Harder than it has to be

I think I am pretty good at solving problems and finding solutions. I think. But, I will admit that I have gotten myself into a lot of the problems I have to find solutions for because I think I am good at solving problems and finding solutions. Sometimes, I should probably leave well enough alone.

I have often told others to not create their own problem. We often tend to take on problems that are not ours to fix. Then, we stress over the fact that we can't fix it. The first thing to note is whether it is your problem or not. While we are to help one another bear their burdens, we aren't obligated to take on their problems as our own.

Today's word is a simple saying that helps me to remember that, sometimes, I create my own problems: "Sometimes life is hard, but sometimes we make it harder than it has to be."

Look life is hard. The Bible tells us that it rains on the just and the unjust. We are all going to have difficulties and problems. We are all going to have those moments when it seems that life is just too hard, too complicated. But, we often take our mole hills and make them mountains.

Again, we are to help one another; we are not to aid and abet. We are to nurture, care for, and restore one another; we are not to encourage and condone repetitive bad behavior. Let's fix what we can. Let's not create our own problems. Let's tackle the difficult situations that arise but let's not make it harder than it has to be.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Carry On Soldier

In boot camp, we were instructed on protocol. When an officer entered our barracks, the watch would snap to attention and shout, "Attention on deck," which would alert everyone else to stop what they were doing and snap to attention. Usually, when this happened, the officer would almost immediately say, "As you were" or "Carry on", both of which meant "go back to doing whatever you were doing.

I'd like to talk about carry on today. Ever feel like you were swimming upstream and losing ground with every stroke? Ever feel like asking, "How much more can I take," but was afraid to because you might have to find out? Ever feel like one more straw would definitely break the camel's back? Well, today's word is for you...

Today's word is a quote I came across somewhere along the way that reminds me to carry on: "Keep your head up. GOD gives His hardest battles to His strongest soldiers."

Life has a way of testing our mettle, of just seeing exactly how much we can take. It is often a challenge and a chore to take one more step, to carry on. There are those instances in life that you wonder what you've done to deserve such a test. Sometimes, probably most of the time, it isn't a test, it's just life. But, there is so much to learn in those challenging times - through CHRIST we can do all things.

Keep your head up. GOD is using you to do amazingly wonderful things. We may never see the true breadth of what He is doing in and through our lives but, trust me, He can use it for His glory - even when we did it to ourselves. GOD is on our side. Keep your head up. Keep pressing on. Carry on soldier!

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Today is enough

So, I am meeting with a financial planner today; it'll probably be a short meeting. There is a lot to discuss but there isn't a lot of ways to get from where we are to where I would like to be, especially considering how little time I have left in my plans to work.

But, it is very important to plan for the future. We have two little ones that I hope will one day pursue a college degree. I certainly want to help, financially, in that pursuit, and so we are meeting with the financial planner to see what we can do to help make all these things happen. I have to be careful, though, that I don't allow my focus on the future to miss something very important  - TODAY.

Today's word is Matthew 6:34, NLT, which reads, "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."

We can allow ourselves to get so focused on future things, even good things like retirement and kids' college, that it can become overwhelming. We certainly can't scrimp and save every penny we can for the future while our house is falling in around us. Without a place to live, what kind of future will we have? Paying for our kids' future college expenses isn't nearly as important as investing our time in their lives today.

It is imperative that we be good stewards of all that GOD has given us, including our finances. We should give back to GOD, try to keep things up, have a little fun, and save all we can for the future. We should certainly be concerned and do our best to plan, but, we can't allow our worries about the future to cause us to miss something today. Today is enough!

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

There is still a lot to learn

There are people in this world that believe they are all that with a cherry on top. I mean, you cannot tell them anything. No matter the subject, they are the foremost authority. When they walk into a room, they are automatically the most intelligent and interesting person there. Of course, they are probably none of those things but don't tell them that.

If you come across someone with the mentality that we just mentioned, it is hard to tell them anything. You can try to be considerate and tell them something that could really save them some heartache and hurt but they won't even listen to that sound advice. It is really difficult to talk to certain people. However...

Today's word is Proverbs 9:9, which reads, "Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning."

...If we try to tell something to someone who is wise enough to know that they don't know everything and that they can still learn something from others, they will take that information and become even wiser. I have said before that I am as dumb as a sack of concrete so I have tons to learn. But, I also know that I have never had a conversation with anyone where I didn't learn something, either good information or something about the conversationalist.

The point today is to not only try to instruct those who are "instructable" but, also, to be someone that is open to instruction. There are tons of people in this world who can teach us tons of stuff if we will listen. And, trust me, we all have reason to listen - there is still a lot to learn.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Like coffee

If you don't drink coffee, I say, "Good for you." I drink coffee, and lots of it. Some studies say that coffee is bad for you. Some studies say that drinking coffee is good for you. My study says that if I don't drink coffee, it can be bad for everyone. I tend to get a little moody without my java.

As much as I like coffee, though, I prefer it a certain way. While some may prefer their coffee black and others with lots of cream or lots of sugar, or lots of both, I prefer mine good. What makes it good depends on the mood I am in at the moment. Sometimes, I like a little cream and a little sugar. Sometimes, I like just one or the other. And, there are those occasions that I like it black. But, I usually always like coffee. Period.

Today's word is just a little reminder that we often get out of something what we put into it: "Today is like coffee. It will be as good as you make it."

There are those days that I get up and my attitude is such that I am going to have a bad day no matter how much everyone else tries to make it good. You know those days. Instead of seeing roses growing on a thorn bush, you see thorns invading your roses. Instead of seeing a friend stopping by for some fellowship as an opportunity to relax and laugh, you see it as something else to keep you from doing what you feel you really need to do, which is probably sit down, relax, and laugh a little.

It's cliche but the truth is that we only have today: yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not promised to any of us. So, why not make today a good day? Why not try to make today something worth savoring? Because, as funny as it is, today truly will be whatever you choose to make it, just like coffee.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

Praise Him Again

Have you ever heard that when you are feeling down that the best thing to do is to do something for someone else? I know, it sounds counter-intuitive, but have you ever tried it? When you were in the mully-grubs, did you try doing something for someone else? If you did, did it make a difference?

I have found myself, from time to time, in the dump and have tried to practice the "doing something for someone else" and I can tell you from experience that it truly does make you feel better. There is just something about doing something good, whether for you or someone else, to break the funk we find ourselves in at times. There is also something else we can do, which King David reminds us of in today's word.

Psalm 42:11, NLT, reads, "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in GOD! I will praise Him again--my Savior and my GOD!"

We all get down from time to time. This world seems intent on beating us when we are down and piling it on when we feel as if we can't handle any more. However, we have a GOD that loves us and cares for us and will bring us through. We have a GOD that hears our pleas, and comforts our hearts, and can heal our hurts. Turn to Him!

When we are feeling down and depressed and defeated, if we will just begin to praise the LORD, and thank Him for His goodness and faithfulness, we may find ourselves a little less down and completely undefeated. If we will begin to remember all that He has previously done, all that He has brought us through, all that He will take us to, it will lift our spirits and cause our hearts to soar! If you need a little boost, praise Him again!

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

A Little Joey

I have been known to be somewhat corny and goofy and even sentimental at times. But, I am reminded from time to time that it truly is the minutiae that truly matters.

My family and I were on vacation last week, where we visited with family for a few days and went and saw some big waters. Then, we drove across part of Canada and visited Niagara Falls, both sides. Then, we stopped to visit the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY, which, if you haven't seen it, is HUGE! Needless to say, we saw some really large, monumental things, man made and GOD made.

Today's word is a quote that reminds about the little things:"Happy are they who take life day by day, complain very little, and are thankful for the little things."

So, why is this thought on my mind after seeing all the large things we saw? Because, while we were at the Ark Encounter, we were informed that there was a new edition. The day before our visit, a mother kangaroo had given birth to a joey; our kids could not wait to see the baby. And, when anyone has asked them about the trip that we took, they don't talk about Niagara, they don't mention the big lakes, they don't mention driving through Canada, they don't mention seeing the giant ark, they seem to always say, "We saw a joey!"

I think we are sometimes so distracted by all the big things in our lives, all the things that seem to need to be done RIGHT NOW, that we often miss some of the great joys and just being in the moment. Seeing some of GOD'S great works is amazing. Seeing the awe in my children's eyes at seeing one of GOD'S great miracles - birth - will always remind me that nothing compares to seeing a little joey.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T