Suffering

Nobody likes to suffer, nobody. However, there will be some suffering in this world. Why, because you've done something heinous and evil? No. Suffering comes because we live in a broken and fallen world, where satan, who is heinous and evil, reigns.

It's not easy going through some of the things that we must. And, trust me, I know that millions go through far more than I could ever think, dream, or imagine. Yet, we will all suffer from time to time. We will all face persecution and tribulation and ridicule just because we live in a sinful world that loves to bring people down and loves to inflict suffering on everyone.

Today's word is Revelations 2:10a & c, ESV, which reads, "Do not fear what you are about to suffer...Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."

GOD has told us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. No matter what we are going through, as children of GOD, we know that we are going through it alone. GOD is with us each step of the way. He also sends His support to us through family and friends and neighbors and songs and words. We only have to remember the suffering that JESUS endured for us, and the glory it bought for us, to see that GOD can get glory out of our suffering, if we will only rely on Him and allow Him to direct our paths.

Nobody likes to suffer; I am the worst. I want things to go smoothly and nicely, and it bothers me immensely when they don't. I also want to be found faithful and useful. Today's word tells us that if we remain faithful, the crown of life is our reward. May I be found faithful, even in suffering.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

More, more, more

We taught our two little ones the sign for "more" before they could even speak. They knew if they wanted more milk, more baby food, more whatever, all they had to do was touch their fingers together in front of them. It was pretty neat to see and benefited us all; they received more sustenance and we didn't have to guess as much.

Much as I want to ensure that they have all that they need, GOD wants to assure us that He can meet all of our needs. If there is something lacking, He has what is necessary to fill that need. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not a believer in the "name it and claim it", "blab it and grab it" philosophy. I believe that GOD bestows upon us generous blessings. I also believe that He expects us to work for what we get and to be content with His blessings (don't confuse contentment with complacency). Anyway, I've gotten off point - GOD wants to give us more.

Today's word is Jude 1:2, NLT, which reads, "May GOD give you more and more mercy, peace, and love."

Jude was writing to his fellow believers to encourage them by letting them know that GOD has great things He bestows upon us - mercy, peace, and love. I don't know about you but those three things are certainly ones I want more and more of. And, true mercy, true peace, and true love only come from the One and Only True GOD.

There are things that any is too much. There are other things that there will never be enough. When it comes to mercy, peace and love, I want more, more, more!

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Health

There's an old saying that tells us that we really don't appreciate our health until it's gone, and that is probably vastly understated. I would dare say that we all take our health for granted more often than not; we just think we will always feel as good as we do and will always be able to do what we do. BUT, that is not necessarily the case.

It doesn't take much for me to realize that my physical abilities are not what they were in my youth. Now, a lot of people will tell you that I am in pretty decent shape "FOR SOMEONE MY AGE". However, I am not in the shape I was when I was eighteen. And, though I try to exercise and eat a reasonably sensible diet, the results from my efforts are diminished from my youth as well. Yet, it is important to try to maintain your health.

Today's word is 3 John 1:2, NLT, which reads, "Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit."

For all our efforts to maintain our physical health, I wonder how much effort we put forth in maintaining our spiritual? I like the way John says, "I hope...you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit." This verse causes me to ask myself how strong my physical body would be if it was based on my spiritual. How about you?

My prayer for all my friends, family, loved ones is that we will all have great health - physically and spiritually. I believe it is important to try and do what we can to maintain both. I pray we all find ourselves in good health.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Lightning

I hear a lot of people complain about things but they end up doing very little other than complain. Complaining has never accomplished much more than wasting good air. Oh, don't get me wrong, I have done my share of complaining, probably more than most. But, I'm beginning to learn (I am a slow learner) that complaining is like thunder, it's just a noise. It is the lightning that gets something done.

So, how do we create lightning? Well, lightning is a natural electrical discharge of high intensity and short duration. In my layman's terms, lightning is atoms doing something - working. So, we can sit here and complain and make a lot of noise (thunder) or, we can get up and create some energy (lightning).

Today's word is 2 John 1:6, NIV, which reads, "And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love."

We are to walk in obedience to GOD'S commands; that is action. We can sit around and talk about GOD and how people should live their lives, or we can go out in this world and show people what a godly life looks like. People are going to take more notice of what we do than what we say (I know it sounds like a continuation of previous posts). The fact is, though, that it's not about the noise we create; it's about the energy we exchange towards others.

I want to walk in His commands. I want to walk in love. I want others to see my feeble attempts at displaying GOD'S love more than merely talking about it. Thunder makes a lot of noise; lightning can change things.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

More than words

As I have shared before, I am a "Show Me" type of person. You can talk all day about what you are going to do, or how much someone means to you, or how devoted you are to something, but your actions, my actions speak much louder than my words. It's not about what we say we will do; it's about what we do.

There are so many times in my life that I can look back and remember things I said I was going to do, or things I said I was never going to do, and I did the complete and total opposite. There have been countless times I have had to go to someone and apologize for not following through with my words. It's about more than words...

