Jesus Christ

He is Always On Time

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

 

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Time is of the essence.  This phrase is found in many legal proposals to move the party  to realize the importance of a quick decision and completion of the bidding process.  If the matter is important, don’t delay because someone else is going to move ahead of you and win the proposal.

Likewise, being a disciple of His means that time is of the essence.  When an assignment is giving to us by our Lord, it is important to handle it quickly and expediently.  We see what happened to Jonah who delayed and ran away from his calling.  He didn’t want any part of the ministry to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh.  Instead, he jumped unto a boat going in the opposite direction.  When the ocean became angry, he went down to sleep while the rest of the crew petitioned their gods for help.  When they ask him to petition his God, Jonah went to sleep rather than have God interfere in his life’s priorities.  But he eventually learned an important lesson and completed the assignment given to him.  But even after which, he had an attitude problem with God’s mercy.

The point being that God’s plan will be completed.  We either choose to participate or not.  If a plan is God’s Will, nothing is going to prevent it from being accomplished.  There is no obstacle large enough to prevent it.  There is no person who will prevent it.  There is no time delay that will prevent it.  The time delay only affects us as people because of our physical limitations.

We are instructed to redeem the time.  We are not to waste the time, but to put it to good use.  And good is a relative term.  One person’s treasure is another person’s junk.  For example, if we are waiting on the Lord for an answer to our prayer, we may wait while resting, while visiting with friends, while walking through the park, or while reading a new book.  Other people may look at us and disagree with our approach.  They can’t seem to understand that approach.  They believe we should be diligently working and busy in some ”productive activity” in seeking the Lord’s answer.  The fact is we have a different approaches to solving the problems in our lives.  Either one is acceptable to our God depending on our attitude and faith.

No, God doesn’t delay.  God’s timetable is right on schedule.  And we’ve learned over time to follow His timetable.  Since He is always on time, our faith waits on Him.

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 21

Our Eternal Dad, it is good to know that you are always with us and in us and for us as we live in Christ.  It is reassuring that you have a plan and timetable for all of us.  We thank you that you are eternal and not limited by time.  You control it and direct its course.

Help us to learn to live with the time we have each day.  Let us learn to redeem the time and invest in it wisely.  Let our time be dedicated to serving you and discovering more of you and your ways.  Help us to redeem the time through service for others.  Let us learn to manage our time for your glory and honor.  Thank you Jesus. we pray. Amen.

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Coach, Consultant, and Encourager

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God
Portal: Be Radical…EnjoyLifeInChrist.com

 

The Answer Always Comes Back to Jesus

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

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The last command Jesus gave to His disciples prior to His ascension was to go and make disciples of all nations. How?  By baptizing them into the God Family and teaching them to obey His commandments. As a disciple of His in the twenty-first century, we have the same mission.  (You would think that after all these years we would have it figured out) Likewise, He assured us that He is always with us even until His physical return at the end of this age. Therefore, our instructions and mission is simple to go and do the same.

The question of course is how do we best perform this task? We may feel that a full time minister called to pastor a local congregation has an easier job of fulfilling this function than us who have to work a “real job” to support our livelihood. Or the full time missionary in Africa or India has a better opportunity than ourselves. The truth is we have our own small world where we make a influential difference for the kingdom of God. And it is in our personal world that we best fulfill our mission. We do not necessary have to switch careers or neighborhoods. We only have to open our eyes and ask our Lord to lead us to where the harvest is ready for labors.

We believe that the United States of America is in great need of missionary work. Though many people state a belief in God, how many lives truly have produced a transformed life that walking with God generates? As Americans, we may say we trust in God on our dollar bills, but our actions put more trust in our capitalistic and democratic system than a living God. Even the simple Truths of the Bible are misunderstood or disagreed among the majority of Christians. We have become a nation providing lip service to our Lord and a love service to our desires. We of all people on the planet earth should be most humbled and thankful for the blessing we receive for living in this great country. But are we?

