Gluttony, Self-Control, and Me

20262026 Dr. Mike 2026 Discipline, Gluttony, Gratitude, moderation, self-control, temperance

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control…For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 2 Peter 1:5-10

Liturgical churches practice Lent before the arrival of Passion Week and Easter. They practice this discipline as a reminder of Jesus’ temptation at the start of HIS ministry. Most will choose fasting from food. Others may choose sacrificing something else. But the focus is disciplining their body under the auspices of the Holy Spirit. The process is to become more like Jesus in one area of their life.

I personally do not observe Lent. But I am all for practicing disciplines to become more like Jesus. This is one of the roles of a disciple. To take part with Jesus in actions which transform the human heart. To become more like HIM in attitude, desires, and actions.

Most often I am led to define a personal weakness and then select an opposing discipline to practice. Over-the-years we have gone to the spiritual gym and worked out specific areas. Each routine becomes the focus of transformation with the help of the Holy Spirit. For example, greed is overcome by generosity. Too-much-talk is introduced to silence. A self-centered viewpoint is dismantled through a Triune God worldview. Laziness discovers diligence. Loneliness meets community. Religiosity is set aside with relationship. Lordship is replaced with servant-hood; and many more. (The longer you live, the more opportunities you have to practice.)

This season of life we are taking on one area that I have refrained until now. It is one of the largest strongholds still possessing me. As I have mentioned at times, I love to eat. I eat whenever there is a reason too. I eat to celebrate. I eat to comfort. I eat to remove boredom. I eat to please my sweet tooth. I may occasionally eat because the body needs more nourishment. As the old joke goes, you can call me anything, as long as you don’t call me late for dinner.

It is one area of my life that the walls of the city are broken. If I be true to God and myself, it is time to rebuild the wall. So, we start again. This time with the intentional purpose to put in place long-term disciplines. Practices that will allow the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to complete HIS work in me. To create the internal condition of self-control in my desires for food.

The Spirit of self-control is evident in many other areas of this life. But with food, I have never made the commitment to totally surrender its mastery over me to our Lord. There have been short periods of time where HIS fruit led the way. But for many reasons, we succumb back to our inner, deep desires. So now we begin again. We begin with grace. We will proceed with grace. We will end with grace. For without grace, I would not attempt this again.

So here we go. Gluttony disbanded with Spirit-led self-control. Our desire is to enjoy food with temperance, gratitude and moderation. Holy Spirit, let us go to work.

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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Why Be Thankful?

20252025 Dr. Mike 2025 Appreciative, Gratitude, Thank you, thankful

“…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Ever notice how difficult it is to be thankful in all circumstances? Especially in those hard times when your world is broken. When the people around you don’t even know you exist. When you are in pain. When you are physically, mentally, and emotionally drain. Those times when you don’t want to speak with anyone. You only want to withdraw and cry. Those are the times when you feel no one seems to understand what you are going through. You are in a self-pity party and no one else wants to show up.

We have all been there. If not yet, wait. One day you will find yourself at the end of yourself. In need of a savior.

The apostle Paul writes here that we all need to give thanks in all circumstances. Why? Because that is how the Triune God acts.

Through the incarnation, you and I are now buried and resurrected in Christ. Baptism reminds us of this. When we surrendered to Jesus, we committed ourselves to follow HIM. Our responsibility today is to learn to live the way Jesus lived. We don’t become like HIM via fiat. It is a process of transformation of the mind, heart, and will.

Every watch how parents struggle to teach their child when and how to express the words “thank you?” It doesn’t happen naturally. When someone gives their child a present, the parent coaches the child to say thank you. Most often, the child is repeatedly reminded. Then one day the words come out without the parent’s nudge. The entire process of learning may take years. Yet this is only behavior modification.

How much longer do you think it takes for the Holy Spirit to train our emotional heart to be thankful? Where our spirit is thankful without any coaching. And not only thankful, but with loving action. Where we follow through with our willpower to act like Jesus in the circumstances we face.

When we are thankful from the heart, we are expressing love in the situation. We are acknowledging our humanity and appreciation for what we gracefully receive. We are also focusing on God who is the ultimate giver. In a sense, being thankful is a mode of repentance. We are refocusing our mind toward Father-Son-Spirit. The giver of all good gifts.

When we are truly thankful, our attention is focus on others and not ourself. We find in so doing God’s love is extended toward others. The giver shares in their act of giving. They are being blessed. Jesus reminds us (Acts 20:35), “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” The cycle of giving and receiving allows both to enjoy the experience.

Thankfulness is the starting gun of every race. It leads one into putting everything in perspective. It allows love to lead. It focuses on God and others before self. It allows our spirit to align with God’s Spirit in the moment.

Learn to be thankful and you will learn to be more like Jesus.

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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Thankful Heart

20212021 Dr. Mike 2021, grace, Kingdom Paradigms, Living the Psalms Gratitude, Thankfulness, thanksgiving

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
    before the gods I sing your praise;
²I bow down toward your holy temple
    and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
    for you have exalted above all things
    your name and your word.^[^a^]
³On the day I called, you answered me;
    my strength of soul you increased.^[^b^]

⁴All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,
    for they have heard the words of your mouth,
⁵and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
    for great is the glory of the Lord.
⁶For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,
    but the haughty he knows from afar.

⁷Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
    and your right hand delivers me.
⁸The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
    your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
    Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Psalm 138: 1-8 (ESV)

A thankful heart is the expressive attitude of a follower of Jesus Christ. When one comes to understand who HE IS and what HE has done, and what HE plans to accomplish with you and me, one can only drop to their knees with a grateful heart and thank HIM.

A thankful heart is the byproduct of gratitude which also leads to a more outgoing concern for the needs of others; and the heartfelt compassion and generosity are also balanced with truth and justice.

A thankful heart acknowledges God has given you and me boundaries to operate with for our good and the good of others. Instead of ruling over others, we serve them. Instead of showering others with empty rhetoric and fortitude, the thankful heart understands the value of the individual human spirit facing challenges and encourages them to grow and mature.

A thankful heart is not swayed by pompous living and make-believe-utopias, but by the simple, natural understanding of human needs and the marvelous creation given to us to explore and experience.

A thankful heart bestows blessings on others without expectation of any returns.

A thankful heart knows when to lead and when to follow; and who not to follow.

A thankful heart loves to share their blessings with others.

A thankful heart sees the best in others.

A thankful heart also sees the lies, hypocrisies, and false impressions of others and avoids their delusional imprisonments.

A thankful heart is a repentant soul understanding their need for a Savior.

These are just a few of the thoughts that came across my mind this morning. For those who want to bathe their mind with more thankful thoughts, click on the links below to read past blogs:

Thanksgiving is All I Have

Thankfulness is Repentance in Action

Thank You Lord

Thank You Jes us Christ

Gratitude

Gratitude 101

Today I Get To…

PS: May You Have a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving.

Rooting For You in Christ!