Integrity can be tough

I have a person who has called me a liar to my face. The reason this person thinks I am a liar is because I told them something and someone else told them something different. The other person "outranks" me so, they have to be more honest. Right? So, this person has taken the other person's word, and I have become a liar.

There is a way for me to prove I am not lying but it would cause me to have to break my word, which would make me a liar; so, therein lies the conundrum. I can either be thought a liar, or I can break my word and be a liar. Have you ever been there? It is a tough choice to make - the choice between proving you're right and being a person of integrity.

Integrity - doing the right thing even when no one is looking; doing the right thing even when it is difficult; doing the right thing even when it hurts; doing the right thing even when it sucks. I realize that "sucks" isn't a great word but it really describes the situation.

Today's word comes from Matthew 5:37, NIV, which reads, "Simply let your, "Yes," be, "Yes," and your, "No," "No,"; anything beyond this comes from the evil one."

It isn't always easy being a person of integrity but it is always worth it. I have prayed long and hard. I have fought self-pride and selfishness. But, in the end, being thought a liar is far better than being a liar. This person can think what they want but I will remain a person of integrity.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Perfect parenting

Last night we discussed with our "kids" in the Youth group that there is no such thing as a perfect parent. When one asked if that included me, I replied, "Absolutely." I then went on to say that there also is no perfect child, though I was really close (YEAH, RIGHT).

Allow me to digress for just a moment and say that when I was a child, I wasn't horrible but I was far from perfect. If you would look up mischievous in the dictionary it would have had my picture and my address. So, no, there are no perfect parents or children.

We do tend to often wish we could change our family; we want the perfect family. While our family will never be perfect, it is the perfect family for me. My family is the exact family GOD had in mind when He placed me in it, and vice versa. I bet my family may be reading this and thinking, "Why us LORD?"

The point I want you to get is that we are far from perfect but GOD will continue to work on us and help us to get there if we will let Him. Today's word comes from Psalm 138:8 (English Standard Version), which reads, "The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of Your hands."

Your family is not perfect, it never will be. My family will never be perfect. How can it be when I am a part of it. However, if we will continue to pursue GOD'S will, He will not forsake the work He is doing in us. I promise you, He has His hands full with me but He will continue His work to completion. Let's not worry so much about perfection and rest perfectly secure in GOD'S promise to continue working on us.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

That first step can be a lulu

Not too many years ago, we had a small snow/ice storm. While this may be nothing uncommon for most, here in the deep south, this is quite unnatural. Anyway, we had had some snow and ice the prior evening and I was going out to start our car for church.

While we have snow and ice, occasionally, it rarely lays anywhere other than the grass and trees. However, we had a ramp attached to our back porch for easy access for a family member, and it was slick. Yes, it was slick but I couldn’t tell that by looking at it. You see, the snow was on the top, and it covered the slick ice underneath. From the top, it appeared you could walk down the ramp without any trouble. Boy, was I wrong!

As I began to walk down the ramp to warm our car, I slipped on the ice lying precariously under the light dusting of snow. I may not have seen the ice but it didn’t take long for me to feel its effect. As I timidly traversed the ramp, suddenly, I found myself looking up at my feet. Yes, looking up at my feet! This is the last thing I saw prior to slamming my back, shoulders, and head on the ramp.

That slippery ramp reminds me of today’s word, which comes from Hebrews 3:13, NIV, which reads, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

Sin is such a slippery slope. While it may look inviting, tempting, even safe from the top, one small step can send us hurtling down the slippery slope. All it takes is giving in to one thought, one covet, one desire, one weakness and we can find ourselves with our feet up in the air, and us in over our heads.

Sin is a slippery slope; don’t give in to the smallest temptation.

Be Blessed,

Mickey T

How much more

I read a statistic several years ago that stated that if Bill Gates tried to feed all the birds in the world, if he tried to buy enough bird feed to feed them all, he wouldn’t have enough money to feed them all for one single day.

One of the richest people in the world doesn’t have enough money to feed all the birds in the world for just one day. Yet, GOD feeds them all everyday. He doesn’t just feed them all; He has prepared enough for them to eat to fullness every single day.

Our word for the day comes from Matthew 6:26 (NIV), which reads, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

I know we all struggle from time to time. I know that it is especially difficult in the current economic downturn. But, if GOD provides the basic needs for all the birds in the world, don’t you know He’ll take care of us?

We may not know how He is going to do it. We may not know when He is going to do it. We can have faith, though, that He is going to do it. GOD cares for the smallest creature, the smallest bird of the air. How much more valuable are you than they?

Be Blessed,

Mickey T

Idiots

I have often asked our Youth, "Do you know what an idiot is doing when you are arguing with him?" The answer? "The same thing, arguing with an idiot." Don't argue with idiots, it is a waste of your time, and theirs.

Today's word comes from Proverbs 3:30, and today I have used GOD'S Word Translation. Proverbs 3:30 (GWT) reads, "Do not quarrel with a person for no reason if he has not harmed you."

We seem to want ot argue with everyone about everything. Well, maybe I should just speak for myself. Sometimes, it seems that I can't do anything but make snide remarks and argue with everyone about any and every thing; this ought not be so.

There are things in life worth discussion, debate, even arguing but, I would venture to say, that most things we argue about aren't worth the argument. The next time you find yourself in an argument with an idiot, step back and see if they are in the same predicament.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Geometry

We all know that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. I remember discussing this in great detail during geometry class, where, with right angles/triangles, the hypotenuse is the shortest distance between points "A" and "B".

We all remember the word problem...Johnny leaves his house and walks west 1000 feet, then, turns right and walks north 3000 feet. How far is Johnny from his home. Of course, we use Pythagorean's theorem (a2 + b2 = c2) and salve for c to find the shortest distance (a straight line).

Today's word isn't about geometry or Pythagorean but the thought of a straight line leads me to our passage today, found in Matthew 7:13 & 14 (KJV), which reads, "¹³ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: ¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

It often seems that people will wander to and fro seeking after everything in the world to fill that void they have in their hearts. They will walk miles in one direction, turn and walk miles in another but all they need is to walk the straight line to JESUS.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

True Friends

We were discussing friends in our Youth study last night - true friends versus fake friends. We have all found ourselves surrounded by those whom we thought were our friends but, in the end, we found they were only fair weather friends.

I've heard it said that you can count your true friends on one hand. WOW! I have so many people that I consider true friends; it is certainly a sad commentary that my really true friends are less than I think. I really believe that I do have true friends that would be there no matter what. I pray that you do to.

So, how do we know if our friend is a true friend? Well, I am glad you asked...today's word is from the NIV found in Proverbs 17:17, which reads, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

Our true friends are going to love us at all times. They may not always agree with us, they may not always approve of us, but they will always love us. Those fake friends, those fair weather friends are the ones that when the going gets tough, they get going. When you need them the most, those fake friends will leave you the fastest.

We truly need to pray and ask for GOD'S discernment when it comes to choosing our friends. The last thing we need is to be depending on someone's friendship and it not be there when it is needed most. I am not talking about extenuating circumstances preventing someone from being there; I am talking about a friend that is only a "friend" when things are good. Ask GOD to lead you to true friends; we all need them.

One final note...I always keep in mind that in order to have friends, we must, first, show ourselves friendly. Not only do I need true friends, I need to be a true friend. Pray that GOD will guide me, aid me, assist me and equip me to be the friend that I need to be. A true friend loves at all times. Be a true friend.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T