Happy New Year

The last day of 2020! It has been a strange and challenging year for sure. We have been blessed through it all. I can look back over this last year and see GOD'S hand all over us. While 2020 was definitely difficult at times, with more challenges ahead, GOD'S blessings were abundant and His promises were fulfilled.

How about you? Can you look back at this past year, as difficult as it has been, and see how GOD has seen you through? I know that I can, often, focus so much on the negative that I miss the good stuff. For me, it is much easier to see and remember the things that have gone wrong than the things that have gone right. But, when I focus on GOD, all I see are His blessings.

Today's word is Revelation 21:5, NKJV, which reads, "Then He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.'"

I don't know about you but I know that I am glad that GOD is making all things new. Yes, 2021 will be full of challenges and difficulties but it will still be full of GOD'S Mercy and Grace and Blessings. Come what may, He is still GOD and He is still on the throne, working all things for my good. 

My prayer for each of you is that 2021 will be your best year ever. I pray that GOD brings peace and blessings that you could never have thought, dreamed, nor imagined. I pray that you are closer to GOD than ever before. I pray that you can feel and see that He makes all thing new. Happy New Year!

Be Blessed,

Mickey T

Found Faithful

 It has been a couple of weeks since I posted. I hope everyone had a great Christmas and some wonderful family time. As strange as this year has been, it has really flown. In just a few days, we will be turning the calendar over to a new year. WOW!

During this past year, we have all experienced our ups and downs, some more significant than others. We have all shared a pandemic with one another, which I hope will be the only time we have to do that. Even through the pandemic, though, I have tried to remind myself to be faithful. I don't know what GOD has planned, but, I want to be faithful in doing His will.

Today's word is Proverbs 20:6, NIV, which reads, "Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?"

I have shared before that disloyalty is my "button". Nothing sets me off or shuts me down or turns me off more than disloyalty. I don't need folks in my life that will tell me one (1) thing to my face and something different behind my back. We all need those in our lives that will stand for us, when we are right, regardless of what the crowd is crying. We also need to be that person.

I have shared countless times that, when my time on this earth ends, I want to hear my SAVIOR say, "Enter in my good and faithful servant." I want to be found faithful.

Be Blessed,

Mickey T

Rejoice in GOD

 Well, we are just a week from Christmas! And, like so many other things this year, it will be a little different. There will be socially distanced get togethers and, hopefully, precautions taken to protect the most vulnerable, especially. But, again, it is temporary; this, too, shall pass.

I am sure that most people, as I can, can look back in his/her life and see times when it seemed as if it would never get better. Then, it got better. But, then, something else came along that seemed that it would never go away, never get better. But, then, it got better. And, the cycle just seems to continue from distraction to distraction to victory after victory. 

Our word for today is Romans 12:12, ESV, which reads, "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."

While things have been extremely different than I could have ever imagined, I know that GOD will see us through and that He has it under control. I rejoice in the hope that GOD is on the throne and that He will bring us through our difficult times. 

Things have been difficult. Things have looked gloomy. Things seem to go from chaos to chaos. But, we can rejoice that our Father is working it all out. It may seem a little different, and we may all be a little strained, but, we can rejoice in GOD!

Be Blessed,

Mickey T

Trust in Him at ALL times

 There is no doubt that there is a lot going on that can be quite troubling and worrisome. You can read the papers or watch the news and see how the pandemic continues to rage and worsen with each passing day. There is a vaccine that will, hopefully, begin to slow the spread but it is still months from widespread administration.

There are so many that are looking for employment, looking for assistance, looking for their next meal. There are things that we cannot fathom happening in the lives of others that we may never know. When things, much like they are now, begin to grow worse and worse each day, there seems to be nothing to do. BUT...

Today's word is Psalm 62:8, NKJV, which reads, "Trust in Him at all time, you people; pour out your heart before Him; GOD is a refuge for us."

