The Good Ol' Days

Pops, rest his soul, always longed for the "good ol' days". On countless occasions, he would begin telling a story of the simpler times of growing up on the farm, with no air conditioning, no television, no microwave ovens, not much of any modern convenience. When he would begin one of his stories, one of his grandchildren would usually say, "Oh no, another farm story."

Now, Pops surely knew that the conveniences we enjoy today made life a little easier than it was in his childhood and youth. I don't think he would have wanted to go back to living without air conditioning and cable television. How could he have ever watched all the re-re-reruns of Gunsmoke and Bonanza? Looking back too much can get us into trouble...

Today's word is Ecclesiastes 7:10, NLT, which reads, "Don't long for 'the good old days'. This is not wise."

There's a lot to be said for the good old days, when things were simpler and crime was lower and people had to work to earn what they had. There's something to be said about not having all the modern conveniences that become more of a nuisance and a hindrance. There are lots of good things about the good old days but we aren't living in the past - we are here now.

While the good old days are fun to remember and certainly dear to our hearts, GOD has us here today for a reason. We can't continue to press forward if we are constantly looking back. As we have discussed before, there is a reason the windshield is so large and rear view mirror is so small - GOD intends for us to be looking forward and only glancing back.

We are here now to do GOD'S good work. Keep pressing forward, working hard, doing what GOD has called us to do. If we do that, we will look back at this time period and realize that they, too, were good old days.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Fulfilled Dreams

We've all had desires, and we all have desires. Last week at VBS, when one of the youth asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I replied, "Retired". I am, sometimes, the ultimate child. I love having a good time. I love trying to make people laugh. I love being around folks. But, I do have a desire to retire one day. I want to spend more time with Trish, more time being available, more time just enjoying doing nothing.

Now, I am in no hurry to retire. While it is a desire, it is not one that I long for or yearn for; retirement will come way too soon for most of us. But, we have all had those desires that seemed they would never be fulfilled, those dreams that seemed as if they would always be just a dream, yet, I would venture to say that we can all look back and remember the feeling of a dream fulfilled.

Today's word is Proverbs 13:12, NLT, which reads, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life."

It is the longing, the waiting, that seems to drain us and wear us down. We want something so much but it seems it will never happen. And, because it seems it will never happen, yet, we want it so bad, it makes us heart sick. If we dwell on it too much or for too long or too often, we may even find ourselves physically sick. Stress does strange things to our bodies. BUT...

You gotta love the "buts" in the Bible. "BUT, a dream fulfilled is a tree of life." When we finally see the fulfillment of a long awaited dream, it bolsters us up and renews our innermost being. Whatever you are dreaming, if it is in GOD'S will, keep dreaming. And, on those days that it seems that it will never happen, remember all the times that GOD has fulfilled your desires before. Remembering GOD'S goodness will give us the strength to keep pushing forward until our dreams are fulfilled.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Sweet Sleep

In my last rambling, I mentioned that I have MAJOR trust issues. Yet, I fully trust GOD. I know that He is going to take care of things. It is because of this complete trust in the LORD that I can lie down and sleep at night. Yes, I have my bouts of insomnia, which come for no rhyme nor reason. But, I know that once I get to sleep, GOD will watch over and protect and keep us.

Our two little ones have trouble sleeping through the night even now. Sometimes, they sleep really soundly all night; sometimes they are up most every night. What awakes them or keeps them from falling back to sleep is insecurity; they need to know that we are still there and that they are protected and safe. So, we have started reciting today's word each night in their rooms.

Today's word is Psalm 4:8, NIV, which reads, "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety."

It is because of GOD'S love for us, His care for us, His protection over us, that we can relax and sleep peacefully. We can rest assured that GOD is watching over us and that there is absolutely nothing to be concerned about. We can nuzzle up close and fall asleep peacefully in His arms.

The next time you have a little trouble sleeping because of things going on in your life, try reciting today's word. You may just find some sweet sleep.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Trust Issues

I have major, MAJOR, trust issues. I have had them my entire life. I have probably mentioned this before but it bears repeating, I cannot remember a single episode that set off my trust issues but I do know I have had them for as long as I can remember.

Maybe it's the fact that I have seen too many instances of people breaking their trust. Maybe it's the fact that I have heard too many people tell one thing just to find out they did something entirely different. Maybe it's the fact that I have had too many people break too many promises to me. Maybe it's the fact that I know my own shortcomings, and I figure most people are just as fallible as I am.Whatever it is, I don't trust a lot of people

Today's word is Job 13:15, NIV, which reads, "Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him; I will surely defend my ways to His face."

Job had been through a lot. He had lost everything, including his health. His "friends" are telling him how sorry he must be, that he must have done something pretty bad to have GOD bring all this upon him. Even his wife was telling Job to just, "curse GOD and die." BUT...

