You've been taught better

Growing up, my parents had their challenges with me. Not that I was a really bad child (remember, I was the perfect child, right), I just had a curiosity strong enough for three, and enough stupidity to follow through with those curious thoughts.

Anyway, the number of times I heard, "You've been taught better," is innumerable. I can't say I heard it everyday or even once a week but I heard it often enough to know that I had been taught better. My parents instilled in me the way I should act and respond and respect others. However, it took a while for those teachings to take root. I still have to do some hoeing to clean up my act.

Today's word comes from Ephesians 4:22, NIV, which reads, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires."

There are things in this world that vie for our attention, which are not bad at all. Then, we have the things that tug at us constantly, which come from "deceitful desires". While we are saved and try everyday to put off the old man, those old desires find a way to creep back in. However, we have been taught better.

GOD knows our frame, which is dust; He created us. He knows what we can handle and what we can't. We may try not to acknowledge it but He knows even the thoughts and desires we secretly keep hidden. Paul writes, that we have been taught to put those away; we've been taught better about those former things.

Here's the deal...we can't do it in our earthly strength. We are not strong enough to fight off everything that tries to pull us away from the joy of our salvation. But GOD is! We must listen to His teaching. We must rely on His strength. We must commit to His direction. Then, we can truly put off that old self and live the life GOD intends. We've been taught better!

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Nightmare on Elm Street

Do you like scary movies? You know the ones: Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Halloween, Jeepers Creepers, etc. I am not a scary movie fan. It's not that they scare me, they really bore me. There isn't a lot of suspense for me; you always know who is going to get it next. The "jock", who knows that seven people are already missing, will stand up and say, "I heard a noise. I'll go see what it was." Well, he's next.

I believe there are enough things in real life to scare us that I don't need someone's wild imagination helping. I have never been scared by horror movies. Well, there was that one time. I was watching the original Nightmare on Elm Street in a theater in Great Lakes, Illinois. The scene where Freddy Kruger cuts the mattress and pops up through the opening caused the lady sitting in front of me to stand up, let out a blood-curdling scream, and pass out cold as ice. I thought she was dead.

I was a trained military man. I jumped up, checked her pulse, asked for help. The movie was momentarily halted, EMT(s) were called to evaluate, everything was alright; she had just received a fright and passed out.
When the movie was over, I walked out of the theater looking around every corner, tiptoeing up to every stairwell, quietly moving down every hallway. The only time I have ever been frightened by a horror movie, and it wasn't the movie but the reaction of someone else.

Today's word comes from Psalm 16:8, NIV, which reads, "I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken."

GOD is with me wherever I go, even at the theater in Great Lakes, Illinois. However, I had allowed what I could see to take my eyes off the fact that He was beside me. I have learned, though, that GOD is with me no matter where I am, no matter what is going on, no matter what may come. And, with Him at my side, there is nothing to fear. Yeah, in the movies, those creatures can be really terrifying but they don't scare me - GOD is standing right beside me. You do have to watch out for the ones that scream and pass out though, they can scare the bejeebies out of you.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Are you just getting wet

It seems that I have been on a particular subject this week, and I apologize for that. However, I have been praying and seeking and working through some things. GOD has been good, and I realize that there are many things that I need to work on.

I am going to give today's word early in this post and, then, try to give you what's on my mind today. Today's word is a quote from Roger Miller, which says, "Some people walk in the rain. Others just get wet."

Some people, when things are not going their way, still continue walking the path and smiling all the way. Others will just continue to bog down with it all. I admit that I try to be the former but, often lately, I find myself the latter; I am just getting wet.

There are times when the rain is pouring and beating down on us that GOD is trying to show us something, trying to move us from where we are to where He wants us to be, trying to get us to give up what we have for what He has for us. Yes, sometimes, the rain is there for cleansing and renewing. Nothing washes away all the litter and trash like a good rainstorm.

Yet, there are times when the rain comes that all I can do is complain and trudge through. I don't get what GOD is trying to show me because all I am doing is getting wet. There is a huge difference from getting clean and just getting wet. I pray I get better at walking in the rain.

I am going to work on trying to just enjoy the day. It won't all happen today. It won't all happen at once. But, if I diligently try to walk when it is raining, GOD will take me higher than I've ever been. Enjoy the day! It may not all be good but it is all from GOD!

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Have you cried lately

I wrote yesterday about my struggles with keeping my mouth shut lately. You know the old saying, "Lately, the only time I open my mouth is to change feet."