Today's word is 1 John 3:18, NIV, which reads, "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

It's easy to tell someone you love them; it means more to show them. No one really feels loved as much as when someone shows them love. A kind gesture, a little back rub, a hot meal, a caring spirit, a non-judgmental, truthful conversation, telling someone the truth even when it hurts (in love), are all active ways to love someone.

I've said it before but I quote it only as a reminder to myself: "Your wife will never find you sexier than when you take the time to help her." True love has more to do with what you do than with what you say - it's more than words.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Grow

Our two little ones had birthdays over the weekend; they are now five and four, which is really hard to believe. Time certainly does move quickly. I like back over the last five years and remember milestones: their first words, their first steps, their first birthdays, etc. Now, in the blink of an eye, they are five and four. WOW!

It's a fact that we all grow, some more than others. We don't remain infants and toddlers forever. We grow and mature and learn and become stronger and bigger. As we age, we begin to pick up things along the way: tendencies of our parents, familial phrases, certain beliefs. It is usually those things we are surrounded by, those things in our environment, that influence, at least partially, what we become.

Today's word is 2 Peter 3:18, NIV, which reads, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen."

Our prayer is that the two lives entrusted to Trish and me will see JESUS through us and will want a personal relationship with Him. We pray almost constantly that they will one come to know Him and serve Him. If they find JESUS and do His will, they will have a successful life. Once they find that relationship with Him, they will begin to study His word and have a daily prayer life with Him, and they will begin to grow in Him! That is what we pray.

It is fun watching them grow. It is exciting to think about what GOD has in store for them. It is humbling that He has allowed us this blessing. We give Him all the glory for His many blessings, both now and forever!

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

It is Better

You know, there are some things that are just better than others. I prefer a certain brand of coffee, which I will not name. But, I do prefer some things better than similar things. I have a favorite pair of shoes, which, again, I will not name. But, suffice it to say that I have shoes that I really like and I have had shoes that were terribly uncomfortable.

Then, we have the flip side of things. I use a saying a lot that I am sure others get tired of hearing. When things aren't going good, when it seems that things could definitely be better, I usually say, "Well, it's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick." I would venture to guess that most things are better than being poked in the eye with a sharp stick.

Today's word is 1 Peter 3:17, ESV, which reads, "For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be GOD'S will, than for doing evil."

There are times in our lives that doing the right thing is the hardest thing to do. Unfortunately in this world, there are consequences even for doing good. There are folks out there that will refuse to give you employment, or that will refuse to offer assistance, or that will judge you more harshly, or that will tear apart your goodness to promote their own evil agenda. Yet, doing GOD'S will is far better than anything else I can think of.

We all know that GOD has a plan for us. He knows what is best for us and knows how to move us from where we are to where we need to be. I am a difficult student at times. I am a stubborn student at times. And, there are times when He has to teach me something; not in a bad way but to move me to where I need to be.

There are other times when, because we live in a fallen and broken world, others will strive to destroy any good thing we do. Yet, GOD can get glory from those difficulties, IF WE WILL LET HIM. I pray I seek and do GOD'S will - it is better!

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Where to find it

As a young man growing up, I remember my parents telling me to stay out of trouble. And, of course, the reply was always, "I'm not going out looking for any." Yet, the truth was, and more so is, that you don't have to look for trouble, it is all around. A lot of times, the trouble comes to you just because you are at the wrong place at the wrong time.

So, why do people like trouble and chaos and disorder so much? Why do people like to cause problems for others? Why do people like to run over others and stab others in the back? Is there any way to distinguish these types of people, and figure out where they might be hanging out so that we can avoid those types of places?

Today's word gives us some insight into where we might find those who love disorder and chaos. It is James 3:16, NIV, which reads, "For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice."

People act out and create disorder and disharmony and chaos because they want their moment in the "spotlight". These folks want to be recognized and they don't care that they have to hurt others in order to receive their "fifteen minutes of fame". It is those who are envious, those who are jealous, those who don't like the fact that someone else got attention, that love to create disorder so that they can get the attention.

We also find that those who have selfish ambition are the source of chaos and evil too. Some folks are so driven to implement their plan, to get their "piece of the pie", to have their way, that they will do whatever they have to do, harm whomever they have to harm, destroy whatever they have to destroy to make their plan a success.

If you ever start to wonder what to look for in order to avoid trouble, just look for those that are envious and full of selfish ambition - that's where to find it.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Hold on tight

There will be events in our lives that will shake us, that will cause us to reflect, may even shake our faith. If you haven't experienced something of that magnitude, hold on tight, it's coming. The event may be something physical or emotional or spiritual but it will be something that can shake us.

I am blessed to be surrounded by folks that I have seen weather storms that most people would have given in to. Yet, they stood firm in their faith that GOD was in control and that He was working it for their good. Their resolve, their resiliency, has bolstered my faith and has strengthened my resolve on countless occasions.

Today's word is Hebrews 10:23, KJV, which reads, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised)."