I told you before that I like the BUTs...BUT, Job knew he had been faithful, he knew that GOD had been good to him, he knew that he was no better than anyone else, he knew that it rained on the just and the unjust, he knew that GOD had things under control, he knew that GOD was working things for his good, and he knew that he could trust Him. Do you know that? Do you know that, come what may, you can trust that GOD will bring you through? Job did.

I have major, MAJOR, trust issues. Always have, probably always will. But, even with all my trust issues, I know that I can trust GOD with anything and everything. I pray I can be like Job and say, "Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him!"

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

That's what love will do

The story of Esther is one of the best love stories anyone could ever read. Some people like Romeo and Juliet, which is classic, but I find the stories of Esther and Ruth to be the best love stories to read, with the exception of the Love of CHRIST, which is the greatest love story ever. But, I digress...

The King chose Esther to be his queen above all other women. She was apparently quite beautiful but his love for her was much deeper than the superficial physical love. He loved her enough to want to sacrifice for her and to try and please her. I mentioned before that our youth know that true love is about giving, not getting. Someone who truly loves you isn't always trying to figure out what they can get from you but are going out of their way to ensure they give you what you need.

Today's word is Esther 5:3, NLT, which reads, "Then the king asked her, 'What do you want Queen Esther? What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!'"

The Queen, Esther, was going before the King to ask for assistance with trying to save her people. GOD had put Esther there for just this moment. She had prayed and fasted and sought GOD'S will. She knew that the king had the power to put her away, or even have her killed, for appearing before him without an "appointment". Yet, she needed to make her request.

When she walked in, I can almost see King Ahasuerus rise up on his throne and grin from ear to ear. He was happy to see her! He was thrilled to see her unannounced, in the middle of the day! It was truly an unexpected blessing to see this woman that he loved so much! But, it didn't stop there. The king knew from Eshter's countenance that something wasn't right. He asked what was wrong. He wanted to do what he could to please her and make her happy. And, he didn't just stop there.

The king looked at Esther and said, "I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!" He was willing to sacrifice for the one he loved. Do you love someone like that? Does someone love you like that? I am blessed to love and be loved with that much passion and desire. Yes, I love Trish. She is my Thang. And, I know she loves me, really loves me. But, I am talking about JESUS.

JESUS died for us all to take away our sins and to make a way for us to be adopted into the royal family. His love for us was sacrificial and gave us something that money or effort or time could ever provide. He gives me so much on a daily basis that I could never tell of His goodness and grace. That's what love will do.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

The right mindset

Have you ever wanted anything so bad you were willing to work for it? Most things in life don't come easy. Yeah, there are those things that GOD blesses us with that are just that, GOD'S blessings. Yet, there are other things that we really have to work for, really have to commit to, really have to sacrifice for. You all know what I mean.

The only way you will ever run a 5K is to work up to running a 5K. Now, you can think about running a 5K; you can talk about running a 5K; you can watch others run a 5K; but, none of those will end with you running a 5K. In order to run a 5K, or to accomplish any other goal or task, you have to commit and do it.

Today's word is Nehemiah 4:6, ESV, which reads, "So we built the wall. And the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work."

Nehemiah and the Israelites were rebuilding the walls. They were determined to get the job done. They were committed to completing the task. They weren't going to let anything or anyone deter them from doing what GOD had called them to do. Their motivation, their drive, is found in the last five words of this verse, "(they) had a mind to work."

As Pops used to tell me and try to instill in me, "Anything worth having is worth working for." Will it be easy? Probably not. Will it be tiring? Probably. Will it be worth it? Absolutely. If we will set our minds to doing what GOD has called us to do, and determine in our minds and our hearts that we are going to do it, we will find that it was worth it, and that it is exactly what we wanted. And, it all begins with having a mind to work.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Earnest Prayer

If you look up the definition of "earnest", you'll read, "resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction". When you do something in earnest, you do it with everything you have, you give it all you've got. When you do something earnestly, you don't hold anything back, you don't allow anything to hinder you. When's the last time you earnestly prayed?

I admit, I'm as guilty as anyone of, sometimes, just going through the motions of praying. I say the right words, I use all the right phrases, I use all the proper nouns. I want GOD to hear my prayers and grant my requests, and I think I am earnest in my praying, but am I really?

Today's word is Ezra 8:23, NLT, which reads, "So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our GOD would take care of us, and He heard our prayer."

We've had a lot going on in our lives lately and we have prayed about it all. We've been very specific and very purposeful in our prayers. We know that we need GOD to intervene and help us accomplish all that we know He wants for us. We want to be what He wants us to be and we want to serve where and how He wants, and we pray earnestly for His will in every aspect of our lives.

Got something you've been praying for that you really need an answer? Have you been praying earnestly, sincerely, with intense conviction? If so, you can rest assured that GOD will answer your prayer in His way, in His time. When you pray, pray for us, earnestly pray for us. We want to be His servants and to do His will. If we earnestly seek that, He will hear and take care of us.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T