We are approaching the Valentine holiday, when we give sweets to our sweets to let them know how much we love them. And, let me tell you, I LOVE my wife and kids. Of course, I love a lot of people: my family, friends, everyone, but, obviously, a different kind of love than for my wife, which is a different love from any other love. Before I get too mushy, I better move on.
The key here is that I love everybody but with a different level, a different type of love. There are people in my life that I would give my life for. I would love to say that I would "gladly" die for but, let's be honest, "gladly". But, in all sincerity, there are people in my life that I would give my life for. However, would I give my life for an enemy?
Today's verse is Romans 5:8, ESV, which reads, "but GOD shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, CHRIST died for us."
The very people that put JESUS on the cross, the very people that beat Him, and spat on Him, and tortured Him and crucified Him are the very ones that He gave His life for. He didn't stop there though. He gave His life for me, a man that wouldn't be born for almost two thousand years. He knew I would be a sinner, that I would need forgiveness, that I would disobey and break His laws (and His heart). Yet, He died for me!
If you want to explain true LOVE to someone, tell them about JESUS and how much He loves us.
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Two ears and one mouth
The old saying is that GOD gave us two ears and one mouth because He expects us to listen twice as much as we speak. I would love to say that I adhere to that but I would be LYING. I am a talker. I am from a long line of talkers. I don't usually have anything worth talking about, yet, you will often find me talking up a storm.
However, I do think I am a fairly decent listener. I care about others. I want to be able to help others if I can. And, if listening to someone will help them, I really try to listen. A lot of times, the first step to overcoming something is to talk about it. If someone is going to talk about something, the least I can do is listen.
Today's word is an anonymous quote that reminds me to be a good talker, and a good listener. It says, "Speak is such a way that others love to listen to you. Listen in such a way that others love to speak to you."
It is absolutely true that others need to hear things like, "You are good," "You are doing great," "It's good to see you," "You make such a positive impact," etc. It is just as important for others to see that you are listening to them. We know that saying nice things to others encourages them. So, too, does listening.
I have two ears and one mouth. I am going to try to be a better listener.
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
However, I do think I am a fairly decent listener. I care about others. I want to be able to help others if I can. And, if listening to someone will help them, I really try to listen. A lot of times, the first step to overcoming something is to talk about it. If someone is going to talk about something, the least I can do is listen.
Today's word is an anonymous quote that reminds me to be a good talker, and a good listener. It says, "Speak is such a way that others love to listen to you. Listen in such a way that others love to speak to you."
It is absolutely true that others need to hear things like, "You are good," "You are doing great," "It's good to see you," "You make such a positive impact," etc. It is just as important for others to see that you are listening to them. We know that saying nice things to others encourages them. So, too, does listening.
I have two ears and one mouth. I am going to try to be a better listener.
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
Monday, February 9, 2015
Feed the good
There's an old story that goes something like this. A guy was talking to an old indian chief and was asking him how he stayed so calm and how he managed to make decisions that affected his entire tribe? How did he know the right choice? The old chief told the guy that there were two dogs living inside him, a good dog and a bad dog, and they helped him make the decisions for the tribe. "How do they do that," the gentleman asked the chief? "Well," replied the chief, "When I have a big decision to make, the good dog and the bad dog fight. Whichever one wins, I go with their decision."
The gentleman was really engrossed in the chief's decision making process. "So," he asked, "Which one usually wins?" "That's easy to answer," replied the chief, "The winner is always the one I feed the most."
Today's word is Romans 8:6, New Living Translation (NLT), which reads, "So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace."
There is absolutely nothing that will live for long without adequate nourishment and sustenance. Same holds true to what we allow to influence us and to control us. If we are putting the good stuff in, feeding the good that is in us, we will do the right things. On the other hand, if we are allowing the trash in, feeding the bad that is in us, we will do those things that we shouldn't do and find ourselves in places/positions/situations that we NEVER wanted to be in. Feed the good!
