Jesus Christ

A Sign, a Sign, Everywhere a Sign

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

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A disciple’s life is always walking down a path with construction in progress.  Like most construction sites, there are warning signs instructing you to change your normal routine to better handle the congestion.  These signs warn you to change lanes or not to change lanes, to merge or to divide, to slow down or to stop, to switch lanes or to ride on the shoulder, and many other choices.  There are also those that read “Detour” meaning the road ends and you must take another route.  But the signs instruct you on which route to take.  Of course, the alternative route is not always the fastest or quickest, but the one chosen by some civil engineer that will effectively manage the traffic flow.  Most of the time however, especially if you are a local resident, you will take an alternative route that only the local drivers know.  The out-of-towners must follow the signs.  But the locals always know a better route.  Likewise, as a disciple of His, we will face detours in our life.  Signs will be placed in front of us by good, nature people who want to be helpful.  These signs will be the best that the world has to offer.

However, if one is not well trained in scripture, they may easily be misled.  When faced with a detour, a disciple will immediately turn to the best traffic officer on the beat: Jesus Christ.  In prayer, and possibly fasting or one of the other disciplines, a disciple will ask for directions.  She will trust the Holy Spirit to direct their path.  The Holy Spirit may lead them to seek counsel.  The Holy Spirit may lead them to a mentor.  The Holy Spirit could lead them to a mule or elephant.  Wherever the Holy Spirit leads you, the answer will be there.  The path to follow will be clear.  The detour will only be an inconvenient nuisance that probably will bear godly fruit in your life and the life of others that you may touch in your journey.

Our paths will have many detours.  But the detour is not the end of our journey, but the beginning.  It is the start of a temporary, new direction where you will meet new people, new encounters, new locations, and new events.  You may also meet your old nemesis the devil.  But you know how to handle him.  It’s a new route with new opportunities to fulfill your mission in life.  It may be only to serve someone that asked God for help and He is sending you there.  It may be only to lend an uplifting word to someone who is in trouble.  It may only be to direct your steps away from a potential problem and give your soul rest.  Whatever the results, some we may know instantly, some we may know many years down the road, and others we may never know until the Kingdom has fully arrived.  But this we do know, the Master Planner has everything under control.  As we have surrendered to serve Him, He will lead us in a direction that will prove most beneficial for those we come into contact with and for ourselves as well.  We will not be detoured.  Our mission goes forth no matter which way we travel.

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 21

Our Masterful Dad, thank you for calling us out of this world and giving us real meaning and purpose to live.  Thank you for caring and loving us.  Thank you for giving us the encouragement to try different paths.  Thank you for the opportunities that you present to us.  Thank you for giving us the abilities and talents to choose our heart desires.  Thank you for allowing us to live true to our heart.

Yet help us to deal with the obstacles. trials, and inconveniences that come our way.  Give us the courage and conviction to live your truth no matter what problem arises.  Help us to transform all problems into solutions for your glory.  Let every road we travel down, every door we open, every window we look out from, every step we climb, and every task we accomplish be done in sharing the good news of your Kingdom for your glory.  Amen.

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Coach, Consultant, and Encourager

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God

Pre-eminence Belongs To The King

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

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Do you recall in the early grades when you competed with other students in speed-reading?  You and they would probably take turns being the first one to read any material and then recall the contents for the teacher.  Was our motivation to read with speed and comprehension or simply to be first?  Later in life when you were playing sports, was it to be the best you could be or to be the best among your peers?  Likewise in college while wasting time in the student activity center playing cards with your peers, was it to win all the time, or just to be better than your peers?  Did you walk away with a trophy or two back then, but if you were honest with your motivation was it to be the best player or the internal drive to be better than your peers?

Throughout life, those of us with a competitive or achievement spirit tend to have a strong motivation to be number one among our peers. When we sold, who had to he # 1 at the end of the year in sales? When we did whatever, can we admit our motivation was to be the best in comparison with our peers, no matter what the price?.  If you are like many of us, we have a strong internal drive that we can’t control but had to be satisfied. It would drive us in whatever we did.  It wasn’t until we totally surrendered our life to God that this motivation dissipated and eventually disappeared.

In scripture, we read how Satan wasn’t content in being a servant of God, but wanted to be in charge of God’s Kingdom. He persuaded one-third of the angles to work with him to overthrow God from His throne. But instead of victory, he learned that God is in control and no one is going to remove Him from His Office. Likewise, we have come to learn who is Number One in our life.

There is a great sense of peace and contentment knowing that you don’t have to be better than anyone else. That God wants you to be the best you can be. That we are all created differently but distinctly in the image of God with the purpose to live for all eternity working with Him in whatever is best suited for us.  In fact, nowadays instead of seeking pre-eminence, we find ourselves serving others with more joy than ever before.  Instead of trying to become number one, we work at helping others to excel.  Instead of seeking the glory for self, we let it shine upon others.

As a disciple of His, we find it easier to put the pre-eminence where it belongs and that is on Jesus.  Instead of crawling over one another and competing against one another, we find it easier to place Jesus central and learn to serve Him and those He chooses to send our way.

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 8

Our Glorified Dad, thank you for being number one in our life.  There is a great sense of peace and comfort knowing that no matter what we do or accomplish you will always be the Best in our book.  Help us to see others through your eyes. Help us to serve others through your eyes.  Help us to build up others especially those you have placed into the church.

Thank you for the assurance and faith to live this life as your child and pupil. Thank you for your tutoring and thank you for the privilege of serving others.  Help us channel the energy you give us to serving others and revealing you as first in life.  Whenever the opportunity comes, help us to always place you first in the eyes of others and keep this servant in humble submission to your Kingdom.  Amen.

Your Consultant & Coach for Christ-Centered
Business Owners & Executives

Dr. Mike

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God

Faith in What?

Dr. Mike Essays, Kingdom Paradigms , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Whenever someone says that they have faith, the question arises, “faith in what or whom?”

If you probe enough in a person’s narrative, you will find the worldview that the person builds their reality from.  Is their foundation for “faith” in happen-chance? a “faith” in self? a “faith” in another person? a “faith” in “big brother?” or a “faith” in “karma?” Wherever the faith is focused toward reveals the person’s source of life and their reality.

In political slogans, we are asked to have faith. In business circles, we are asked to have faith. In relationships, we are asked to have faith. Faith is one of those words that has become a generic, abused child. However, when faith is properly employed, reality becomes more real in a person’s life. When faith is built on a true, solid foundation than kingdom reality becomes a life-giving source that makes oneself and those around him/her to flourish.

If someone is looking for a Biblical definition of faith, check out chapter eleven of Hebrews. If you want a another practical definition, substitute the words belief and trust in the work of the Triune God every time you come across the faith word. It will give you a more precise meaning of the word faith as used in scripture. But for those whose basis is not scripture, faith is only an empty cliché to distort the power and grace of God. Yet be not surprised, Biblical words and concepts have slowly eroded over time to become a water down version of its original meaning. That is why we all need to become practicing theologians to some degree.

faith

My belief and trust is in Jesus Christ. He allows us to take part with Him in His story which is restoring creation back to God’s original intent. He has my back. My belief and trust is built on His faith, His work of salvation, His plans for humanity, and His ability to make it all happen for  His goodness and the goodness of all under His dominion.

So the next time you hear someone mention faith, be sure you both have the same definition of faith in mind. Otherwise, who is being radical and missing out in the enjoyment of life in Christ?

Dr. Mike