Dependency

There are some things that are absolutely essential for life: oxygen, water, food, shelter, sleep, JESUS. Just as I need oxygen to promote a healthy and sustainable life, I, too, need JESUS to help me live a fulfilled and complete life. I depend on Him.

When I think about my dependency on JESUS, I am not ashamed at how much I need Him, at how much I desire Him, at how much I have to have Him. JESUS is Who gets me through the hardest times and makes the good times even better. I am hooked on JESUS.

My thought for today was fueled by a quote from Roy Lessin, which says, "Depend on JESUS for everything. There is nothing in the fruitful Christian life that you can do without Him...you can never be too dependent."

I mean, here's the deal, if you want to live a fulfilling Christian life, it starts with JESUS. You may say, "Well, I shouldn't bother JESUS with this little petty problem." The fact is that if it concerns you, it concerns JESUS. And, if it is troubling you and bothering you, it isn't a petty problem. And, if you are having difficulty finding a solution, why not ask the One Who is in charge of it all.

I say all this, today, knowing that I truly have my shortcomings and struggles with depending on anyone. I mean, I'm a man; I'll figure it out. But, the cold hard fact is that I NEED JESUS. I NEED Him to get me through. I NEED Him to help me be what I need to be. I am dependent. How about you?

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Compromise and Conformity

I truly try to put GOD first in everything that I do, I do. Now, I have A LOT of shortcomings; to list them all would take way more time and energy than anyone should expend. But, I do try to do things according to GOD'S will and commands.

People today, though, seem to want to try to meld GOD'S word with satan's world, and they don't mix. Yes, we are to be lights in this world, but, you can't shine bright if you allow worldly scum to dampen your light. We have to be careful not to allow this world to influence us. We have to be careful not to allow political correctness and the flavor of the month and the peer pressure that goes with each of those to cause us to compromise what we know is truth. Yeah, I know, often easier said than done.

Today's word is another one that I have used before but it is what is on my mind today. Today's word is Romans 12:2a, NIV, which reads, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."

While there is a lot of pressure in today's society to go along with everyone, to not rock the boat, to not stand out, to not stand up, we know that GOD has a will, a plan, a way that is right and that we should follow that plan. People get themselves into trouble and then want to know why GOD let it happen. Did you get that? People get THEMSELVES into trouble and then want to know why GOD let it happen. No, you got yourself into trouble by compromising and conforming. That's not to say that sometimes life just happens because, sometimes, it just does. But, don't allow compromise to drag you into the ditch.

I pray that I will allow GOD to transform my mind and to lead me in His path. I know what the world says but I am more interested in what the WORD says.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Anger's Punishment

There seems to be a lot of angry people in this world, and not just those displeased with my driving. No, it seems that some people are just angry, angry about anything and everything. I am not naive; I know that things aren't all rosy and most days aren't filled with peachy moments. However, there has to be something in each day that makes you sort of happy right? I mean, what is being angry doing for you?

Anger is the reason we read about someone killing someone else because of the last piece of chicken or for the last cigarette or for $4.25. Anger is eating away at people, and not just emotionally. I have mentioned before that you end up with ulcers and insomnia and all kinds of physical problems because you are angry. Anger really punishes.

Today's word is a quote that I have probably used before but it just resonates with me today. This quote has been mistakenly attributed to several people so we will not attribute it to anyone. The quote is, "You will not be punished FOR your anger; you will be punished BY your anger."

No one is going to punish you for your anger, not really. Your actions because of your anger will cause your punishment; you are punished BY your anger, not for it. It's okay to be angry from time to time. As a matter of fact, there is something wrong with you if some things don't anger you. The Bible even tells us to, "Be angry and sin not." So, it is okay to be or get angry. It's not okay to continually be angry.

Yes, there are lots of things out there that cause me anger; there are a lot of things out there that anger me more than I should let them. But, why remain angry? Why let anger eat away at all the good things you do have? Why let anger steal the joys that are found in everyday living? Stop punishing yourself - STOP BEING ANGRY!

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

It's all in the punctuation

Sometimes, people get confused by what others are saying, or texting, because of a lack of punctuation. I know some people that will send a "run-on" text that I can't make heads nor tails of. I have even had to text back and ask, "Huh?"

It's not just with punctuation though. Sometimes, people get confused by what I say. I have had a tendency to misuse words or at least put them in the wrong context. When this happens, it is quite confusing to those that I am speaking to. And, no wonder.

The disciples were having a hard time grasping some of JESUS' teachings, as we all have been. But, like other things, the more you spend time working with it, the more you spend time with someone, the more you learn about someone, the easier it is to understand them. The disciples had that moment in today's word...

