life in christ

Faith Plunges Ahead

Dr. Mike 2023 , ,

Galatians 2:20

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.

2 Corinthians 13:5

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

We all have faith. The question before us though, where and how is your faith exercised?

For example, if you are like me, you have faith in yourself. Faith in your spouse. Faith the sun will rise tomorrow. Faith the driver next to you will properly maneuver their vehicle. Faith to jump through all the hurdles of earning a college degree. Faith you will complete your work assignment on time. Your list is probably longer than mine.

What this shows is your faith being exercised and expressed each day. But what about your faith in Christ?

Do you recall the first time you met Jesus? Did HE confront you? Did He make you feel uncomfortable? Did you simply ignored Him? Or did He challenge you? Made you question your values? Your morals? Your purpose?

Whether you ran away from Him or accepted His challenge, you eventually realize He requires a decision. You either have too accept He is who He claims to be or not.

If your choice was to deny Him, than how has your life been? But, if like me, you accepted his challenge, are you experiencing the romantic and adventurous journey of life in Christ?   

When my faith first met Jesus I was not sure what I have gotten myself into. But I plunged ahead.

When I first met the woman who became my wife, I likewise recognized she was the answer to my prayers. So I plunged ahead.

When I chose a career in commercial real estate, I was unsure. I did not really recognized how my natural abilities aligned with the opportunities ahead. But I plunged ahead.

Every time when confronted with a life changing situation, I plunged ahead.

When unsure of the social consequences, I plunged ahead.

When challenged by uncomfortable circumstances, I plunged ahead.

But the best plunge was when my little faith met Jesus.

When your faith meets Jesus, and you follow through on His invitation, your life becomes like a Hollywood blockbuster movie. You become one of the supporting characters. You are included in the romantic scenes. You also share in the high adventures which make your skin stand on edges. Yet you come through it all standing next to the main character – Jesus Christ.

He gladly shares the victories and good times with you. He also is with you through the pain and low periods of your life.

The longer you walk with Him, the more you realize how much He cares for you and others. He is your Lord and Savior. Over time, He also becomes your hero and friend.

Those who have placed their trust in Him understand where I am coming from. But others who have not taken up His invite are still trying to do it the sole hard way. Whatever encouragement we can give you to take the plunge is our prayer. For when one meets Jesus and takes the plunge, life becomes an adventurous journey of transformation. Your world will never be the same.

When you allow Him to live in you, you experience life the way He originally created you to be.

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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Grief is Unbridled Love

Dr. Mike 2023 , , , ,

Psalm 31:9, 24

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also… Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!

Grief is love with no place to go are words recently spoken to me via a sermon. At first, I was unsure of the concept, than it sank in.

We are emotional beings wired to express love outward toward others. When the aim of our love disappears and is no longer available, our heart cries. The emotional and psychological loss of being unable to release the heartfelt love we desire to share with another is overly painful. Our sense of security and helplessness in a dangerous world is shattered. We find ourselves struggling with upsetting thoughts and anxiety that won’t go away.

In this Psalm, King David is lamenting over the iniquity of his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her then husband Uriah. This has now evolved where his son Absalom’s is leading a national rebellion against him and the nation. Though God has forgiven him for this past sin, the consequences of these actions have caused some irreversible problems in his life. He is now facing the chastening period grieving and pleading for God’s mercy and intervention.

At this time, many of his friends have abandoned and left him alone. He was on his own without the support necessary to deal with the matter. So he fled and vacated Jerusalem.

As he prayed, bearing his soul, the psychological pain of someone he loves becoming his enemy unleashes within him. The inner battle between protecting the nation and caring for his embattled son has caused great fear  and anxiety to overcome him. Yet he moves down the same path as always been his habit. He cries out for help from his Lord.

The end result, David fled, and Absalom entered the city to become King of Israel. Absalom’s reign was short though as he was eventually killed. Then David returned as king of the nation. Yet through the entire ordeal, David grieved over the loss of his son and the chastening brought about by his miscues.

Grief hurts. When you are unable to directly express the love you have for another, it hurts. When you accept the responsibility of a poor choice which harmfully impacts the lives of others who you truly love, it hurts.

Yet we have a merciful high priest in Jesus, who personally understands the human condition. HE relates and intervenes for our good and the good of others who are caught up within our world of choices. Like David closing remarks in Psalm 31, our role is to exercise courage in trusting our Lord.

Jesus has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. As we lean on HIM, HE will fill our cup, sit us at the table, and soothe us through the painful, grieving process which is necessary to heal the body and soul. HE is the reason when we lose someone we love and cherish, our hearts turn to HIM. HE is always there to accept our love and perfectly respond to the situation.

Love unbridled. When grief overtakes us, we are fortunate to hug Jesus and allow His strength, compassion, and care hold us through the process.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

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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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