transformation

Pre-eminence Belongs To The King

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

SEEDS 2

Do you recall in the early grades when you competed with other students in speed-reading?  You and they would probably take turns being the first one to read any material and then recall the contents for the teacher.  Was our motivation to read with speed and comprehension or simply to be first?  Later in life when you were playing sports, was it to be the best you could be or to be the best among your peers?  Likewise in college while wasting time in the student activity center playing cards with your peers, was it to win all the time, or just to be better than your peers?  Did you walk away with a trophy or two back then, but if you were honest with your motivation was it to be the best player or the internal drive to be better than your peers?

Throughout life, those of us with a competitive or achievement spirit tend to have a strong motivation to be number one among our peers. When we sold, who had to he # 1 at the end of the year in sales? When we did whatever, can we admit our motivation was to be the best in comparison with our peers, no matter what the price?.  If you are like many of us, we have a strong internal drive that we can’t control but had to be satisfied. It would drive us in whatever we did.  It wasn’t until we totally surrendered our life to God that this motivation dissipated and eventually disappeared.

In scripture, we read how Satan wasn’t content in being a servant of God, but wanted to be in charge of God’s Kingdom. He persuaded one-third of the angles to work with him to overthrow God from His throne. But instead of victory, he learned that God is in control and no one is going to remove Him from His Office. Likewise, we have come to learn who is Number One in our life.

There is a great sense of peace and contentment knowing that you don’t have to be better than anyone else. That God wants you to be the best you can be. That we are all created differently but distinctly in the image of God with the purpose to live for all eternity working with Him in whatever is best suited for us.  In fact, nowadays instead of seeking pre-eminence, we find ourselves serving others with more joy than ever before.  Instead of trying to become number one, we work at helping others to excel.  Instead of seeking the glory for self, we let it shine upon others.

As a disciple of His, we find it easier to put the pre-eminence where it belongs and that is on Jesus.  Instead of crawling over one another and competing against one another, we find it easier to place Jesus central and learn to serve Him and those He chooses to send our way.

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 8

Our Glorified Dad, thank you for being number one in our life.  There is a great sense of peace and comfort knowing that no matter what we do or accomplish you will always be the Best in our book.  Help us to see others through your eyes. Help us to serve others through your eyes.  Help us to build up others especially those you have placed into the church.

Thank you for the assurance and faith to live this life as your child and pupil. Thank you for your tutoring and thank you for the privilege of serving others.  Help us channel the energy you give us to serving others and revealing you as first in life.  Whenever the opportunity comes, help us to always place you first in the eyes of others and keep this servant in humble submission to your Kingdom.  Amen.

Your Consultant & Coach for Christ-Centered
Business Owners & Executives

Dr. Mike

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God

What’s It All About?

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

Jesus came to redeem the world. Since Adam & Eve rebelled against God, this world’s beauty has become disarrayed by evil. As a people we have messed up almost everything we have touched. We have tried to create a world order apart from God. But the good news is that through Jesus each one of us has the opportunity to taste how life was initially created to be.

Sin is an old-fashion term but a modern day event. Many people don’t even know what the definition of sin is. There are those who make it into some religious ritual. There are others who call sin anything that is fun and enjoyable. Others define it only as an action and not a thought. Some define it as a spirit or attitude that opposes the Will of God.

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The Bible provides us with several definitions of sin. Whether we miss the mark, transgress the law, break His commandments, rebel against God, live alienated from Him, or perform any action without faith, hope, and love are all symptoms of sin. We are surrounded in sin and many of us are even saturated in sin. We lavish in sin and even enjoy the pleasure of sin. But until sin’s penalties leave its mark on us causing pain and sorrow, we live life trying to ignore it.

Many of us try to manage sin. We believe we are stronger than any sin that comes our way. We seek temptation rather than flee from it. Many times we are blind to sin’s attempt of capturing us. We walk right into sin’s traps like a dodo bird in a fashion show. We parade our stuff only to lose again at evil’s game.