The gentleman was really engrossed in the chief's decision making process. "So," he asked, "Which one usually wins?" "That's easy to answer," replied the chief, "The winner is always the one I feed the most."
Today's word is Romans 8:6, New Living Translation (NLT), which reads, "So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace."
There is absolutely nothing that will live for long without adequate nourishment and sustenance. Same holds true to what we allow to influence us and to control us. If we are putting the good stuff in, feeding the good that is in us, we will do the right things. On the other hand, if we are allowing the trash in, feeding the bad that is in us, we will do those things that we shouldn't do and find ourselves in places/positions/situations that we NEVER wanted to be in. Feed the good!
Thursday, February 5, 2015
CPR
This will be a quick and short one today; I have CPR and first aid training, which is vitally important. No pun intended. So, I will cut straight to the point...
Today's word is a quote from Patch Adams that says, "The reason adults should look as though they are having fun, is to give kids a reason to want to grow up."
If we make adulthood seem like such a chore and challenge, why would any child want any part of it? I want my kids to see that being an adult isn't a bad thing at all; it is actually pretty cool and tons of fun.
So, with this quote in mind, let's live with CPR - Caring, Passion, and Really fun!
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
Today's word is a quote from Patch Adams that says, "The reason adults should look as though they are having fun, is to give kids a reason to want to grow up."
If we make adulthood seem like such a chore and challenge, why would any child want any part of it? I want my kids to see that being an adult isn't a bad thing at all; it is actually pretty cool and tons of fun.
So, with this quote in mind, let's live with CPR - Caring, Passion, and Really fun!
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Positive and negative
When we start to do something big, read expensive, at our house, I have a tendency to sit down and list the positives and negatives of the project. If the positives outweigh/outnumber the negatives, we will take it to the next level: will it fit into the budget; is it something we will be glad we did next year, five years from now, etc.; what is the return on investment (will we be glad that we spent the money versus saving the money for later). There is a lot of thought that goes into the big things.
I think we often do the same things in our day to day lives. We start out fairly positive in the mornings - we all got up! But, as our day progresses, we begin to allow one negative thing to affect our positive day. Then, that one negative multiplies into a plethora of negatives that overwhelm what should have been a positive day. We have to make the positives outnumber the negatives.
Today's word is a simple saying I came across that reminds me of this. It says, "You can't live a positive life with a negative mind."
If we dwell on the negatives, we will fail to see the good things that are all around us. I can complain about my old truck or be grateful that I didn't have to walk to work this morning. I can complain about our messy house or be grateful that we have the blessing of children. I can complain about my job or be grateful for having a job and the ability to work.
For each of us, there will be positives and negatives. We have to make a conscious effort to ensure that we make our positives outnumber our negatives. You can't live a positive life with a negative mind.
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
I think we often do the same things in our day to day lives. We start out fairly positive in the mornings - we all got up! But, as our day progresses, we begin to allow one negative thing to affect our positive day. Then, that one negative multiplies into a plethora of negatives that overwhelm what should have been a positive day. We have to make the positives outnumber the negatives.
Today's word is a simple saying I came across that reminds me of this. It says, "You can't live a positive life with a negative mind."
If we dwell on the negatives, we will fail to see the good things that are all around us. I can complain about my old truck or be grateful that I didn't have to walk to work this morning. I can complain about our messy house or be grateful that we have the blessing of children. I can complain about my job or be grateful for having a job and the ability to work.
For each of us, there will be positives and negatives. We have to make a conscious effort to ensure that we make our positives outnumber our negatives. You can't live a positive life with a negative mind.
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
The GOD Standard
It seems that we are always trying to measure up. No matter what we are doing or how we are doing it, there is a standard that we compare our results to, which is not a bad thing. We measure our kids, then compare their results to the average growth charts for children their age. We see how they measure up.
When you compete in a race, their is a meet record, a national record, a world record that has been established as the standard; that is the mark that everyone compares their individual results against. Then, you have those who like to compare their stuff with the stuff that others have. They have a bigger house; thus, they are better. They drive a fancier car; they are better. If you want to talk about bank accounts, ours could be a competitor on The Biggest Loser, and it would be winning - DECISIVELY!