I have a lot going on in my life at the moment, and when that happens, we can often cry and lament our problems and fruatrations to everyone except the One Who can help. I have ceetainly been there.

Today's word comes from Psalm 86:3, KJV, which reads, "Be merciful unto me, O LORD: for I cry unto Thee daily."

When's the last time you cried to GOD? I mean, really cried out to GOD? As I mentioned, I have been moaning to everyone else but I need to cry to my Father! It's okay. Go ahead and cry. GOD is merciful, He is listening, and He cares!

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Can't control it

I have found myself lately with the inability to keep my mouth shut. Ever been there? I admit that I am a talker, always have been. I admit that I have an opinion about most everything. And, I admit that most of the time, you don't even have to ask my opinion, I will freely give it.

Lately, however, I have found myself running off at the mouth way too much and wishing I could keep quiet. I truly wish you would pray for me concerning this. I don't go telling secrets. I don't go telling others things about someone else. I just can't seem to not say what I shouldn't say. Man, what is wrong with me?

I have offended more people in the last month by my, what I think are innocent opinions and queries, than I have in years. As soon as it happens, I realize that I shouldn't have said that or asked that but it is too late. It would be nice to have an undo button but life is without that option.

Today's word comes from James 3:8, NIV, which reads, "But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."

Man cannot tame the tongue; we have to rely on GOD to do that. Obviously, lately, I have failed miserably at that. The tongue is such a little thing, such a small part in the human body, but it can do so much damage and cause so much hurt. I cannot control it.

The tongue, what a burdensome thing it can be. Pray that I will allow GOD to use mine for good.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

What's so funny

We have an about to be sixteen-month-old that is absolutely amazing! He does things that makes me laugh like I haven't in years. It doesn't take much either. He finds the joy and the laughter in the things we so often take for granted.

Just this morning, we put on jackets and hoods and went out and fed the pets (two dogs and two cats). He loves those animals, and they love him. The tow dogs always come up to him and just shake with excitement. They will stand in front of him, tails wagging, tongues hanging out, just waiting for him to do something. And, he does...

He will reach out and rub them on the head and laugh like it is the funniest thing in the world! He will laugh and laugh and laugh. We are going to have to video tape it just so we can let others hear the pure joy in his laughter. When he laughs, I can't help but laugh really hard myself. What a blessing.

Today's word comes from Psalm 126:2, NIV, which reads, "Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, 'The LORD has done great things for them."

When's the last time you really laughed? I don't mean a little polite giggle at someone's funny story. I don't mean a little hee hee at someone's joke. I mean, when is the last time you just really laughed; laughed so hard you had tears flowing and it hurt?

I get involved in all the "things" going on in my life and, sometimes, forget about all the great joys in my life. It is sad to admit but it is true. The LORD has done great things for me! I should be full of joy and laughter. I am going to try to concentrate on the good things more and the not so good things less.

Yes, I am going to remember to laugh more. Just thinking about the little one's laughter this morning, and every morning, makes me laugh.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Prepare for attack

When I started trying to blog, I mentioned that this would be a way for me to "journal, maybe even vent." Sometimes, it is really nice to just get some things off your chest, to say, "Look, this is really starting to irritate me." Well, I've had a couple of weeks of that...

I am not going to go into specifics or details; that would be far too wrong and far too open. While I love to share what GOD has shown me or what GOD has done for me, I am really private. I do not like to talk about my life, and, especially, what is going on in my life. But, I would like to talk about the fact that it has been a REALLY trying last couple of weeks.

It never seems to fail that when you are trying to do your best and trying to do what needs to be done that something is going to come along and mess things up; that something is satan. He walks around just trying to tear people down and destroy joy and testimonies. He is very good at this. We must prepare for attack!

Today's word comes from Isaiah 40:29,NIV, which reads, "He (the LORD) gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."

Now, listen, satan loves to attack when we are at our weakest - physically, emotionally, spiritually. He looks for that opportunity to kick us when we are down. The old saying is, "When it rains it pours." satan's motto is, "When it hurts, make it hurt more." He is on the attack!

But, the Bible tells us that GOD will give us strength when we are weary and power when we are weak. When the attacks come, and they will, we can trust that GOD will give us the strength and power to persevere. I will say that it has been difficult to see that recently but I know that I know that I know that GOD has this all under control! satan will attack! GOD will knock him back!

Be Blessed,
Mickey T