Mike Fisk & Built with Grace

Distractions!

September 21, 2023 in Uncategorized | Tags: Built with Grace, Daily Devotional, Daily Encouragement, forgiveness, God, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Mike Fisk | 2 comments

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John‬ ‭10‬:‭27‬

Distractions! They sneak up on you without warning. They impede your progress towards your intended goal for the day. They cause you to lose focus. They can lead you down a path you never intended. They can interrupt a perfectly good and productive day.

One of the reasons successful people reach their goals is their ability to remove, or at least work through the distractions of life. For some it’s finding a quiet place to work. For others it’s listening to background music. When they have something to focus on it can remove the effects of distractions.

Distractions are inevitable but they don’t have to be indestructible. Being focused can destroy, or at least minimize the effects of distractions.

Imagine being a sheep in the Middle East during Jesus’ time. At evening several shepherds and their flocks would gather together for safety. In the morning, amidst the noise and clamor of breakfast being made, camp coffee being prepared, sheep waking up from sleep, you hear a voice. Not just any voice. The voice of YOUR shepherd.

You’ve heard other voices but they didn’t affect you. But this voice, the voice of YOUR shepherd stirred you into action. Whatever your activities are today, whatever distractions kept you from finishing your list yesterday, today can be a new start.

Today you can have a new focus. Is your shepherd interested in your list? Of course. Does he want to see you succeed? Definitely! Then ask Him to help you through the distractions that want to hinder your way. He’s interested in every detail.

Viewing Eternity

September 16, 2023 in Uncategorized | Tags: Built with Grace, Daily Devotional, Daily Encouragement, eternal life, God, God's love, God's promises, grace, grief, Holy Spirit, Hope, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Mike Fisk | 3 comments

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬

I recently went through some pretty significant health issues that I’m still in the process of recovering from. I’m so thankful for the medical personnel that tended to me and continue to tend to me through this ordeal.

One of the things I find humorous is how calm and almost nonchalant my surgeon was about the surgery. In a calm manner he told us what he would do, what the expectations were, what the risks were and what I could expect in the future. All this was said in a calm, factual manner, yet in our minds it was huge! Why? Because this was something totally out of our control and would be life-changing.

When I read the above verse my first inclination would be to say to the Apostle Paul, “What do you mean this present struggle is small? My life is in the balance here!” But we look in the temporal, Paul was looking with an eternal perspective.

Whether we live to be 100 or die young, our earthly lives are a blip on the screen, a tiny dot on the horizon. Yet the glory we receive on the other end when we see Jesus will make all the social unrest, the political divisions and the unanswered prayers seem insignificant.

An eternal perspective, based on our faith in Jesus, allows us to have peace and security in a troubled world because the best is yet to come and far exceeds anything we can imagine.

Focus on the eternal.

Value all the experiences you go through in life.

Rest in his promise of the glory we have ahead of us in eternity with Him!

Does Anyone Notice?

September 15, 2023 in Uncategorized | Tags: anger, appreciation, Built with Grace, Daily Devotional, Daily Encouragement, God, God's love, God's promises, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Mike Fisk, relationship | 2 comments

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭58‬

If you have ever had a puppy that you were training, you know the value of ‘treats’. Your dog will most likely do anything if a treat is involved!

The same is true for children. Teachers and parents alike will tell you that something as simple as a sticker will elicit proper responses to your requests.

We never really outgrow the need for recognition. Employers know the value of recognizing those who work for them, and their customers. Recognition, in its various forms instills value. Recognition builds a fire in those recognized to excel. Recognition gives us a feeling of belonging. Recognition boosts morale.

The opposite is also true. When we don’t get recognition for our efforts discouragement, frustration and the lack of desire to excel can happen. Lack of recognition is a real morale killer in the workplace, the family and any other relationship.

It’s easy to feel like nothing you do is making a difference when it seems no one is noticing. You may feel like people aren’t responding to your message. The work you do today needs to be redone tomorrow. With all the time and effort you put into a project, it seems like no one notices.

Always remember this. God sees you. He sees your efforts. He feels your intentions. He comforts you in your defeats and high fives you in the victories. Press on. Do what he leads you to do. Don’t be discouraged by the response you get from people, be encouraged by the one who has gifted you to do what you do.

When Paul writes this verse in 1 Corinthians, he isn’t about ministry, or service organizations. Elsewhere Paul writes, ‘do everything for the glory of the Lord’. He makes no distinction between washing dishes and laundry and saving someone’s life. The importance of what you are doing isn’t dependent on the recognition of fickle humans God has gifted you for excellence. Stay strong. Press on. Endure the struggle and celebrate the victories when/if they come.

Always remember. God sees you and appreciates you.

The Master Gardener at Work

September 14, 2023 in Uncategorized | Tags: Built with Grace, Daily Devotional, Daily Encouragement, God, God's love, God's promises, grace, Holy Bible, Holy Spirit, Hope, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Mike Fisk, relationship, Restoration, second chances, trust | 2 comments

He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. John‬ ‭15‬:‭2‬

Sometimes we read scripture with a glass-half-full philosophy. For example, John 15 is one of the most intimate passages in all of the gospels. In Jesus final hours, he shares with his disciples his love. “I’m the vine.” “I call you friends” “I love you, love as you’ve seen me love time and again”.

Read through this passage with the glass-FULL (or overflowing) philosophy. Read it with the theme of unconditional love and mercy and grace.

Ironically, some get caught up in the ‘pruning’, the ‘cutting away’, the ‘casting in the fire.’ What if we look at this passage in positive, loving, graceful eyes. This cutting isn’t an act of anger or punishment, but an act of love.

The Father, the master gardener knows exactly what we need to rise above the muck and mire of life. The Master Gardener knows which things to take away so we can flourish. The Master Gardener wants his vines to be healthy, vibrant, effective. Healthy branches can fight off disease better. Healthy branches are able to receive all the benefits of a vine that continually sends vital nutrients into it.

Pruning? Yes, it will happen. Cutting away? Yes, it may seem painful to us at the time. Draw closer to Christ and His teaching, ask Him to help you abide in Him. Let ‘Him who began this good work in you complete it.’ Remember that everything the Master Gardener does in his vineyard is for our good. Trust the Master Gardener to care for you. He knows exactly what you need in this hour of struggle.

Always Remember

September 13, 2023 in Uncategorized | Tags: anxiety, Built with Grace, Daily Devotional, Daily Encouragement, fear, God, God's love, grace, Holy Bible, Holy Spirit, Hope, Jesus, Jesus Christ, love, mercy, Mike Fisk, Prophecy, second chances | 3 comments

We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬

There are few things we can know for sure. We watch the weather forecast in hopes of ‘knowing’ what the weather will be like, and sometimes the meteorologists are actually right!

You may read the business section to see how your IRA or retirement account is doing. You may study prophecy to see what is going to happen in the future. The reality is, there just aren’t many guarantees in life!

Some of us lament over the past. Some are dissatisfied with today. Some are full of anxiety over tomorrow. Sometimes it’s refreshing to focus on the things we know. Especially since the things we know will carry us through the unknown.

Sometimes the things we know get lost in the distractions of the things we aren’t sure about or are fearful. So here is your reminder for today. It’s set in stone. It’s as secure as a mountain. It’s withstood the storms of time. It’s weathered every attack throughout history. Ready?

God chose you. He didn’t choose you for your looks, your spotless past, your strength, your financial stability or your ability to be of any value to him at all! He chose you because he loves you with a love you can never return, never be worthy of and never run from. You are loved. Live in the strength of that truth!