Reality

Reality of Life

Dr. Mike 2025 , , ,

“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” John 14:2

Life is God’s most precious gift to us. Somewhere back in time, you and I were not here. Today, we are breathing with the living. Somewhere in the future, our body will no longer take breath on planet earth. Between the time we are born until the day we die, we have the privilege and blessing to experience human life.

How we experience life in most cases is subject to what meaning and purpose we place on our existence. If we believe in a Creator God, then we accept HIS plan for life. If we do not believe in a divine being but life is a happen chance, then we operate from a position of being our own god. Whichever route we choose will determine the outcome of one’s life experience.

One life lesson I learned from business is to build teams and processes with best practices. My first major business project, I started by re-creating “the wheel.” After working super long hours and taking many arrows in the back, I knew there must be a better way to do the task at hand. My mentor saw my pain and made a quick suggestion that changed the way I would pursue life thereafter. Why re-create the wheel? Instead, why not gather the best practices already implemented by others. Then make small modifications to fit your situation.

This same approach that worked in the business world also works in everyday life. When you review all the worldviews, Christianity explains life better than the others. The Bible is the number one seller each year for a reason. When one lives the lessons of forty authors all inspired by the same God, life becomes an adventure built on solid ground. One is able to customize the best practices of life into one’s personal world.

You discover the One God of humanity. You learn HIS purpose for your life. You accept HIS declaration to be adopted into HIS family. You gladly surrender and sacrifice your personal agenda to support HIM and HIS ways. You become engaged with Papa God, Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit. Your everyday world expands. You join others sharing the good news of Jesus with those who haven’t yet seen what you have. You learn to dance with the God-Man in your daily routines of life. As you hang out with the Divine, your spirit and soul become more patterned after the image of Jesus. You are being prepared for eternity with HIM.

What happens after this life is yet to be determined. As a believer, my faith and hope are connected with Jesus of Nazareth. The God-Man who claimed to be divine. Who substantiated HIS claim through a resurrection from the dead. And verifies HIS claim every day by the Spirit living in those who believe. HE lives in us today. We have been promised our spirit will be with HIM after we take our last breath. Then we wait to share in the resurrection of all humanity. When God will judge and assign HIS children new responsibilities. This is the fruit of living life with God.

For those who choose not to live with God, reality is painfully different. Judgement will hurt. Your will, will be done.

Life is precious. You are unique. God has a place prepared for you. But HE only wants those who are willing to share in HIS life HIS way. Rebels are welcome as long as they surrender to HIM and HIS way!

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)

Aspirations and Writings Neatly Bound in Book Formats:
* indicates audio version available at Apple Books

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Do Right Beliefs Really Matter?

Dr. Mike 2024 , ,

Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don’t impose it on others. You’re fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you’re not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you’re out of line. If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong.   Romans 14:22-23 (MSG)

Your beliefs don’t save you. Only the grace of Jesus Christ through faith does that (Eph. 2:8). But your beliefs will determine your effectiveness in living life.

As your beliefs come closer to the truth, you come closer to reality. And as you face reality, you come to know and better interact with the God who created reality.

So beliefs will either move you closer to know God or further way from having a deeper relationship with HIM.

This is why I don’t get bent out of shape when people’s beliefs don’t agree with what I have proven to myself to be. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe they know something I don’t know. But then like an effective scientist, we test the hypothesis of the belief. If it is built on good logic and reason, then we will experiment with the matter. We will put it to the test. 

Of course, I will continue to keep my present beliefs in place until proven otherwise. Why? Because they have been tested over time. So there must be something else in the equation before I even begin to even consider the option to deconstruct or reconstruct them.

Beliefs are less important than the Faith you have in God. Belief typically has to do with truth in dealing with life. Faith though is trusting the God of reality that HE loves us, wants what is good for us, and will act on our behalf so HIS goodness may be manifested for all to witness. My faith is a gift from HIM and built on the evidence of Scripture, others, and my walk with Jesus.

So if someone doesn’t agree with your beliefs, that is OK. State your position and why. If he or she is a sibling in the family of God and walks with Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they are in good hands. God will eventually show them or you which belief is more real than not. Until then, love them as God has loved you. Remember when we were ignorant and our beliefs were totally out of sync with God’s truth?

Life is a learning process preparing you for eternity. The hunt to determine which beliefs are pertinent and important and which are not may take a lifetime. But meanwhile, we are leaning on our God and building an intimate, interactive relationship with HIM. Which is of greater value? Having the right belief or having a strong relationship with our eternal Father? It is always your choice.

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)

Books By Dr. Mike:

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Perception

Dr. Mike Life Tools , ,

Matthew 13:15 (NASB)

For the heart of this people has become dull, with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them.’

perception

The other day there was money to be made trading the futures market. The volatility was lively and volume at extreme highs. Yet at the end of the day I didn’t even make one entry. After reviewing the day’s activity, the realization of my perceived blindness shocked me.

I spent the time seeking out one setup that has been very good for me during times of volatility. The setup this day never happened. However, in review I notice five other types of entries that I have successful profited in the past. Yet this day, I was blind to these opportunities.

Lesson learned.

How often do we walk through the day focused on one specific outcome and ignore all other opportunities?

Our perception is not reality. While trading, there was real money being made by those who were open to different possibilities. My perception never occurred; therefore, I didn’t monetarily benefit that day. Yet the fact is money was made by many others. Their perception aligned with what was truly happening that day.

When it comes to God, our perception is either align with Him or not. Ignorance blinds us from seeing or hearing what is actually happening. A narrow mind focused on a perceived idea may limit one from what is actually happening. A misunderstood word may blind one from what is actually happening. A dull ear may also limit one from fully knowing what is actually happening.

However, an open mind, heart, eye, and ear seeks the truth from all sources. Instead of viewing the situation from one single view, we entertain multiple perceptions for confirmation of reality.

Whether trading the futures market or walking with our heavenly Father, our perception is limited. However, when we are open-minded and realize there is more before us than we see and hear, then maybe we can begin to discover what is really happening before us.

Perception is not reality, but only one person’s opinion. Don’t confuse opinion with reality.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
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 2013-2018 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved