Act Like It

Ever wonder if really rich people have bad days? I can assure you that they do. Having a boatload of money doesn't exempt you from the sorrows and stresses and distresses that this world can bring. Their problems may be experienced in a bigger, nicer house or a shinier, fancier car - but, there still the same problems we all face.

The Bible tells us that it rains on the just and the unjust. We are all going to experience those times of troubles and sorrows and problems and distresses. How do you handle them? I can tell you that there are days when I handle them well, and, I am ashamed to say, there are days when I don't handle them very well at all. I want to share with you a word that should help, even on those bad days (and, I am going to try to keep this in mind and practice it more myself):

Today's word is simply: You are a child of the most high KING! Walk like it! Talk like it! Dress like it! Act like it!

If we would only take the time to realize that we are children of the King of Kings it might just shake us out of our blues and blahs and remind us how much we are truly beloved and blessed. Because we are children of the most high KING, others should note our royalty. And, no, I don't mean an heir of superiority or holiness; we are only what we are because of Who's we are, not because of anything we have done. Others should note how we behave, how we walk and talk because we are representing our Father, the King of Kings.

Let's keep in mind Who's we are, which should help us to get through the rough patches. We are all going to have bad days. We are all going to find that we are a little short from time to time. We are all going to find that it seems that some days, folks are just trying to wreck our plans and our joy. On these days, we need to remember that we are children of the most high KING, and we need to act like it!

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Be Still and Know

I am absolutely amazed at the rhetoric being displayed over the inauguration of a new President. We do this every four years. Our country has done it now every four years for about two hundred and forty years. Yet, everyone seems in an uproar, like the country is going to fall apart or implode. It hasn't before. Why would it now?

It's okay to protest. We live in a free country that allows everyone to express their opinions, their concerns, their likes and dislikes in a peaceful way. We live in such a great country that every four years we can have a change in leadership in the most peaceful and civil way. WOW! So, why are folks so upset? Because, their focus is misplaced...

Today's word is Psalm 46:10, NLT, which reads, "Be still, and know that I am GOD! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world."

I think we get upset because we focus too much on individuals and don't focus enough on the fact that GOD has everything in control. So, your candidate didn't win - GOD is still GOD, and He's still on the throne. So, you're concerned, and we should all be cognizant of daily life, BUT, GOD is still in the midst of it all. He appoints rulers. Trust Him!

It is easy to be upset and want to lash out when you feel that things aren't going your way. And, trust me, things don't always go our way (or so we think). BUT, we can rest assured that none of this surprises GOD; none of this caught Him off guard. It's time to let GOD do His thing. It's time to be still and know.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

The little things

Well, it's tax season, and I am sure some will do some creative deductions. I understand that it seems there is more than enough deducted from my paycheck each week, more than enough. And, when it comes tax season, it is tempting to try to find every possible way to get some of that back. And, by all means, use every LEGAL deduction and credit you can, that is what it is there for. But, I'm talking about those that may not be exactly, entirely, totally true.

In the movie Forrest Gump, Forrest is standing at the grave of his buddy, Bubba, and he says, "When I was in China on the All-American Ping Pong Team, I just loved playing ping-pong with my FLEX-O Ping-Pong Paddle. Which everyone knows it isn't true, but Momma says it's just a little white lie so it wouldn't hurt nobody." We have all told the little white lies, but it truly depends on the circumstances and situations...

Today's word is Luke 16:10, NLT, which reads, "If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities."

Can you be trusted to be honest, to be faithful in the little things? Are you trustworthy even when it really doesn't matter, when there is really no potential for anyone's harm? Are you doing the right thing even when no one else is watching? If you can't be trusted to handle the things that don't really matter, how can you be trusted with the things that really do? I know, I've had to ask myself the same questions.

We can only be entrusted with greater responsibilities when we prove we are responsible with the slightest responsibility. I want to be found faithful. Yes, I fail. No, I am not proud of that. But, I want to be found worthy of trust. I want to be found faithful, even in the little things.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

I just can't do it

There is nothing worse than hearing someone say, "I just can't do it." My Pops would always question me with, "You can't? Or, you won't? There's a big difference." He was absolutely right; there were several instances when it was more of a "I don't want to do this," than, "I can't do this." It's amazing what you can do when you determine to set your mind to it.

There is one thing though that I have determined that I just cannot do. I cannot be around negative people for long. Being around negative people can zap the life out of you. It can steal your joy and your strength. It can cause you to start seeing things as negatively as they. You have to be careful being around negative people too much, you may become just as negative as they are - negativity is contagious!

Today's word is a quote to remind us about negativity. It says, "Negativity may knock at your door but that doesn't mean you have to let it in."

There are tons of things to be negative about if you just look around long enough. I mean, there are those out there that will find a problem for every solution. There are those that can find nothing good in anything and nothing but bad in everything. Don't get me wrong, sometimes life sucks. Things are going to go wrong; things are going to go against you; problems will arise. I, like most, can get into my pity party BUT I try not to dwell there.

There is too much good to continue to dwell in the bad. I have a wife that loves me more than I have ever deserved. I have kids that, right now, think I am pretty cool and love me. Yeah, bad days come. Yeah, some days just suck. Yeah, sometimes, it would be nice to see a few less challenges. Yet, why dwell in the negative and allow it to steal the good? Being around negative people all the time can be emotionally and spiritually detrimental. I just can do it.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

In My Own Eyes

I've mentioned before, and some of the conversations I have had with friends lately, have caused me to ask, "How do people get wrapped up in some of these things?" I'm not calling any names but those sects that require me to sign contracts and to forsake my family and hold me hostage in a "compound", how do people fall for those lies?

The other question I have is about those running those sects: how do they justify their actions? Some of what they do, to me, is nothing short of kidnapping, brainwashing, assault, extortion, just to name a few. So, how do they justify what they do? How do they think what they are doing is right?

Today's word is Proverbs 16:2, NLT, which reads, "People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives."

Those leading these sects "think" they are right and justified "in their own eyes". But, I don't think GOD condones many of their actions. It doesn't seem that their actions are pure and intended to help people become better people. It appears to me that their motives are to manipulate, intimidate, violate, and subjugate others for their own evil gain. While they might try to justify it in their own eyes, the LORD knows their true motives.

I really try to be more conscious of what I am doing and why I am doing them. I really try to watch my motivation to see if they are pure; and, sometimes, they are not. I want to be pleasing to the LORD, not just pure in my own eyes.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Wrecked Plans

Those who know me know that I am quite regimented and I like having a plan. I have shared before that I have a plan for everything, and a backup plan for every plan. Trish will even tell you that I am easy to get along with as long as you do it my way. I don't like when my plans don't work, or when others don't follow MY plan. Ever wonder if GOD feels that way?

There have been numerous times that I have had a plan but it failed miserably. I thought I had developed a good, sound plan, only to see it explode around me. It is at these moments that we will often question why GOD would do such a thing to us. Why would He not allow MY plan to work? I am glad you asked...

Today's word is a saying I heard, a quote I came across, that sums this all up: "GOD will wreck your plans when He sees that your plans are about to wreck you."

So, there you have it. GOD will, at times, intervene to stop us from destroying ourselves, and we should be eternally grateful. When we establish OUR plans, we are so narrow-minded, so blindly focused that we don't see the full picture; BUT, GOD DOES. So, there will be those times when GOD will wreck our plans because He knows that if He doesn't OUR PLAN will wreck us.

I have a saying that I use a lot that says, "You can never do wrong by doing right." I also believe the reverse of that is true as well: "You can never do right by doing wrong." Sometimes, our plans include things that are just not right, and, no matter how hard we try, we can't make it right if we are doing wrong. It is so much easier said than done but, perhaps we should be grateful to GOD for wrecked plans.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

He Loves us enough

I have taken some whippings lately. I have had a tendency to become lax in a couple of areas; nothing bad but just not as diligent as I should be. It's really easy to become lax or complacent from time to time, even in our spiritual lives. When this occurs, I get a much-deserved whipping.

Why does GOD whip me? Because He's angry? Because He's mean? Because He's spiteful? No. No. No. And, no. He whips me to correct my inappropriate behavior, my inattentiveness. He whips me because He loves me. Now, some may ask, "Why would someone who loves you whip you?" To that I would say, "If someone who claims to love you never corrects your inappropriate behavior, they don't really love you."

Today's word is Proverbs 3:12, NLT, which reads, "For the LORD corrects those He loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights."

If you don't correct/chasten/discipline your children, you are doing them a major disservice. How will they ever know what is truly rights and wrong if you don't teach them. I am not advocating abuse; I am talking about correction. If you see someone you love about to drive down the wrong way on a one way street, you try to stop them and correct that behavior. Why? Because you love them. GOD, our FATHER, corrects our bad behavior by correcting us too.

The next time you find yourself getting a whipping, don't curse GOD or get angry. Try to figure our what action(s) need correction and try to correct them. GOD doesn't whip us because He hates us, He whips us to correct our improper behaviors. If you're not getting a whipping when you do something wrong, you might want to check on your personal relationship with GOD. He whips us because He loves us enough to do so.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T