Category Archives: Mike’s Blog

12/16/24 MondayMatters: Meditation

12/16/24 MondayMatters: Meditation

https://youtu.be/TT2sNpgj2wo?si=KdSnJ4jI5oHbj71V

Watch the video above.  Then…We are building a foundation for a terrific 2025. Start some things now that will foster momentum for significant spiritual growth. We have talked about Bible reading, consistent prayer, and today, meditation/journalling. The discipline of quietness, centering, meditating is a vital as the other two for discipleship. Here are 4 reasons and 5 steps to meditating/journalling.

Meditation and Journalling are two sides of the same coin. I need to center and quiet myself in meditation and then the words are expressed in our journalling.
1. Meditation slows me down.

2. Journalling gets things out.

3. Meditation helps me remember.

4. Journalling commits them to God.

So, here are some steps to help you put this into practice:

1. As in the Bible reading and prayer, prepare a place and time.

2. Keep it simple. Just pick up a spiral bound notebook.
3. Pray Psalm 19:4.

4. just write. May be answer these 4 questions.

What?  What has happened today that God wants me to reflect on?

Where?  Where did God show up?

Why? Why is God bringing that to my mind just now?
How? How can I grow from this?

As you get ready to enhance your devotional life for 2025, try the discipline of Meditation /Journalling now.

Anticipation

Anticipation

One of the iconic voices of my youth was Carly Simon, a folksy balladeer of the late 60’s and early 70’s that took over a generation of listeners with her confessional lyrics and unforgettable choruses. What person of my age doesn’t remember trying to figure out who “You’re So Vain” was directed to (I think… Continue Reading

11/25/24  MondayMatters: Inertia

11/25/24 MondayMatters: Inertia

Momentum is a magnificent word. I believe more things are accomplished because of momentum or not accomplished because of a lack of momentum than anything else. If you desire to have a fantastic 2025 then creating momentum now is crucial. Here is a much too long description of, and invitation to, starting a great 2025… Continue Reading

11/18/24 MondayMatters: When Helping Hurts

11/18/24 MondayMatters: When Helping Hurts

Have you ever been caught in one of those situations where your efforts to help were turned against you and everything was worse instead of better? What do you do when your best efforts are misunderstood, rejected, and used as a club to batter you with? It happens to the best of us. Here are… Continue Reading

11/11/24  MondayMatters: Dealing With Other People’s Depression

11/11/24 MondayMatters: Dealing With Other People’s Depression

https://youtu.be/WexRk5cRNbw What do you do? What do you say when someone comes to you in the middle of their depression. Statistically, nearly 1 in 10 people will go through some depressive episode this year, so there is a very good chance that a friend or even family meme we will reach out to you. Here… Continue Reading

The Importance of Being Tribal

The Importance of Being Tribal

A friend of mine passed away this week. I don’t know if friend is the right word. He was a few years older. We had not seen or even spoken to one another in at least ten years. We were not in the same circles at all, but he was a member of one of… Continue Reading

10/7/24 MondayMatters: Living Above Reproach

10/7/24 MondayMatters: Living Above Reproach

I Timothy 3:2   “An overseer must be above reproach.” My contention is that is true for all of us. “Live in such a way that if someone spoke badly of you no one would believe it.”  Unknown Some thoughts about living above reproach: Your actions outweigh your words. Your walk talks and your talk talks… Continue Reading