When things are bad and going worse, there is only one (1) response - go to GOD. Prayer, as I heard yesterday, should be our first response, not our last resort. GOD is listening. He is still on the throne, still working things for our good, still waiting for His people to humble themselves and pray. We can trust in Him at ALL times, even when it feels as if things will never get better.

GOD is a refuge for us; He is the One that shelters us from pursuit, from danger, from trouble. He, again, isn't surprised by all that is going on. He isn't shocked at how things are happening. He will protect His people and bring them through things thought impossible to things unimaginable. Trust in Him at ALL times!

Be Blessed,

Mickey T

Always Has, Always Will

 I make no bones about it; I am blessed to be married to Trish. She is such a godly, loving, caring, supportive, Christian wife. I am far from perfect, far. Yet, she loves me like I cannot explain and will never be able to deserve. Even when I have failed completely, she loves me.

Even as much as Trish loves me, though, GOD loves me even more. He sent His Son to pay my sin debt so that I could be adopted into His royal family. More than that, though, He loves me enough to allow me to be who I am, which is nothing to brag about, but He allows me to be me.

We have discussed before that GOD could have made us all spiritual robots and made us to worship and obey Him. Period. Yet, He proves His love to us, not only by dying for us when we didn't deserve it, but by allowing us free will. He allows us to choose to love Him, which I do. And, as we just discussed, He loves us even when we have really messed it up and made a fool of Him. 

Today's word is 1 John 4:18, NKJV, which reads, "There is no fear in love: but perfect love casts out fear..."

GOD'S love for us is perfect. We don't have to worry about losing His love, Him falling out of love with us, with Him withholding His love because we don't deserve it. He loves us - always has, always will.

Be Blessed,

Mickey T

For all people

We are just a few days from celebrating the birth of our SAVIOR. Yes, I know it is still two (2) weeks away but it is getting really close. Especially, when you haven't done all the shopping you need to, and I may know someone that has not. 

I love Christmas! Love it! I have shared before that I had experienced many Christmases prior to Blake and Olivia coming into our lives, but, once you celebrate Christmas through the eyes of a child, Christmas takes on a whole different meaning and feeling. It is only because of the child, born to a virgin, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger that we have reason to celebrate. 

Our word for the day is Luke 2:10, KJV, which reads, "And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."

The angel had appeared to the lowly shepherds, who were out in the field tending their flocks. The angel was there to assure them that there was nothing to be afraid of, and to bring the good tidings. Not just good tidings, though; Good tidings of Great Joy. The good news of the SAVIOR being born was field with Great Joy, it still is.

Christmas is the greatest time of year! The greatest! Even when things have been a little weird, and a whole lot trying, there is reason to celebrate and share the good news. The good news that is for all people. 

Be Blessed,

Mickey T

Look Up

 If you were to ask people about me, I am sure that most of them would agree that I am a pretty confident individual. Now, I don't want to come across as arrogant or egotistical but I am fairly confident. I believe that I have shared before though, that being confident is not only being confident in what you can do, it is also being confident in what you cannot do.

I am absolutely confident in the things that I cannot do. No doubt, the year 2020 will go down in history as one (1) of the strangest, most challenging years we ever experienced. And, there have been so many things that have happened this year that I have been absolutely unable to do anything about. NOTHING. Yet, I am confident that GOD is in control and that He will see us through.

Today's word is Psalm 5:3, NKJV, which reads, "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD: in the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up."

My confidence comes, not in what I can do, and not even in what I cannot do, but, my confidence is in GOD and what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do. He has never left me nor forsaken me. He has always provided all my needs. He sticks closer than a brother. He has prepared a way and a place. And, I am confident that He is working all things for my good.

Confidence isn't a bad thing. It is in what, or in Whom, we place that confidence. If we put our faith and hope in JESUS, we have every reason to be confident. There is no reason to walk around with our heads down; through faith in JESUS, we can confidently look up.

Be Blessed,

Mickey T