We have mentioned before that it is easy to hold to faith and to sing praises when everything is going well. It is during the difficult times, the hard times, the faith-shaking times that people are really watching to see how we respond. It is in those difficulties that we prove what we truly believe. I pray I will hold tight.

Let's pray for one another to hold tight to our faith. We know that GOD is faithful, and He will faithfully keep His promises. We can rest assured that He has it handled and that He holds us. Let's pray that when the storms arise, and they will, that we will hold on tight.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Powerful Words

If you don't know, what we say can have a huge impact on others. As I have gotten older, I have become much more aware of how the words I say can affect someone's day. A kind word often softens others and gives them something to smile about. A harsh word can often cause others to blow up and everyone has a bad day. Words are powerful!

I look back on my life and remember certain moments, certain instances, where a spoken word made me reflect and evaluate and challenged me to become more than I was. I also can remember many instances when a kind word, a sincere word, a loving word brought peace and comfort at just the right time.

Today's word is Philemon 1:7, NLT, which reads, "Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the heart's of GOD'S people."

Now, while Paul doesn't specifically say that Philemon has encouraged him with words, I think it is certainly implied. When you love someone you talk to them and encourage them and build them up. Paul tells Philemon that his love has given him much joy and comfort, just as a properly timed word will do.

Note also that it is refreshing: "...for your kindness has often refreshed..." When people are down and out, a kind word can go a long way. Sometimes, the best thing to say is nothing. Other times, the best and most powerful thing you could ever say is, "I love you." Our words are powerful; use them wisely.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

What makes me different

I want to be a good witness and live a Christian life, knowing that I may be the only Bible some folks will ever read. I fail miserably at times but I ask forgiveness and try harder. I have had, on occasions, someone ask what makes me different? What is it that makes me treat people respectfully? And, what makes me love everyone, even when they don't love me?

I'd like to say that I am just a good person, saintly even. But, there are few things further from the truth. There is not a lot of good just residing in me physically. However, GOD living in me makes me different.

Today's word is Titus 3:4 - 5a, ESV, which reads, "But when the goodness and loving kindness of GOD our SAVIOR appeared, He saved us..."

When I look around and see all that GOD has done for me and all that He has given me, how can I not be thankful and respectful and humbled. As mentioned before, it's not because I am good or that I am special, it's because GOD is good and because He loves us and cares for us.

When I realize all that He has done for me, I want others to experience it too. I want others to see the difference GOD makes in my life. I want them to accept Him and experience it for themselves. I want them to realize that it is GOD living in me that makes me different. I pray others can see it.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Not Me

Growing up, we had an imaginary family member named, "Not me". Anytime something was awry in the house and my parents would ask who had done it, the answer was always, "Not me". Ol' "Not me" did anything and everything you could imagine. He was always to blame but he was always hard to find when it was time to accept punishment.

On the other hand, I have about had my fill of people so full of themselves; it's not a matter of "Not me", it's all a matter of "It's all about me". Look, it's perfectly okay to be proud of what you have accomplished but no one does it on their own.

Today's word is 2 Timothy 1:9, NIV, which reads, "He has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace..."

First thing to note from this passage is that GOD has saved us and called us to a holy life. We are His children, His disciples; we represent Him and should act like it. His sacrifice for us and His blessings to us should make us want to serve Him and be more like Him. This is important but not the key point today...

The second thing to note is that it's not because of ANYTHING we have done but because He desired to do it. We can't take credit for all the good things in our lives - every good and perfect gift comes from above. It is because of GOD'S graciousness and goodness that I am what I am and that I have what I have.

If you're a superior athlete, if you're more intelligent than others, if you're better at something than most everyone else, that is a GOD given gift. You didn't do it; He gifted you just because He can. If I have ANY special gift, any special ability, any special anything, it is because of GOD, Not Me.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Facts are a stubborn thing

A quote attributed to President John Adams begins, "Facts are a stubborn thing..." It is hard to deny facts, actually it is impossible. It is facts that get us into trouble, and get us out of trouble. You can't get into trouble for perpetrating some mischief if you can proof you were elsewhere when it occurred. On the other hand, you can prove someone did perpetrate some mischief if you have facts that substantiate your claim.

We often allow ourselves to get hung up on emotions and other people's opinions when the facts are pointing out the - Facts. Facts are a stubborn thing because they are hard to deny and impossible to disprove. I'd like to talk about one in today's word...

Today's word is 1 Timothy 3:16, NLT, which reads, "Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: CHRIST was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to Heaven in glory."

This verse sums up the Christian belief, and it is FACTS. We worship GOD, the One True GOD, Who came in human form, died for our sins, rose again, and ascended into Heaven, where He is preparing our place and will one day come and receive us unto Himself. These facts are backed up by eyewitness accounts throughout the Bible.

If you want to know the truth about something, you have to find the facts. And, in the Bible, we can find, without question, the facts that establish our faith. Facts are a stubborn thing...

Be Blessed,
Mickey T