SERVE

Support God

Dr. Mike 2023 , ,

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
    and he will repay him for his deed. Proverbs 19:17

Yes, you can support God. You can actively exercise the faith He has given you. When circumstances call for it, you can support His ways. If a poor person needs financial assistance within your power to provide, lend him the money. When someone needs a mentor to help them, you can support His Name. When people are upset with leadership or those who govern them, you can introduce them to God’s domain. The Bible calls this – practicing your faith.

When you practice your faith, you are supporting God. You are acknowledging HIS ways are best. You reinforce HIS means to a more productive life for all. Yes, you may have to temporarily sacrifice your dreams and wants, but you know God is your provider.

Your actions may cause cultural turmoil. But when God’s character is involved, you will support HIM. You know HIS truth rules. Therefore, you have multiple opportunities to support HIS Words, instructions, and values each day.

So be generous to those truly forsaken. Those who are poor and need a helping hand to get back on their feet. God will repay you. HE is a trustful partner. He has supported you and me in more ways than you can count since our births. The least we can do is support HIM, HIS work, and HIS purpose in return.

And when you learn to be generous in your service and support of others, you also experience God’s characteristic of the blessed life. 

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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Gracefully Failing

Dr. Mike 2023 , , , ,

Romans 15:1-2

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

There are two life-skills I wished someone taught me earlier in life. The first is how best to handle conflict. The second, how to best handle failure. These two separate the men from the boys and the women from the girls.

If you want relationships and tasks to become more rewarding, than ingrain these two components into your character. Otherwise, by not properly handling the same situation will lead you down a path of more frustration and bitterness.

Those of us who have learned the hard way can now better equip to teach others. We are now in the position to mentor our children and grandchildren more effectively. To give them a greater advantage throughout life. We can train our employees how to better themselves in the marketplace. We can coach our fellow believers how to live a more abundant life within the faith community. We who have struggled and learned God’s way of dealing with conflict and failure now have a ministry to share with others.

The same is true in our walk with the Triune God and His earthly family.

The apostle Paul writes in Romans that those of us who are strong in the faith are obliged to care for those who are weak. We are not to self-grandiose the situation, but help build them up in the Lord.

Our role model is Jesus. From a position of royalty and strength, HE served others. HE help others to see their faults in a diplomatic fashion. At times HE encouraged them. Other times HE inspired them. And depending on who HE was relating too, HE would chastise them for their good. Everything HE did was from a position of love. Sometimes tough love, but always concern for the other.

HE is my role model. HE has gracefully walked with me over the years. Whether life’s situations were at the top of the mountain or at the very low crevice’s of life, HE patiently allowed me to learn from my errors of judgement. HE didn’t shoot me down with a bolt of lighting in my rebellious state. HE didn’t have to spank me. The circumstances I produced from my decisions were pain enough. But HE was and is always available to listen. His purpose wasn’t to make me fail. But to learn from the ordeal. To keep trucking until the finish line was behind us. When I slowly learned life is a process preparing us for eternity for a role in HIS Kingdom, failure became easier to put behind me.

Failure doesn’t define us. But only reassured us we are HIS. We are HIS workmanship (Eph 2:10). As we walk with HIM. As we talk with HIM. As we serve HIM. We slowly become more like HIM.

And when you realize HIS mission is to replicate HIS character and values in you, every failure is the graceful means of becoming more and more like HIM.  Now if only we can remember this when we experience our next failure.     

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

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Does Jesus Recognize You?

Dr. Mike Essays, Jesus Apprentice , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PRAY 9

Dear Wonderful Dad:

You are my success, joy, and recognition in everything I do. You surround me with your Grace and Presence each and every day. You give me more than I deserve. You make my cup overflow with your abundant riches.     Everything I own is a loan from you. You created everything for us to share in and we likewise share it with others. Without you there is nothing worth owning, possessing, or having. You add value to everything because you created value. I can never express my gratitude and thankfulness for your involvement in my life. Everything is because of you.

 

If I have not express my thanks to you today, let me say thank you again and again. If I have already expressed  my  thanks  to  you today, express it again. There is not enough time in a day to thank you for your Grace, your Gifts, but more importantly just knowing you. We humbly thank you and express our gratitude.

 

Thank you, Jesus.

 

 word 14

 

“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”  Luke 6:46

 

“>Why do you serve?

 

Do you want to let the world know how good of a person you are? Does it make you feel important? Or is it just a part of your nature? Do you truly believe it is more blessed to give than receive?

 

I just finished reading an old Discipleship Journal magazine which had an article entitled “Secret Service.” The article outlined how a few Christ-followers are serving others incognito. They practice the scripture of not letting your right-hand know what your other hand is doing in serving others. When they help others they do it either through a third party or in secret. At the end of the day, all glory goes to God and the act. They just receive the personal satisfaction of helping others without the fanfare. I love it.

Was Jesus’ primary attitude to draw attention to Him or to help others for their sake with as little fanfare as possible? Did Jesus die for us because He wanted to achieve personal glory or because He Loves us? When He walked the earth, who did He give the glory to?

 

As His disciple, I have learned that the glory and honor belongs to Jesus, my Heavenly Dad, and the Holy Spirit. All the glory and praise is God’s. I have come to realize that everything I accomplish, whether in service or for personal gain, I achieve only because of God’s grace. For starters, He gives me life itself. He gives me the air to breathe, makes my heart tick, and mind to operate effectively (unless I damage it). He  gives  me  His  Spirit  of compassion  and love. He allows me to work and earn an income. He allowed me to be born in America, the land of physical wealth and personal freedom. He blesses me so I can bless others. He provides me the opportunities to serve. He teaches me the joy and privilege of serving. No wonder all the praises and glory go to Him. Everything begins and ends with Him.

 

We don’t need  the  recognition  anymore.  Our recognition  comes from Him. We are His disciples and He takes exceptionally good care of us. All recognition goes to Him.

 

 

Dr. Mike