Today's word is John 16:29, NIV, which reads, "Then JESUS' disciples said, 'Now You are speaking clearly and without figures of speech."

It's important when we have an important message to deliver that we do it plainly and without figures of speech. If we will practice this, we will avoid confusion and funny looks.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

You are what you are

I have some people really close to me that seem to mired in the same things all the time: bad relationships, poor finances, "bad luck". Some of them and I have had fairly lengthy and deep discussions concerning these seemingly constant occurrences. Their reply is that they don't know why the same things keep happening. I am prone to say because you keep doing the same thing.

You know, if you keep doing the same things, you'll keep getting the same results. If you keep breaking up with a certain type of person and, then, start dating a similar type of person, the chances of the relationship ending the way the previous one did is quite high. You gotta make better decisions to get better results.

Today's word is a quote from Tony Gaskins that says, "You attract what you ARE, not what you WANT. So, if you WANT it, REFLECT it."

If you want a better person, then, reflect the type person you want. If you want someone that doesn't drink and stay out all night, then, don't drink and stay out all night. If you want to have some money in the bank, then, you have to reflect a saver. You can't be something other than what you ARE. If you want something different, you have to reflect something different.

I have no particular reason for today's post, just wanting to remind us all that you are what you are. If we want something other than that, we are have to reflect and become something other than that. I want to be a better husband, a better father, a better person. I am going to try to reflect that. Pray for me.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

We have heard the joyful sound

I had the opportunity to play and sing for Blake's Pre-K class last week. Now, while they may not have enjoyed it as much as I, it was a true thrill and blessing. Blake enjoyed it so much that he has asked every day since if I will come and do it again, and, I will at any request.

There is nothing like music and singing. It seems to lift the spirit and to make the heart smile. It evokes feelings and emotions. It truly is a joyful sound when a bunch of four-year-olds are singing along with you. If you ever get the privilege, take it!

Today's word is also about a joyful sound. It is Psalm 89:15, NIV, which reads, "Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence, LORD."

Nothing seems to make you feel like acclaiming JESUS! While music and singing with a group of enthusiastic preschoolers is a thrill that is hard to describe, praising JESUS is a bigger thrill. I want to tell those who will listen what JESUS means to me and what He has done for me and what He is going to do! I want others to know that I KNOW from Whom all blessings flow!

I want to sing and play at the preschool as much and as often as they will let me; there's nothing like it. I also want to sing GOD'S praises as often and as much as others will allow; there's nothing like it! When you praise GOD and share your story, you will bless others. And, you'll see just how truly blessed you are!

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Bread

When you hear the word bread, what comes to mind? Of course, you have the type that is baked and most often comes in a loaf; you have the slang for "money"; and you have food in general. When I think of bread, I most often think of sustenance in general, something that will give me nourishment and fill my stomach.

I am amazed and humbled at how GOD has allowed us the knowledge to take grain and pulverize it and knead it into something that tastes good and is good. But, what if no one tilled and planted and gathered and milled and made into something of sustenance? Some people seem to forget that people actually have to work to make bread, either kind.

Today's word is Proverbs 12:11, NASB, which reads, "He who tills his land will have plenty of bread. But he who pursues worthless things lacks sense."

Lots of people like to be like The Little Red Hen's friends that did nothing but make fun of her preparation but certainly wanted her accumulated goods when they became hungry. There is absolutely nothing wrong with an honest day's work. There is absolutely nothing wrong with working hard to accomplish things. As a matter of fact, I find it down right honorable and pleasing.

Don't be foolish and chase foolish things instead of striving to better yourself and make a life. Pursue something good and honest and worthwhile. You'll find yourself with a full belly, and maybe even a little bread in your wallet.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

The Crossroad

Ever try to give someone advice and, then, have them go completely 180 on you? Then, when things turn out the way you told them it would if they chose that path, they come back and say, "Well, I thought that was the right thing to do."

Now, it's not that I am a guru or that I know everything; it's just that I have made my share of mistakes, I have taken the wrong paths, and I can share with you the results of certain choices. When they come back, I try to never say, "I told you so," though I really want to. Not because I like to be right, but, because I have already made that mistake - just listen. Yet, we each will face our crossroads and decision times. How do we know which path to take?

Today's word is Jeremiah 6:16, NIV, which reads, "This is what the LORD says, 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.' But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'"

When we find ourselves at a crossroads and trying to make the right decision, we need to find the proper map, which is GOD'S Word. If you will allow GOD to direct you through prayer and His word, the correct path will become evident. We need to ask for the right path, ask where the good way is, and then walk in it.

However, there are those, much like I am at times, that will say, "I will not walk in it." We will find ourselves where we don't need to be and we will suffer the consequences for not seeking the right path and not taking the right path. Instead of having rest for our souls, we will find more burdens and suffering. Yet, GOD allows us to choose.