Today's word is a quote from Roy Lessin, which says, "When GOD measures a man, the tape is placed around his heart."
It really isn't about the amount of stuff or the type of stuff that we have. It's about what we do with the things GOD blesses us with. Maybe we don't have the nicest house but we have made GOD the Head, which makes our house a HOME. Maybe we don't have the nicest vehicles but I thank GOD each day that He has blessed us with what we have. Our bank account seems to be on a crash diet but GOD will supply our needs, and we KNOW it.
There are standards to compare everything to. The real standard for us, though, is what are we doing with what GOD has given us. I am not saying that we have it all together and that we are doing things the way GOD intends. What I am saying is that we should keep in mind that GOD is our standard, and He measures our heart.
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
When you compete in a race, their is a meet record, a national record, a world record that has been established as the standard; that is the mark that everyone compares their individual results against. Then, you have those who like to compare their stuff with the stuff that others have. They have a bigger house; thus, they are better. They drive a fancier car; they are better. If you want to talk about bank accounts, ours could be a competitor on The Biggest Loser, and it would be winning - DECISIVELY!
Today's word is a quote from Roy Lessin, which says, "When GOD measures a man, the tape is placed around his heart."
It really isn't about the amount of stuff or the type of stuff that we have. It's about what we do with the things GOD blesses us with. Maybe we don't have the nicest house but we have made GOD the Head, which makes our house a HOME. Maybe we don't have the nicest vehicles but I thank GOD each day that He has blessed us with what we have. Our bank account seems to be on a crash diet but GOD will supply our needs, and we KNOW it.
There are standards to compare everything to. The real standard for us, though, is what are we doing with what GOD has given us. I am not saying that we have it all together and that we are doing things the way GOD intends. What I am saying is that we should keep in mind that GOD is our standard, and He measures our heart.
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
Monday, February 2, 2015
Groundhog Day
Today is February 2nd, National Groundhog Day. Old Punxsutawney Phil will soon take the stage to see if he can forecast six more weeks of winter or an early spring. I know it is just tradition and no one really believes that ol' Phil can predict the weather. Well, he is as good or better than I am but we don't control the weather so, how can we predict what will happen?
I did a little researching to see how accurate ol' Punxsutawney Phil has been, and the results are not good. Since 1887, his accuracy has been about 39%, which, to say the least, is nothing to brag about. Think of all the accidents you would be in if your braking accuracy was only 39%. Once again, it is a guess; Phil doesn't control the weather.
Today's word is Leviticus 26:4, NIV, which reads, "I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees its fruit."
I don't know about you but I am grateful that GOD controls the weather and the seasons and not Punxsutawney Phil or anyone else. I don't know what most humans are thinking, much less a groundhog. Is that who you would want controlling the seasons?
Whether ol' Phil sees his shadow or not this morning is irrelevant. We will have the weather that GOD intends for us to have. We will receive the rain when needed, the heat when appropriate, the mild temperatures as designed, and spring will come right on time. Happy Groundhog Day!
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
I did a little researching to see how accurate ol' Punxsutawney Phil has been, and the results are not good. Since 1887, his accuracy has been about 39%, which, to say the least, is nothing to brag about. Think of all the accidents you would be in if your braking accuracy was only 39%. Once again, it is a guess; Phil doesn't control the weather.
Today's word is Leviticus 26:4, NIV, which reads, "I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees its fruit."
I don't know about you but I am grateful that GOD controls the weather and the seasons and not Punxsutawney Phil or anyone else. I don't know what most humans are thinking, much less a groundhog. Is that who you would want controlling the seasons?
Whether ol' Phil sees his shadow or not this morning is irrelevant. We will have the weather that GOD intends for us to have. We will receive the rain when needed, the heat when appropriate, the mild temperatures as designed, and spring will come right on time. Happy Groundhog Day!
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
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