human potential

A New You

Dr. Mike 2025 , , ,

“ Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” Colossians 3:9-10

Recently in our small group the topic of Christ making us a new creation came up. (2 Corinthians 5:17). After the discussion, it dawned on me that many of us may not have a clear understanding of what it means.

Some of the men believed that following the Christian faith is just about improving one self. Others that one day we will all be spiritual beings in heaven. And then others elaborated it only means our position with God has changed. There were other comments, but these we most emphasized.

So now I have the opportunity to summarize the matter with greater clarity.

Yes, all the above comments are a byproduct of being a new creation. But the core of a new creation is what Jesus did and is now doing and what HE will do in the future.

Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven transformed the human race. God became man so man could become eternal sharing life with the Triune God. Jesus redeemed humanity. Humanity through Adam and Eve divorced God. Jesus restored humanity’s relationship with God. Humanity now has direct access to the Creator through Jesus Christ. Humanity was made in the image of God to represent HIM on this planet. Now under the new creation, humanity is better able to reflect what it means to be fully human.

When one surrenders to Jesus and HIS Kingdom, their human spirit is joined with the Holy Spirit. God begins to live HIS life in you and me. The more you lean on the Triune God, the more HIS Spirit influences your soul. Your emotions, mind, and willpower begin to align with God’s character. Yet, there is still a constant internal battle being fought. Our carnal nature still wants to rebel against God’s goodness. So, the soul is now being bombarded from the pulls and desires of the old-self along with God’s goodness. The old-self and the new-self are at war with each other.

But as we focus on growing in Godly knowledge, we learn to live a grace-paced life. We are nurturing the new-self. As we pray, fellowship, and worship God, we allow the Holy Spirit to have HIS way with us.

This is what baptism pictures. When Divinity died in the flesh and was resurrected, we also died with Jesus. One day we will also be resurrected with HIM. When we surrendered to Jesus, we put to death the old-self. We are then allowing God to put HIS Spirit in us as a deposit for the new-self. Life then focuses on becoming more like Jesus. Allowing HIS Spirit to influence us. Allowing HIS character to rub off on us. HE allows us to join HIS macro-purpose. He joins us in our micro-purposes. We begin to share life together. We learn to live life together.

The new creation is mankind’s human potential. To become partakers in God’s family. Life’s journey is an adventure and battle between the old-self and the new-self. The quicker we deny and surrender the old-self, the quicker we will enjoy the riches of the new-self. It does not happen overnight. For many of us, it may take our entire life to totally surrender our idols and strongholds. Yet, God’s grace and mercy supersede whatever challenges and obstacles we face. This is the adventure God has given us to pursue. To prepare us for eternity with HIM.

The sooner you realize you are a new creation in Christ, your focus changes. And as the old adage states, life becomes what you focus on.

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 to the Fullest

Dr. Mike 2025 , , ,

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.   Galatians 2:20

Jesus Christ lived, died, and was resurrected for you. HE sacrificed HIMSELF. HE showed us what love means through HIS words, actions, and purpose. The end result is HIS Spirit living within you. You and Jesus are now joined together through the Holy Spirit. As your spirit yields to God’s Spirit, you are both partnering in a great dance called life.

You are also wired for good work. Jesus has a place for you in HIS Kingdom. Yet HE will not force you nor coerce you toward it. You must decide whether or not you want to be engaged with HIM. When you do, you begin to experience life the way HE designed you to be.

Like a good marriage where couples share in the decision-making, so is your dance with Jesus. HE has open the lines of communications with you in prayer. HE instructs us to ask, seek, and knock. As we ask HIM for HIS thoughts on the matter, we also put forth our effort. Together, HIS grace and our effort germinate faithful action. All for HIS glory, the benefit of others and ourselves. For HE cares about you and those around you.