When you find yourself at a crossroad, seek GOD, ask Him to direct your path. Then, walk in it!

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Be a quitter

You know there are a lot of times that I hear someone tell me the story of how they got involved in something and their involvement led to some major problems and issues. Then, they turn right around and involve themselves in the same issue again. I am not saying that I haven't been guilty of that very thing myself.

I do try to make it a practice to not make the same mistake twice. If you make a mistake, it's a mistake; if you repeat that same mistake, it's a choice. There are some, though, that just seem to continually put themselves in the same situations, with the same circumstances, with the same players, and expect some different result; that's the definition of stupidity.

Today's word is just a reminder of how we can break those cycles of finding ourselves in the midst of the same situations. It says, "Sometimes the easiest way to solve a problem is to stop participating in the problem."

We often find ourselves wondering how we constantly find ourselves in similar messes with the same old folks. Well, the answer is simple - we put ourselves in similar messes with the same old folks. The way to break that cycle is to remove yourself from that cycle. The only way you ever get out of the pig pen is to get up and remove yourself from the filth of the pig pen.

I am talking to me today as much as anyone. Let's be mindful that we place ourselves in similar situations with similar people and get similar results, and the way to stop that is to stop participating.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Jogging

I have been trying to get back into jogging (I'd call it running, but who am I kidding). Some days, the jogging goes a little better and seems a little easier than other days. Some days it feels as if I run fairly easily and other days, it seems as if I am just pounding pavement. It's all about building some endurance.

You can't build endurance without doing something that tests your endurance. The fact is that you can't build up enough endurance to run five miles without actually running five miles. That's the funny part about endurance, you can't build endurance without testing it.

Today's word is James 1:3, NLT, which reads, "For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow."

The way our faith grows is the same as our endurance - it has to be tested. I don't know about you but I have been through things that truly tested my faith. Not that I ever doubted my faith, but it was certainly tested. Well, those faith tests, those faith "exercises" were building my faith muscle in order to aid me in handling more things.

Don't think negative things when things start to go bad. You are building some faith muscles, some endurance that will enable you to defeat the enemy somewhere down the road. And, you will become a faith trainer for others.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Bad Virus

Last week I got an email that was supposedly a resume, which I shouldn't have opened but did, abs it unleashed a virus that corrupted everything on my computer. I should have had things backed up but, alas, I didn't.

When you lose everything you have worked on over the last twelve years or so, including every email, contact, calendar entry, etc., it's daunting to think about.

Today's word is a quote from Henry Ward Beecher, which says, "One's best success comes after their greatest disappointment."

I told Trish that while I'm embarrassed and disappointed, I have a clean slate. I get a chance to put a fresh slant on things. I get a chance to overcome.

Look, I'd love to go back and undo everything but I can't. It's time to move on and see success, which,right now, would be just sending an email to the appropriate people.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Kindness even when

Some people are harder to be nice to than others. I have mentioned before that there are some people that it is best that I try not to spend a great deal of time with because we just don't seem to gee and haw. However, I don't know of anyone that I treat with disrespect just because.

I do know people, though, that just treat people coarsely and rudely just because they aren't fond of them. I think everyone deserves to be treated the way you want to be treated. And, I think that most people treat me better than I actually treat them, which is an absolute shame as I sit hear typing this.

Today's word is a quote from Henry James that says, "Kindness is in our power even when fondness is not."

You don't have to be fond of someone to be kind to them. As a matter of fact, we shouldn't be kind to folks just because we are fond of them. We should be kind to folks just because we can.

I think of how GOD sees me and treats me and how kind He is to me even on my very worst day. I would venture to say that there are countless days that GOD isn't very fond of me or my actions yet, He is still my KIND, loving FATHER.

Let's work on being kind to folks even when we're not necessarily fond of them. I bet we'll find that life is just more enjoyable that way. And, who knows how it may just change their life. You have the power to be kind even when you don't want to be.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

It is necessary

Anyone who has kids knows that it is necessary to discipline, whether it is time out, removal of cherished items, media bans, etc. While discipline is necessary to correct in appropriate and improper behavior, I don't know of anyone that enjoys it, neither the receiver nor the giver.

Just as we must discipline our children from time to time, GOD must discipline His children from time to time also. We do something that we are not to do and we are chastised. Now, again, GOD isn't sitting on His throne waiting for us to make a mistake so that He can nail us with a bolt of lightning. However, He does correct His children. Does He enjoy it?

Today's word is Lamentations 3:33, NLT, which reads, "For He does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow."

