Service

Would You Have Carried Jesus’ Cross?

Dr. Mike 2025 , , ,

“And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.” Luke 23:26

We all have a cross to carry. Jesus stated so. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

Your cross may be the responsibilities thrusted upon you at a young age. Your cross may consist of financial or relational challenges. Your cross may be the physical or emotional disability you are dealing with each day. Whatever the situation or circumstance you are facing today, this is your cross.

Many times, we feel our cross is so heavy and burdensome when compared to others and their cross. Their cross is so little that you would gladly exchange yours for theirs. Most likely, they look at yours and feel the same way.

Yet each of us has a cross we carry. You may call it a burden. It may be a heavy weight of responsibility. Or something that is preventing you from achieving your personal dreams. An obstacle that needs to be removed. How many times have we felt helpless and long for someone to help us through the pain? Jesus did.

All three Synoptic gospels highlight the story of Simon of Cyrene. A named person helping to carry the wooden cross of Jesus toward Calvary. Jesus, the God-Man, beaten and busted from all the abuse he faced up to then. Jesus, who help heal thousands during his ministry. Jesus, who was convicted and being executed by the government for being a King. This Jesus was now so broken he needed help to carry his cross.

We don’t have any details of Simon of Cyrene except he was the father of two disciples, Rufus and Alexander (Mark 15:21). Everything else is speculation. But we do know, he helps Jesus carry his cross. We don’t know if he deliberately stood before the Roman soldiers begging them to allow him to help Jesus. We don’t know if the Roman commander simply grabbed him from the crowd and drafted him to help. Either way, Simon carried Jesus’ cross when HE needed the help.

How many times have we gone through the day thinking we are the only one who has a cross to carry? That the other person has their act all together. They don’t need any help. We are so focused on our cross we don’t notice the cross they may be carrying.

What this Scripture reminds me is every single human being has a cross they carry. Though ours may be light at the moment, the day will come when it will get heavy. A time when we will be thankful someone like Simon of Cyrene comes around and helps us. Meanwhile, I pray to be more aware of the needs of others. Like Simon of Cyrene, that someone may even be Jesus Himself (Matthew 25:40).

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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Surrender, Sacrifice, Service

Dr. Mike 2025 , , ,

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.   Luke 9:23

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“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”   Hebrews 13:16

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“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.” 1 Corinthians 9:19

Being an adopted child in the family of the Triune circle requires the acceptance of a new paradigm. The family culture follows the pattern of the life of Jesus. HE established the norm. Throughout HIS ministry, HE lived and practiced the Triune way. He lived a life of surrender, sacrifice, and service.

HE taught not only with words, but with HIS actions. HE didn’t ask anything from anyone that HE hasn’t already done himself.

When HE made the statement “to deny yourself, take up your daily cross, and follow HIM,” HE was already doing the same. His entire ministry was focused on following HIS Father’s Will.

When HE met people who ask for his help, HE stopped what HE was doing and obliged. When a person was tied to a rope and flung down from a ceiling in a private house, he didn’t criticize them for destroying the roof. Instead, HE healed them. When someone reached out and touched HIM in the crowded marketplace, HE stopped from HIS task at hand. HE recognized someone in pain. HE didn’t shame them but addressed the person with respect and dignity. HE gave what HE had to help solve their problem at hand.

HE didn’t lord over others, but served them. HE washed his disciples’ feet when needed. HE multiplied a handful of bread and fish to feed five-thousand hungry people. HE healed the sick. HE restored life to those who died. HE gave HIS time and attention to those who were neglected by society.

Surrender, sacrifice, and service are three amigos built from the Christ-followers spiritual DNA. They don’t naturally come. But the Spirit of God is working in us as we yield to HIM. The more we hang out with our heavenly host, the more HIS ways become the norm. The more we practice, the more HIS grace helps us through the process.

Over time we find ourselves living the Triune way. A life of surrender, sacrifice, and service without much effort. A life patterned after Jesus. The Kingdom way. A life that leads to true freedom, flourishment, and fulfillment. God’s 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 now available
at Apple Books)

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Control Freak

Dr. Mike 2023 , , ,

1 Corinthians 9:25

Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

Psalm 143:10

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

Do you focus on the things you cannot control?

Do you have a strong desire to control the people and environment around you rather than your emotions?

When working on a team, do you have to dictate everyone’s behavior?

Do you believe you know what is best for everyone and make people act a certain way?

Do you focus your time and energy on preventing bad things to happen because of your hidden doubt to manage difficult situations?

Do you find it difficult to delegate tasks? If you do, than do you insist on micromanaging every step of the way?

If you answer yes to any of these, you may be a control freak. As a reformed control addict, I know. I’ve been there. Done it. And have the scars to show.

In my early twenties, still single, and the world my play-box, I struggled to relate with people in the workplace. I was very task-oriented. People were the means to the end. In other words, my self-centered approach was to use people for the things I wanted to do. I egotistically knew best. If you worked for me, it was my way or the highway. It wasn’t pretty.

But, through the grace of God, HE opened my eyes. I repented from the sinful approach of being a dictator of others. Instead, I learn to trust God and His Spirit. I learn to delegate without strings attached. The end result was learning to lead people and manage systems.

How does one learn to best lead others?

The best way is to learn from others. We start first with your relationship with the Triune God. How does He lead you? When He delegates an assignment to you? Does He generally give you specific details in how to carry it out? Or does He simple nudge you in a certain way and allow you to express your personality and skill set? Does He force you to comply? Or does He allow you to choose?

When you have a working relationship with the living God, you learn from Him. You experience the fruit of mutual submission. You learn the importance of self-control over controlling others. You learn to give space for others to reflect God’s character in them. You allow people to become who God created them to be. You take part with Him and others in their adventurous journey of transformation in Christ.

Yes, being a control freak reduces your potential as a person. You rob yourself from fully experiencing the power of trusting God. You weaken your relationship with Him. Faith becomes only a word. You isolate yourself from allowing God’s Spirit to fully transform you into His image. You end up fighting against Him. You hurt yourself in the process. You also hurt those whom you love.

When you force people to submit to your whims, you also rob God the opportunity to fully express His character through them. You play god. You become an idol. You are stealing from Him. You are preventing people around you to become the person God created them to be.

I also had the opportunity to work for two gentlemen who taught me the godly way of balancing relationships with business outcomes. They exercised integrity and character in all their relationships. God knew what I needed at the time and provided the environment and means to change my ways.

Yes, we are all broken. Some more than others. But broken still. So when God’s Spirit opens your eyes to see yourself in the mirror of Jesus, don’t hesitate. Repent. Ask Him to show you and empower you to become more like Him. This includes admitting our sins, weaknesses, and shortcomings. It hurts the pride meter. But this is good. When you allow His Spirit full entrance into your heart and mind, you will begin to experience more of God’s fruit. Yes, there will be stumbles. There will be short-term failure. But the road leads to Him.

With Him, you become less of a control freak and more of a trusting comrade working with Him to extend His Kingdom. You will more fully grasp the love of God. You will work along with the Holy Spirit. You will align His purpose with your micro plans to live a full, abiding life in Christ. And you will enrich the lives of others along the way.     

Yes, when I became a Jesus freak, I waved goodbye being a control freak.

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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