Enjoy some chocolate milk

Well, I can hardly let today go by without acknowledging, according to the National Day Calendar, that today is National Chocolate Milk Day! Man, I really like me some chocolate milk. Anyone who really knows me or has been around me very much will attest to that fact.

There is something special about chocolate milk, and I don't necessarily mean the sweetness nor the chocolate per se. But, I have always enjoyed taking a glass of cold milk and mixing in chocolate mix. It will surely make you happy, happy, happy. However, as I have grown in my Christian walk and life, I have come to realize that even that simple glass of chocolate milk that I enjoy so much is a blessing from GOD.

Today's word is Ecclesiastes 2:24, ESV, which reads, "There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of GOD."

Solomon reminds us in this verse that there are few things better in this world than to eat, drink, and find enjoyment in our work. Now, he did not mean to be gluttons or drunkards. No, he simply meant that GOD has given us good food (enough food) and drink. How often, I complain about what we are having for dinner, when I should be grateful to my Father for providing such good food for my family and me. How often we complain about our jobs, when we should be grateful that we are able to work and that we have somewhere to work. It all comes from GOD, and we should be thankful and express our thanksgiving to Him.

So, even a simple glass of chocolate milk should remind us of how blessed we are through our Father in Heaven. He has given us exceedingly, abundantly above anything we could ever think, dream, or imagine. Give Him thanks, then enjoy some chocolate milk.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Times that we shouldn't speak at all

Ever heard the old saying, "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt"? It is really good advice; sage advice that I would be wise to remember. Often, I find myself willing to speak before I really need to, before I even think about what I am going to say, before I even think about the fact that the best thing I can say is nothing.

I think most of us have a tendency to want to communicate. And, I think most of us have a desire, while communicating, to appear reasonably intelligent. Yet, if you are like me, you may find yourself engaging mouth way before engaging brain, which will land you in one uncomfortable position after another.

Today's word is Proverbs 17:28, NLT, which is a good reminder of how we, sometimes, need to remain silent: "Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouth shut, they seem intelligent."

This verse, from which the saying probably originated, reminds us that the best things we can sometimes say is nothing at all. I like the fact that it says, "Even fools are thought wise..." So, anyone can appear to be wise if they follow this advice - "when they keep silent.." Then, it goes even further: "...they seem intelligent." When? "...with their mouth shut..." Wanna look and seem intelligent - keep mouth shut.

I guess the truth to be taken from this, and so many other things, is that there is a time to speak. And, there are a lot more times that we shouldn't speak at all.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Go out and vote

It's Register to Vote Day, and I think, if you are not registered to vote, that you should go out and register to vote. Then, you should vote. You shouldn't stop at registration; you should continue on and cast votes. Voting is one of the greatest privileges we have as Americans and so few people take advantage of it.

I will never tell you who to vote for or what not to vote for; that is between GOD and you. However, I will say that we should pray and seek GOD'S will and, then, cast our votes. I mentioned to someone once, that I voted for a certain third party candidate. This person asked me why I would go and "WASTE" a vote. To which I replied, "If I vote my conscience, my vote is never wasted."

Today's word is Proverbs 29:2, NKJV, which reads, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; BUT when a wicked man rules, the people groan."

The only way we can ensure that we are led by good, righteous, godly people is for us to go out and elect good, righteous, godly people. If we don't go out and vote for good people, we have cast a vote for the other party. Again, one of the greatest privileges we enjoy here in America is the freedom to vote and elect.

Register to Vote Day; take advantage of it. So many people have sacrificed to give us this privilege to elect good, righteous, godly leaders. Let's make full use of it. Register to vote, then, go out and vote.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Truth will Prevail

Can you control what people say think about you? Or, just as important, what others say about you? Goodness no. People are going to think and say whatever they want to think and say. Now, I try to do the right things and be respectable and respectful but, man, there are those who will talk about me like I am the biggest waste going, and they are usually the ones closest to you.