There is absolutely nothing about correcting His children that GOD enjoys. Just as earthly parents ache when they have to correct their children, GOD, too, aches when disciplining His. He doesn't relish the opportunity to correct, but He knows He must. The only way to correct a bad behavior is to show the misbehaved the consequences for those behaviors.

Trust me, I do not like being disciplined. I do not like having to discipline my children. If we don't discipline, though, each bad behavior will result in another bad behavior. So, as much as we dislike disciplining, we must do it. As much as GOD dislikes disciplining, He, too, must do it. I pray that I don't cause Him to have to.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Uniforms

I am a big uniformity guy. I have played sports, though not impressively, most of my life. I wore the uniform of the United States Navy. I understand the purpose and the solidarity, the camaraderie, the unity that wearing an uniform brings.

You can tell a lot by the clothes someone wears. You can tell which team they cheer for, where they go to school, what sport they play, what they hold dear, where they have vacationed, where they have eaten, or if they are going out on a fancy date. Most of the time, you will find me in something comfortable and affordable.

Today's word is from Isaiah 61:10, NIV, which reminds us of GOD'S clothing us. It reads, "I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my GOD. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness."

When satan is telling GOD what a bad person I am; how bad I have been today, this week, this year, this life, GOD looks at him and says, "All I see is that he is wearing my uniform." He has accepted my gift of salvation, received the uniform, and all I see is that he is MINE!

What uniform do you wear? It's great to support your team, where you work, who you love, what you stand for. It's even better to wear the uniform that has settled where I'm going.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Too numerous

There are some things that are just hard to put a number on. The national debt comes to mind. While they have a number approaching 18.4 TRILLION dollars, it is hard to fathom that large of a number. Yet, that is not what I want to discuss today.

I think about the number of kisses I have received from my lovely wife. I don't know the exact number but it has been numerous. I think about the moments I have thought of my wife or kids during an average day. How many? Too numerous to count. I think about GOD'S blessings on and in my life - Yeah, that is far too numerous to even comprehend.

Today's word is Psalm 40:5, NLT, which reads, "O LORD, my GOD, You have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal..."

GOD has done so many good things for me that if I tried to start naming them, I would never come to the end. Just the fact that I awoke this morning, in a house, with a family, with food to eat, and was able to dress myself, bathe myself, drive myself to work, and have a place to work, entails so many blessings that I could never recite them all. Isn't GOD great!

When I think of all GOD has done for me, I am awed, humbled, and dumbfounded. I cannot begin to number all of His blessings on my family and me - they are too numerous. I bet if you really thought about it, you'd find it is true for you too.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Clint Eastwood

I having a saying that I use quite often when it comes to someone asking me to do something that I know is outside of my competency. I like to say, "In the words of the great American, Clint Eastwood, a man's gotta know his limitations." That, my friend, is really good advice.

There are a few things that I am fairly decent at, even fewer that I have had some success with, but an innumerable amount of things that I will completely and totally botch. I have tried a lot of things and failed, but I keep trying. But, those things that I KNOW I can't do, I will tell you that I can't do them. Those few things that I do fairly well, I know where that comes from too.

Today's word is 2 Corinthians 3:5, NIV, which reads, "Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from GOD."

What little bit of talent or ability that I possess is a gift from GOD. I can take no credit for what few things I can do. Now, I have tried to take those things and hone them and improve them and practice them and get better at them, BUT, they are from GOD. I can't take credit for the gifts GOD has given me; I can own them, I can use them, I can make sure I do not waste them, but they are gifts from GOD, and He deserves the credit.

Don't try to do someone else's gift because, it is theirs. Look, do what you are good at. Give GOD the credit for making you good at what you are good at. Then, remember Clint for the rest - "a man's gotta know his limitations."

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Fever Blisters

I have the remnants of a fever blister right on the tip of my nose. It is horrid and makes it look as if I took a dive on the asphalt and got a case of pavement rash on the end of my nose. I normally get fever blisters inside my nose where no one sees them, but not this time.

I don't like having the fever blister on my nose because concerned people want to know what happened. Not that I mind telling them but it's frustrating to have a blemish of any kind, especially in the center or your face. I think we are the same way about out sin. We like to try to keep our sin hidden deep down in the recesses of our innermost being. While it may be out of sight, it is still eating away.

Today's word is a remedy for our disease of sin. It is Psalm 103:2 - 3, NIV, which reads, "Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all His benefits - Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases."

When I get a fever blister, which isn't that often, I treat it with something - Abreva, Campho-phenique - something that will dry it up and allow it to heal. If you have a health problem, you seek a doctor that can help you with that particular malady. If you're suffering from a sin problem, there is only ONE HEALER, JESUS CHRIST.

Don't let sin eat away at you any longer. Seek healing from GOD, Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T