The Bible also states that the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life. We all must die. There is no escaping that fact from planet earth. The question remains then what? If there is no life hereafter, than we might as well party and wallow in our sins. If this is all that there is, than mankind is one cruel joke. Simply put, if Jesus lived His life like history records it, than many of us better look twice. For either He is the Messiah or He is not. If He is not, than we better have sufficient proof. But if He is, like many who believe He is, why not accept His offer?

His desire is that you enter into a relationship with Him and His Dad now and for all eternity. His plan includes everyone that freely and willfully accepts His offer. His offer includes all the benefits of being a child of God. His plan is to bring you back into the Family of God, to redeem you from this world and sin, to grant you His gift of eternal life and all its treasures. His desire is that your life be rich and successful like His. Daddy knows best. Why not accept His offer?

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 8

Our Wonderful Dad, thank you for being so merciful with us. Thank you for allowing us the freedom to choose. We know there are many who choose you out of fear. There are those who choose you out of self-preservation. But we also know that there are many that choose you because of your love. You are the most loving, giving, gracious being we have ever known. We thank you for being involved in our life Though we are sinful with a natural disposition towards sin, we thank you for loving us even in our sins. Help us to live life away from sin. Change our heart with Your Spirit. Keep sin and its power away from us. Let the righteousness of Jesus surround us. Bathe us with your righteousness. Wash us thoroughly from all that we naturally are. Let your Holiness abide in us without pain or discomfort. Let your Home always be within us and let our home always be with You. Thank you Jesus for everything in your name. Amen.

Dr. Mike

What Shape Is Your Lawn In?

Dr. Mike Journey in Christ , , ,

It Takes Diligence to Have a Green Lawn

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How does your lawn look? If you live in the rural country, it’s a moot question. However, if you live in the suburbs of America, than you know what I mean. Your neighbors keep you in line regarding the condition of your lawn. They don’t want the value of their real estate to become jeopardized because of an unkempt neighbor’s lawn. So, whenever your lawn doesn’t measure up to “their” standards, you feel the internal pressure to measure up. Again, this is ridiculous if you live out in the country, but in the city you have to meet the competition and do battle everyday with your lawn or else you will be defeated.

After living in our house for about five years, I decided to discharge our lawn spray service and fertilize the lawn myself. We weren’t happy with the results and decided to save ourselves some money in the process. Little did I know what we were asking for. The first year was no problem, I applied applications three times that year and thought that this was easy and I should have discharged the service earlier than I did. The second year though brought out the enemy in masses. I never saw so many weeds in my life in the same acreage. My lawn went from 90% grass to 90% weeds over night. (or though it seems). I was stunned. Someone must have sneaked over during when we were out of town and planted them? How could this be? Wasn’t fertilizing on a regular basis? What are we doing wrong? What did we have to change? This was serious. After seeking counsel from those who were wiser than me on this subject (those neighbors whose lawns belong on the cover of homes and gardens magazines), I implemented a three front immediate attack.

First, we covered the lawn with weed and feed application. Next, we sprayed each individual weed with chemical elimination. Then, we went and hunted each weed pulling it out by its root. After which, we covered the lawn with another application of weed and feed. Then we rested. One month later we started the process over again. This time though there were substantially less weeds to defeat. Afterward, we rested again. The next month we found way less weeds to contend with but followed the same process over again. We are happy to report that our weed episode is over but not yet complete. As long as we maintain a regular, scheduled lawn maintenance program, not letting up, but diligently applying the process above, we don ‘t have to worry about being overtaken by those lawn enemies, the weeds.

And isn’t this true of the spiritual weeds in our life? When we let up on spiritual disciplines in our life, are we not more easily overtaken by the sins and cares of this world? But when we are diligent and maintain an active walk with our Lord, the weeds are few and more manageable. By exercising, celebrating, and maintaining the spiritual disciplines of life, we find ourselves on the grassier side of the lawn. And isn’t that a more pleasant experience than rolling in the weeds?

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 8

Dear Lord, thank you for the weeds in our life. We know they help strengthen our walk with you. They make us come to you for help as you transform this lowly servant into your image. Help us to walk with you as you work with us to manage the weeds in our life.  Amen.

Dr. Mike