servant leader

Giving vs Getting

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

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Have you ever noticed the two opposing ideologies of giving versus getting?  There are people whose main focus is on what they can get.  Every deal they negotiate is a must win situation for them.  Every desire they must experience.  Every situation is evaluated by what is in it for them.  They only give to get.  Their desire is to accumulate as much monetary toys as they can.  It is never enough.  On the other hand, believe it or not, there are people whose focus is on what they can give.  They donate a portion of their income faithfully to serve those less fortunate.  They negotiate every deal willing to give value to the other side.  They realize everything they own is something that will eventually be given away so why not give it away while they can enjoy the process. Both are a way of life: Giving vs. Getting.

Jesus even discussed this philosophy and summarized it by saying “it is more blessed to give than to receive.”  More blessed meaning it will bring us more happiness, joy, and fulfillment in our life. God is a Giver. God loves to give.  Whatever God owns He shares with others.  He constantly gives from His treasurers so we may enjoy life more abundantly.  We believe there isn’t anything He will refrain from giving to us as long as it wouldn’t destroy our eternal salvation.

As a disciple of His, we are learning to give as we see the need.  Giving is becoming a more natural process of thinking and relating with others.  It doesn’t always come easy.  Sometimes our carnal desire appears and needs to be confronted.  We are all probably a long way off from being like our Eternal Dad who gives sometimes what seems to be recklessly (from our human perspective).  But the process is in gear and the Holy Spirit leads us, confronts us, and gently massages us towards living life like God.

As a disciple of His, we hope to keep on giving until our last breath.  Jesus set the example while on the cross.  His focus was still on those around Him and not on Himself.  He made sure His mother was taken care for.  He prayed to God asking for forgiveness on those who physically carried through the hanging.  His heart and mind was on those around Him more than on Himself and His situation.  We hope when our time comes that we likewise follow our Lord’s example and bring smiles to the angels in Heaven and to our Heavenly Dad.  Only time will tell.

OUR PRAYER

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Our Generous Dad, thank you for revealing a blessed way of life.  Thank you for teaching us the joy in true giving expecting nothing in return.  Thank you for your involvement and gifts that you have bestowed upon us.

You are truly awesome.  Help us to continue learning how to give, to share, and to sacrifice when necessary.  Help us to see the opportunities to be of service for others.  Help us to give of what we have of value.  Help us to give our money, time, and attention for others in need.  You know how we can be of service.  You know who needs what.  You know what we have to give.  Help us live life like you do!  Amen.

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Coach, Consultant, and Encourager

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

 

DOES BEING WRONG EVER PRODUCE BETTER FRUIT?

Dr. Mike Essays , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Our Righteous, Loving Dad:

PRAY 9 

Thank you for loving us even in our ignorance. Thank you for loving us even when we suffer “brain damage.” Thank you for loving us even when we are wrong. Help us to love like you. Help us to love; to love; to love … So Be It.

 

 

 

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“Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself?”

Ecclesiastes 7:16

 Which is more important? Being right or keeping the peace? Which is more important? Being right or allowing love to have its way? Which is more important? Being right or experiencing supernatural joy?

 

When the above questions were first introduced to the me, I stumbled with the answers. Being brought up in a ”religious culture”, I was trained to first seek righteousness which translated for me meant to be right in doctrine (as I saw the answer to be). To be right in rituals (again, as interpreted by me). To be right in defining God (my view of course was always correct). It wasn’t until the above questions slapped my spiritual face that I had a rude awakening. Being right isn’t that important anymore.

 

With hindsight being one of the great teachers in life, I now see how God has allowed me to be wrong many, many, many times, yet He rarely immediately corrected me with “the answer.” Instead. He would allow me to experience His peace, love, or joy first before showing me a better way. His righteousness is far superior than any legalistic system we can every devise. His righteousness takes into consideration the entire internal spiritual dimension while we only focus on the exterior behavior. His ways are far superior then anything we have come up with in our man-made systems.

 

As a disciple of His, I want to learn how He relates with people and then emulate it. I want to learn how He works with people, and make it my method of operation. I want to learn how He loves people and love the same way. He is my standard. He is my model. He is my hero. His way is the way I want to walk in. And you are correct. We don’t have to be right in all things – only in the important one – Jesus.

 

Dr. Mike


BRING IT ON!

Dr. Mike Essays , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PRAY 9

Dear Heavenly Dad:

Glorify your name in all that I do. Let not my path be one of ease and comfort, but one of challenge and dependency on you. You are always with me. Help me always be with you. Make you the center of my life. Let nothing come between us. Help me capture your vision, to see your work, to accomplish your will in everything I do.

Help me be a living example of kingdom life in today’s world. Let your kingdom surround me and surround all the people we meet today. Let your glory shine through me and in me so that every person we meet today knows they have met you. Amen.

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“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. Matthew 10:34

 

                        ”Play it safe.” “Don’t take any risks.” “Why rock the boat?” “It’s better to keep it dull and routine than expressive and unpredictable.” Or does it?

      The older I become the more predictable, dull, and routine this life seeks. What change I am confronted with only creates more work and effort on my part. Basically, my nature has moved towards laziness where I don’t want to make the effort. I would rather live life with contentment, peacefulness, and stability. But is that reality?

      The scriptures teach us that a people without vision will perish. We need a mission to focus our life towards. Now our life’s mission could simply be to avoid all confrontation, to avoid being involved in other people’s lives, to live for ourselves without a care of the world around us. We simple live our life so that when we are gone no one will have missed us. We live as a world unto ourselves. But is that an apprentice of Jesus Christ? Is that what the Kingdom of God is all about?

      Didn’t Jesus forewarn his disciples that He came to bring division among families and people? Didn’t He predict that we would stand before courts and rulers as a witness to Him’? Didn’t He compare our struggles with that of a pregnant woman in labor? Didn’t He threaten the status quo with His mission of preaching, teaching, and healing? Didn’t the apostle Paul write that Christ-followers are turning the world upside down? Didn’t he cause riots in the streets with his message of One God? Didn’t his former religious partners seek to destroy him? Didn’t small armies pursue him with the purpose of killing him? How controversial was he in his time? Yet didn’t he preach a message of peace, contentment, and stability?

            The Kingdom of God is not a tamed vision. It requires total surrender. It requires the death of selfish desires. It is not the path of least resistance. Instead, it’s a journey through battlefields. With the armor of God, we are proactive in our daily walk with Him. We do not know what to expect on any given day. All we know is that He is with us. Today may be a roller coaster of emotions, struggles with the self, darts from the evil one, or attacks from love ones. Through it all though, we have an Advocate who is with us and we rely on. In prayer and through faith we call for assistance. We move forward towards our heavenly call. Our mission is sure. Yes, we may desire the easy way out. But, as a disciple of His we have agreed to take whatever comes our way and handle it with His love. We may have initially desired tame visions, but in the pursuit of the Kingdom of God we take on more than we are capable of handling apart from Him. Yes, I like it dull, routine, and boring. But I gladly take whatever comes my way because it will make me stronger for the Kingdom, stronger for Him, and stronger for my love ones.

              Dr. Mike