When we are truly strong

I have acknowledged before that I have seen amazingly strong examples of strength in my life, and I am not talking about physical. I have seen people that have gone through unimaginable difficulties and pain, while keeping a smile and positive attitude about it all. Most of them, of course, are strong Christians, who receive their strength from the Almighty.

On the other hand, I have seen folks that will turn tail and run at the drop of a hat. I have seen them, in the slightest of difficulty, give in and give up. I have also seen these same people that would give in way to easily in other situations stand strong in the face of the most fierce opposition. I have come to realize that our strength is influenced by the heat of the moment.

Today's word is a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, which I am going to rephrase slightly: "A person is like a teabag - you never know how strong they are until they get in hot water."

I think our true strength displays itself when we have to. In situations that I may think someone should be stronger, the fact may be that the other person isn't feeling the heat, and his/her response is affected by the pressure, the heat, that they are feeling. However, when the heat is on, true strength will show itself, which may be good or may not. If your strength comes from the LORD, I can promise you that you are strong.

I have rambled today, and I apologize. I am just trying to get across that when things get tough, when things get hard, when things get difficult, our true strength will show. And, if all we have to rely on is our physical strength, we are often going to fail. However, if we allow GOD to work through us in every situation, we will find that that is when we are truly strong.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

My strength and my portion FOREVER

Losing a loved one to death is a very difficult time in anyone's life, no matter the loved ones age. Allow me to say, again, however, that my loved ones have passed but they are not LOST, I know where they are. But, it is still difficult for those of us remaining here. While my Pops and other loved ones are whole and living with JESUS in eternity, I miss them.

These past few months have been difficult in my family, biological and professional. My uncle passed just a few months ago, another uncle less than a month ago, a coworker's, and friend's, father last week, my aunt just two days ago, and a great man, example, and prominent community leader just yesterday. We pray for the families, comfort where we can, and rely on the Holy Spirit to provide that comfort that only GOD can.

Today's word is a passage that I try to remember when I am feeling down: Psalm 73:26, NIV, reads, "My flesh and my heart may fail, but GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

In this life, we will suffer loss. We will struggle with things that used to not be a problem at all. There will be times when our spirit is willing but the flesh just cannot do it anymore. There will be those times when we just can't make our fleshly bodies do what we know we used to do. There will be those times that we will see our loved ones struggle with these same maladies. BUT...

BUT, I know that GOD is my strength. And, come what may, He has me by the hand and will continue to lead me and comfort me and encourage me each step along the journey. My flesh and my heart may fail, but, GOD will NEVER fail. He is my strength and my portion FOREVER.

Be Blessed,

Mickey T

When we are together

I hope and pray everyone had a great Thanksgiving! We shouldn't reserve one day each year to return thanks for all that GOD has done and is doing for us. But, it is really nice that once a year we try to assemble together and collectively remember GOD for all His goodness.

Now, it is unfortunate when families, loved ones, can't get together in peace and harmony for even a few hours. But, that is the case sometimes. I am blessed to see my family, all of them. What we have to keep in mind is that we are each individuals, with our own quirks and our own "issues". We may be having a bad morning prior to the get together. We never know what someone else is going through.

Today's word is a passage from Psalm to remind us about getting together: Psalm 133:1, NIV, reads, "How good and pleasant it is when GOD'S people live together in unity."

It is nice when everyone gets along and there is no moaning, groaning, complaining, griping, etc. It is nice when we can all agree to disagree. However, there are still those times when things are a little askew and emotions are near the surface; that's when the unity is lost. I try to keep in mind, when it is my emotions, that keeping peace and unity for everyone else is the least I can do.

Anyway, again, I pray everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We are entering the time of year that we celebrate the birth of our SAVIOR, the GIFT. I am forever, eternally thankful for GOD loving me enough to accept me into His family. I am thankful for the family that He has blessed me with. I pray that I can always have a good attitude when we are together.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

One gracious blessing after another

Okay, I know I talked about being grateful yesterday but, it is Thanksgiving week, tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and I can't help but want to give thanks for all that the LORD has done and given to me. I don't have to look very far or very long to see blessing after blessing after blessing. The mere fact that I can sit here and type this morning is a blessing that I will NEVER take for granted. NEVER.