HE is the incarnate Triune God of humanity. HE has a greater purpose for life than this earthly experience. Yet, as we pursue our daily tasks with HIS spirit leading us, we learn how life is lived within HIS Kingdom culture. We don’t dream about the impossible, we ask HIM to show us the path toward making the dream become reality. We don’t play virtual life, we live life. We work, play, and relate with real people in real places doing real work for HIS glory and for HIS children.

Though at times life gets hard. Circumstances may stink. There may be days when you feel no one truly cares you even exist. These are the times we reach out for heaven’s help. We lean on HIM. We place our faith on HIS life living in us. We ask HIM for help. To direct our steps. To bring people who can help us. To give us the internal fortitude and strength. We wait. But we focus. We keep leaning on HIM. As we move through the dance floor of life, we sense HIS touch, HIS push, HIS confidence. We follow HIS lead. We partake and observe at the same time.

As the dominoes fall, and the music becomes clearer, the doors begin to open. As we walk forward, events move fast. Before we know, we are looking in hindsight to what just happened. A miracle. An outcome better than we expected. Not as we wanted it, but good. Good for ourselves. Good for all those involved. But most respectfully, a good outcome that glorifies our God in heaven.

This all begins when we choose to be engaged with the Savior and Lord of heaven and earth. HE brings life to the full for everyone who walks with HIM.

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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Steadfast Love

Dr. Mike 2023, Journey in Christ, Life in Christ , , ,

Proverbs 19:22

What is desired in a man is steadfast love…

Hosea 6:6

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

In hindsight, I was a very difficult child. I probably caused most of the family difficulties in my parent’s household. I was rebellious, strong willed, and hated our family culture. Yet, deep down inside, I knew both parents loved me in their own way no matter how stupidly I acted.

Currently, after almost forty years of marriage to the same woman, I know she still loves me. Though throughout the years we had our share of heated arguments, strong differences in parental tactics, and sharp changes in personal preferences in food, clothing, and lifestyle, we still confirm our love for each other and enjoy sharing life together.       

Then God, while I was still in total rebellion against Him, forgave me for disrespecting Him and His ways before I even came to know Him. Since then, through the knowledge of Jesus Christ, I have come to grow in His grace. He is now my standard of measurement of the steadfast love we are to display and share with others.

To know someone loves you unconditionally opens the door of acceptance. You learn to fully accept yourself as you are and yet are motivated to live up to your full potential as a person. You gladly change your attitude, behavior, and thinking so you may fully enjoy living with the person who steadfastly loves you. You enjoy their companionship. You look forward to sharing your life with them and they share their life with you. And with the Triune God there is no difference.

God longs to share His life with you. His desire is to create a human/divine family that includes you and me. Like any healthy family, the parent wants to be involved in their children activities. God likewise wants to be involved in your activities. As you share your life with Him, you will discover more of who HE is. As you gain knowledge of His character, attributes, and ways, you will inculcate them into your life. You will become an image of your Father in heaven. You will then better understand how the apostle Paul wrote that we are being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ.

Everything good begins with love. When love is allowed to bloom, we begin to experience the entire fruit of God’s Spirit. The fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control become the bedrock of one’s attitude in life. Love also leads the way for faith and hope to follow. When apostle John writes that God is Love, than one better understands the importance of allowing God to fully live in us.

HE is the essence of all creation. HE created life, the planet, and universe so that HE may express HIS love. When we rebel against HIS love, we find ourselves living life outside HIS Character. The result is sin which devastates oneself and those around you. When immature, we rebel thinking this type of life is normal. We wallow in our misery and call the dark side of life normal. When love is removed, the ugliness of human nature runs rampant. The result is self-destruction and eventually the destruction of a society.

There is nothing more highly elevated than immovable love, firmly fixed in place, and non-changing for one to totally grasp the power and character of God. His steadfast love is our standard to pursue. Even when we fail, his grace will pick us up, and we will continue the journey to become more and more like our elderly brother Jesus Christ.

Is not this what makes being a Christ-follower the most adventurous trip one can choose in this life?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager, Faith-Integrator, Scribbler

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