Many of us grew up thinking that is was not our responsibility to make disciples of others. It was the “church” responsibility, not ours. Since then, many of us have repented and are awkwardly learning to express the love, life, and teachings of Jesus to anyone who has a moment to listen in need. Sooner or later, we all come to realize our need for a Savior, a Lord, a Teacher, and a Friend. Sooner or later, we all come to the place where we understand that the Answer is the living Jesus Christ. It’s only a question of time.

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 4

Our Gracious Dad, thank you for giving us Jesus, your Son. Thank you for giving us Jesus, the Word. Thank you for giving us Jesus, our Savior. Thank you for giving us Jesus, our Lord. Thank you for giving us Jesus, our Teacher. Thank you for giving us Jesus, our Friend.

It is in Jesus that you have come alive in our life. Through His life on earth, we have come to know more of what you are like. You have revealed yourself through Him. You have answered all of life’s important questions through Him. Help us always be ready with an answer when others ask. Help us always be a faithful ambassador of your Kingdom with others. Help us always point people to Christ so they may come to know you. You have given everything to Jesus. We thank you.

Help us to share all that we have come to know and learn with others. Help us to share you with others.  Let others also share you with us.  Thank you Jesus as we pray in your name. Amen.

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Coach, Consultant, and Encourager

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God

 

How Does Preaching Effect Us?

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

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Faith comes by hearing the Word. That is how God made it.  Preaching is a gift God bestows on certain people to expound the Word with more power than just plain teaching of the Word. Teaching explains the Word, but preaching personifies the Word.

To be preached up means that we have taken the Word to a personal level today. Personal means as it applies to us and not our neighbor, nor what we write in preparing a sermon or chapter in a book. Today means today. Not yesterday nor tomorrow, but today. Today, we have been filled with the Word till it is brimming over in our actions, thoughts, and deeds. Yesterday, we learned from life, and tomorrow we shall plan for life, but today we live life.

There are days when we only preach to our self. There are days when we listen to Christian music preaching His word in song. There are days when we walk with nature and just  listen to His creation. There are days when we are corrected by non-believers. There are days ministers of different denominations expound His word via the airwaves hammering home a specific truth that applies to us at that moment. And of course, there are days when just reading the Word in prayer that enlightens our mind and heart. But of all the ways, there is nothing like a good, old-fashion, Bible-believing, faith-building, spirit-filled sermon by a brother of the cross. There is something good about hearing God’s word from the mouth and heart of another believer. Maybe it just reassures that what is happening in us is not strange but happening in the lives of others. Or maybe, it just restores our faith in the universal church.  Either way, there are many ways to be preached up.

As a student of His we always want to be ready with an answer to those who ask. Sometimes we are not. There are moments when the words come out of our mouth that is proper for the time. Then there are times when nothing comes out. Even when we pray for a quick answer, nothing comes out. We hope and pray that the silence at that time is the answer. Like all His disciples, we want to be faithful stewards of His word. And in today’s highly, informational driven society, we need to be more effective than ever to expound His Word in a more personal and effective manner. It’s easier to preach the Word when we are preached up ourselves. When we are preached up, our cups are overflowing and we can’t help but preach the Word in season.  Lord, keep your Word coming!

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 21

Our Faithful Dad, thank you for your wonderful plan of salvation and allowing us to be a part of it. We also thank you for your Word, the Bible. We thank you for allowing us to come to understand its applications and Truths in our life. We thank you for Jesus, His life, His sacrifice, and His intervention in our life each and every moment. We also thank you Holy Spirit for being involved in our life each and every moment. You are one fascinating, heavenly Being.

Help us each day to focus on your teachings, principles, and Truths as it relates in our life. Let them be real to us. Let them be effective in our life. Let them come alive in everything we see, think, and do. Let your Word be a living example in our life.

Thank you Jesus as we pray in your name. Amen.

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Coach, Consultant, and Encourager

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God