life in christ

Coward or Conquer

Dr. Mike 2023 , , , ,

Revelations 21:7-8

The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

One day, we who are thirsty for righteousness will receive Godly satisfaction. HE has promised us eternal life with full honors of membership in HIS family. But until then, we are being trained for leadership as servants of the living God.

The apostle John writes certain behavior is going to be eliminated from the surrounding culture when God reestablishes HIS throne room on earth. I listed these characteristics below compared with their favorable opposite.

                Unacceptable                             Recommended

                Cowardly                                   Courageous

                Faithless                                     Loyal

                Detestable                                  Honorable

                Murderers                                  Life-Givers

                Sexually Immoral                     Sexually Virtuous

                Sorcerers                                  God Supporters

                Idolaters                                  Triune God Worshiper

                Liars                                         Truth Bearers    

The Holy Spirit is now working with Christ-followers preparing them for eternity. In God’s house, HIS family emulates characteristics of their Father. These recommended traits are the outer expression of an inner heart. As God lives in you, HE is working in you and through you as you move through your daily routines.

The more you learn who God IS and allow HIM entrance into your heart and mind, the more you will display HIS characteristics in your life. Question: Who doesn’t want to be more like the most successful, enjoyable, loving Being in the universe? Answer: Only those who haven’t been properly introduced to HIM.

The more you capture HIS vision for humanity, the more enthralled you become with HIS work.

The more you discover HIS vision for you, the more engaged you become with matching your work within HIS mission.

The more you participate with HIS work, the more intrigued you become with serving others for HIS glory.

Your surrounding world becomes a mini Kingdom of God. You rejoice living under HIS favor. You gladly enhance the lives of those around you. You begin to better understand HIS way to govern people. You understand the importance of marriage, family, and community. You learn to balance the value of the individual and society. You slowly take on more responsibility to improve the world around you.

Yes, courage is required to fully live out HIS ways. Society may cancel you. Your unengaged friends will leave you. Your tiny world may even shrink tinier. But God is with you. HE will carry you and support you as you support HIM. HE will direct your steps and bring people into your world to help you march with HIM in HIS work. HE will show you and lead you to become a conqueror.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

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Learn. Live. Invest.

Dr. Mike 2022 , , ,

Proverbs 1:5

Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

Romans 8:5

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

What three activities could you make happen today and everyday that will propel you toward a life worth living? How about learning something new today? What about living with the Spirit today? And why not make a greater investment into God’s Kingdom today?

Since life is a learning process preparing you and I for eternity, what new idea or thought or word could we focus on today that will take us slightly outside our comfort zone, make us feel vulnerable, but afterward expand our awareness and confidence from the experience?

This morning for example, prior to my writing, I searched the concordance for multiple scriptures on learning, living, and investing, along with sub-categories which led me to a few other scriptures which I wrote down to investigate further after completing this page. I selected the above Scriptures as my focus, but there were many others I could have used with a slightly different perspective. Those are for another time and place.

Learning is a process built upon experience, knowledge, and insight. It is never ending unless one chooses to stop. Isn’t it interesting why those who are quite successful still make ample time to read?

Learning something new adds variety in one’s life, expands one’s knowledge and perspective of life and God, plus enriches one’s tank to better serve others when a situation arises. You have a good solution to the problem. Learning prepares you for better service.

If you are reading this, then I can assume you are still living. I jest, but how many people do you know are still breathing but the Spirit of love and joy are found nowhere in the room? In fact, they wouldn’t recognize the Holy Spirit’s characteristics unless they stop focusing on themselves for a moment.

When you read about the saints through the pages of the Bible, you begin to identify them as being persecuted yet with such joy and purpose for living that your head tilts in understanding how that can be. Then when you dig further and begin to understand the work of the Holy Spirit to sanctify us, you slowly come to learn by walking with HIM you begin to experience life the way God invented life to be lived.

After a small taste of Kingdom living, you can’t have enough and want more. But how? You learn to submit to Christ’s authority in your life and HE bestows the power of the Spirit which invades your inner being to replace the hardness of your heart with the gracefulness of HIS divine attributes. You are slowly being formed into HIS image of Godly Character.

As you become more involved with developing a relationship with your eternal partner, your heart and mind becomes more occupied with HIS domain and HIS macro purpose. You begin to align your micro purpose with HIS macro design and establish more order and boundaries into your life. You find yourself investing more of your time, money, and resources to expand HIS domain in your little corner of the world.

The daily work may seem routine and ordinary from an outside observer, but for you the real meaning of life becomes your foundation for investment. From here, you invest in HIS kingdom, HIS work, and HIS ways. Your family, career, and community involvement are the means and opportunity for you to invest yourself as a representative of Jesus Christ’s government. You now become a witness of God’s transforming power to enable others find fulfillment, freedom, and flourishment the way God intended people to experience.

You realize the investment God has in you and your aim is to return HIS investment to HIM manifold more times than humanly possible. You are grateful for the opportunity and appreciative of the challenge. Your only hope and prayer is God provides you the necessary resources to make it so and you don’t fail him in the process.

So, if you want a simple life with great returns, why not focus one’s time, money, and resources to learn, live, and invest with the ONE who makes everything possible – our Incarnate Triune God.

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

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Obstacle Course

Dr. Mike 2022 , , , ,

Acts 20:24

But I (Paul) do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (ESV)

At times, life feels like an obstacle course.

Luke the writer of Acts wrote about Paul speaking with the elders of the local church where he identified his purpose with them and mentioned the many trials and obstacles he had overcame and the many that still awaits him in the future. You and I are no different than Paul in regard to facing the challenges of life.

As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, our intentional purpose is to serve HIM and HIS Kingdom. Whatever life throws our way either temporarily prevents one from moving forward or propels one to fulfill their purpose.

Without purpose, life is a happen chance and we simply go with the flow of the moment. With purpose and aim, this same unplanned event may prevent us from moving toward our intentional mission. The same situation and circumstance have different perspectives depending on one’s course laid out for them.   Which is why, more days than not, I say life resembles an obstacle course to overcome.

Life is an obstacle course because everyday events and circumstances are pivot points either bringing you closer to God and strengthening your character and faith in HIM or to awaken you from your spiritual stupor.

Life is an obstacle course because when pain and suffering occur, one either leans more on HIM and your relationship with HIM becomes more intimate and deeper, or further distances you from being aware of HIS presence.

Life is an obstacle course because constant distractions take your mind away from your purpose as your human nature seeks the easy and quick solution without concern for the long-term consequences.

Life is an obstacle course because the culture bombards you with emotional appeals to satisfy your every desire without considering the cost.

Life is an obstacle course because constant short-term pain for long-term gain becomes tiring without needed rest and refreshment from the Spirit.

Life is an obstacle course because lies, doubts, and personal inadequacies keeps one constantly seeking the truth of a matter.

Life is an obstacle course because managing the personal relationships between one’s body-soul-spirit with others is a constant exercise of wisdom to balance individual freedoms with community peace.

You could list more that impacts your life and the course you have chosen.

Yet, I am grateful and thankful through all the challenges and opportunities which come our way. Why? Because we have a faithful and committed God who has an eternal purpose in mind for you and me. Every obstacle and every situation are times for HIM to reconstruct and build a new you. The you HE plans to bring with HIM in HIS eternal Kingdom as HE prepares you and I for good work now and in the new age to come.

So, this is why I believe each obstacle that comes our way is simply another opportunity for us to learn more about HIM and HIM preparing you and me to better serve others.

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

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved