes you. Grace changes others.  

Do you recall your first encounter with God’s unmerited favor? Did the moment make you stop, look, and grasp the meaning of being human?

You probably heard this many times before. That you are made in HIS image. You are like a god. You can imagine, create, and influence the world around you. You can analyze your situation and list options to choose. You are free to select your path. You can accept your position or make plans to change it.

Yet, there is something missing. Though you are made in HIS image, you are chemically produced. You are created from matter. You need to eat and sleep.  Chronologically your time is limited. Your body will stop functioning one day. Life as you know will come to an end. Something is missing.

If you are like me, than you know the choices you make are not always the best. Many times poor decisions come back to haunt us. We experience the pain and consequences of failure. Then there are those decisions from others which impact us. As they seek their aim in life, they ignore you. You are only a pawn or an insufficient obstacle in their way.

Yes, you are the captain of your ship. But these forces continue to bombard you with unwanted obstacles. Most of them you haven’t taken into consideration in your plans. They rob you of your dreams. They rape you of your innocence. They unfairly take away your hope for a better tomorrow.

There is much outside of our control. No matter how much we manipulate, bully, or abuse others, we start to ponder there may be a better way.

Enter Almighty God. HIS natural inclination is to share HIS way of life with HIS creation. How does HE introduce HIMSELF to us? There are many ways, but the most often way is by first experiencing HIS grace. Most often in the beginning you are totally unaware of what is happening.

Yes, those times when HE intervenes on your behalf. When HE brings people into your world that changes everything. When HE directs your steps into situations that help you become victorious. Grace begins to change you.

When HE inspires you with an idea or solution which has been hampering you for a long time. When HE opens doors for you to express your natural, God-given abilities with others. When HE gives you the internal fortitude to hang in there and keep trucking toward your destiny. When HE hugs you with HIS love that brings tears of joy into your life. HIS grace changes you.

God is generously good. HIS grace is the outer expression of HIS inner character. HE loves HIS creation. HE loves you. HE wants you to succeed in life. But like a responsible parent, HE also wants to prepare you for the future. HE wants to mature you. His desire is for you to share in HIS family business. To make wise judgements. To exercise HIS ways of fruitful living with others. HE thus may discipline you. To correct bad behavior and attitudes. But that is HIS grace changing you for the better.

Grace changes everything. You. Others. Purpose. Meaning. Fulfillment. When you are old and look back with hindsight you will align the dots and see the hand of God more clearly in your life. You will see how HIS Grace altered your life. You will see how HIS grace open the doors for you to have a relationship with HIM. Through it all, you will eventually acknowledge HIM and thank HIM for HIS Grace upon your life and the life of others.

Yes, grace changes everything.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“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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Life-Giver 

Dr. Mike 2022, Jesus Christ , , ,

1 Timothy 6:13

I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things…

What business is God in? That question arose recently by a student of the marketplace. How would you have answered?

When you consider everything that the Triune God has done, is doing, and yet will do, how would you summarize HIS role from a business perspective?

I would start-out by asking what is the one thing only HE can do? The answer: create life.

Therefore, in my book HE is in the business of bringing life to others. And life comes in different forms. There is physical life of animals and plants along with amoebas and other under the microscope critters. Of course, the greatest of all his life-giving creations is humanity. He created them male and female after HIS image is how the Book of Genesis factually states the obvious.

But not only does HE create life, HE also sustains it. He created a Big Bang which produced multiple galaxies with solar systems and chose one large rock from the sun to reform into a life-setting for humanity to reside on. This planet is a living science project with its own specific measurements all synchronized for humans to live-out their purpose.

Of course, HIS purpose for creating life is more than for his entertainment. HIS strategic plan from the beginning is procreate a family of “little Christs” who would spend eternity with HIM working in HIS business which the Bible calls the Kingdom of God.

The apostle Paul writes that from the foundation of the world GOD intentionally plan to morph humans into spiritual beings after the likeness of Jesus Christ. The apostle John wrote in Revelations that God is preparing kings and priests who will govern and serve the people in the millennium and beyond.

God is our Life-Giver. Through Jesus Christ, HE has demonstrated what and how life is to be lived, plus secured the means for entrance into HIS royal chamber. He has given us written policies and procedures outlined throughout the Bible which when followed and practiced leads to real freedom, flourishment, and fulfillment in this season of life; and more importantly, will lead to eternal life where all we learn and experience now will be put into practice working under HIS government.

Below are a few Scriptures that emphasize God’s life-giving attributes. You may want to conduct your own study. You may find it reassuring and uplifting to know you are included in God’s macro plan of sharing life with others today as HE shares HIS life with you now and into the eternal future.

 Deuteronomy 30:19

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,

John 6:35

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

John 6:63

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

John 20:31

but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

1 Corinthians 15:45

Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

God is a Life-Giver. And HE wants you to have the full impact of experiencing life the way HE does. So HE gave us HIS Spirit to live in us. Learn to walk and dance with HIM, and you will come to know what a great and precious gift life is in HIM.

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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Uncommon Grace

Dr. Mike grace , ,

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you… 

God pours His common grace upon the entire human race. Yet He also gives more or less to each person based on His purpose and decision. He provides an orderly universe and seasonal structure on the earth which provides sun, water, and air for all its inhabitants. Yet he also gives more or less unmerited favor to each individual for the work He would like done through them.

We have the example of Paul who asked God to remove the thorn in his flesh but God replied the grace He bestowed upon him was sufficient to carry him through each day.

We read other scriptures where God provides artistic abilities for individuals to complete their work, victory in specific battles, and food in time of need. These unmerited events come to us because of His unlimited love and care for each person of the human race.

He showers each of us specifically for the purpose and character being developed through us and for others. His grace is given not because of our obedience, or faith, or good works, but because HE knows what is best for you, what is best for those in your tribe, and how best to address each taken our limitations and potential into account.  

Therefore, when we compare ourselves with each other we are being foolish. Each of us are wired differently but yet similar in nature and design. Each have been given an opportunity to discover their purpose. But most of us are operating with only one-half of the resources at our disposal. The other half comes from God. His grace. His Spirit. His value system. When you and God come together, than the dance of wholesomeness and purpose and meaning for living becomes real and alive. Every moment is rich in love and joy and peace. Even the pruning moments where our character is being reshaped and our soul is being repositioned to serve others is a reflection of His glory.

The uncommon grace God gives to you is specifically for you alone. It may seem so little at times and other times so much, but it is being showered upon you as you need.

And only God knows what you are going through and the amount of intervention required to allow you to grow and experience the richness of His presence.

Come to know God and you will come to know His grace.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
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

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

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