You know what I can do about what others think or say about me? Not much, other than to try and live a life that disproves all they are telling. So, I have this saying: "Think what you want to think, believe what you want to believe, and say what you want to say. BUT, I know the truth."

Today's word is just something I came across that says: "The Truth shall Prevail." Amen.

This simple sentence is telling us that JESUS, the TRUTH, will triumph. No matter the circumstance, no matter how awful or stressful it is. No matter what others think. No matter what others do. No matter, come what may, JESUS is in control and He will prevail. We can trust that He will fight our battles, defeat our enemies, and bring us to a good end.

Look, there is absolutely nothing you or I can do about what others think or say. We can ask them not to say it, but, that often does very little good. What we can do, though, is rely on GOD to see us through. To know that He knows the truth, is the Truth, and that Truth will set us free. Not only that, the Truth will Prevail.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Through our faith

Have you ever overcome a major obstacle in your life? For some, it may have been trying to go to school, or go back to school, while raising a family and working a full time job. For others, it may have been a physical challenge that required a lot of time and effort. For others, it may have been letting something go and knowing that GOD was going to take care of it.

We will all have obstacles in our lives, obstacles that need to be overcome. Each time we overcome a challenge, each time we find ourselves persevering, each time we defeat an obstacle, we grow a little more in our faith. Faith gets stronger when we exercise it.

Today's word is 1 John 5:4, NLT, which reads, "For every child of GOD defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith."

If you are a child of GOD, you can know that, come what may, you already have the victory. We know that JESUS defeated death, hell, and the grave; and, so shall we. We know that difficult times will come but ultimately, we will be victorious. And, where does that victory come from? Our faith. We know that GOD is on our side and that He will lead us safely through.

Got an obstacle that needs tackling? Got a challenge that needs to be overcome? Got some persevering to undertake? We can rest assured that GOD will faithfully help us to do each and every one of those, and more. Not faith in ourselves, but, faith in the One that will lead us through. For, we, His children, will defeat this world through our faith.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Your heart's desires

Well, today is our two little ones' birthday, seven and six today. It is amazing how fast the years have gone and are going. The old saying, "With children, the days are long but the years are short," is certainly true. It is hard to believe that they are seven and six.

So, what do I really want for our two children? I want them to know that they are loved and that they are safe. This summer, they both prayed to receive CHRIST as their Savior, but, I want them to be safe in this world, too. I want them to be successful and thoughtful and giving and caring and kind. I want them to do GOD'S work.

Today's word is Psalm 20:4, NLT, which reads, "May He grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed."

Today's verse is my prayer for our two children; that GOD would grant them their heart's desires and help them be successful. Now, of course, all the desires and success will come from them following GOD and doing His good will. I want them to be successful in all the right ways.

As you go about your daily duties, remember that GOD has a great plan for you. He wants you to be successful and useful. More than anything, though, He wants you to be His. Because, every father wants to give his children nice things; this is even more true of our Heavenly Father. Happy Birthday little ones! May God grant your heart's desires.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Never Forsaken

As I type this, Hurricane Florence is on our minds. I pray for those that will be affected by the devastation that will be wrought by this force of nature. I can't imagine what must be going through the minds of those that are in Florence's path. Even if you have the best homeowner's insurance in the world, there is still probably great concern.

Of course, for me, as long as everyone is safe, everything else can either be repaired or replaced. However, it takes years to build what they have; it takes years and time and hard work to get something the way you want it and love it. It must feel as though there is no hope. However, for those who seek the LORD, there is always hope.

Today's word is Psalm 9:10, NIV, which reads, "Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You."

There will be times in our lives when we feel as though we have been abandoned or forsaken, but, as a child of GOD, we can rest assured that the LORD is right there with us. Not only is He there, He has always been there, He will always be there. There is no place we can go that He does not go before us, and that He is not there with us.

We pray for those who are in the path of whatever is coming. I pray that GOD gives me peace and grace to withstand whatever storm comes my way. I pray that I will recognize and feel His presence and His power as we weather those storms. I pray that I remember that He has never forsaken those who seek Him.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T