But, there are countless others, which I am not going to try to sit here and list. I just wanted to say, "Thank you, LORD, for ALL the many, many blessings in my life." You would truly be hard-pressed to find anyone more blessed than I am. And, again, not because I deserve it; GOD blesses His children just because He loves us and just because He can.

Today's word is John 1:16, NLT, which reads, "From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another."

Even on those days when things aren't going my way, when it seems that there is one calamity after another, if I will just take a second and think, I will realize how blessed I am. There are so many things that we take for granted: walking, talking, cognitive thinking, breathing, hearing, seeing, and the list goes on and on. Yes, there will be bad moments, maybe in each day, but for the most part, there is LOTS to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Give thanks to the One Who gives one gracious blessing after another.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

What we have is enough

I don't know about you, but, I have had those moments when I stood in front of a refrigerator or a pantry full of food and thought, "We have nothing to eat." Or, when I have stood in front of my overstuffed closet and thought, "Man, I don't have anything to wear." Maybe it is just me, but, it has happened.

Obviously, from my description about the refrigerator, the pantry, or the closet, none of my thoughts were true or accurate. We have plenty to eat - plenty. Sometimes, it may not be exactly what you were looking for but, if you are truly hungry, there is stuff to eat. While it may not be the latest fashion, my closet is FULL of clothes. It really all comes down to realizing you have enough.

Today's word is just a thought, a saying, that I think about as we approach Thanksgiving, and that I try to remember ever day: "Gratitude will turn what you have into ENOUGH."

When we find ourselves truly thankful for all the blessings that we already have, we begin to realize how truly blessed we really are. We live in the greatest country in the world. Does it have its problems? OH YES. But, it is still the greatest country in the world. We have access to great medical care, great food supplies, great churches, and the freedom to worship JESUS CHRIST. It is truly the greatest country.

Then, if you are like me, you have a closet full of clothes and a refrigerator and pantry full of food. When I think of how much I have been blessed, I can't help but be grateful and thankful. Is it because I deserve it? No, it is just because GOD poured it out on me. I truly believe when we start being grateful for what we do have and stop wanting more, we will realize that what we have is enough.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

How Small

Have you ever done something that you never thought you would be able to do? I mean, have you ever accomplished a feat, exceeded a goal, that you had set that you never thought you could actually attain. Or, have you ever overcome something that seemed so difficult, so devastating, so undoable that even now you are amazed you survived it?

I think we have all had challenges in our lives that, when we look back, we are amazed at how we came through them. Unscathed? No. Unchanged? No. Better for it? Yes. Grown from it? Yes. We never get stronger if we are never challenged, if we never have to put forth more than mediocre effort.

Today's word is just something I came across that reminds me that, with GOD, we can do anything: "Sometimes GOD will put a Goliath in your life, for you to find the David within you."

We will have our times of trials and struggles; that is just the way life is in this world. It is what we do about those challenges, how we handle those difficulties, what we learn from those struggles, how we apply those lessons in our lives and the lives of others, that is the real goal. If we sit down and do nothing every time things get difficult, we will never grow - and NOTHING will ever get done.

All we have to do is remember how GOD used David, a young, small, shepherd boy to defeat a GIANT. Of course, it had nothing to do with David's physical strength, but it did have to do with David's spiritual strength and his faith that GOD had it under control. When the challenges come, don't look at how big the challenge is; look at how small it is compared to GOD.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

I try to follow Him

We are blessed! And, when I say that, I am not just saying that. I know how much GOD has given us, more than I could ever think, dream, or imagine. We are blessed with good health, a good house, a good life. We have love and kindness and compassion and caring in our home. Yes, we also have our disputes and disturbances and disruptions but they are far outweighed by the blessings.

I look back on my life and wonder why GOD has been so good to me and to us. I can tell you that I don't deserve it any more than anyone else. But, GOD has determined, by His great love for us, that we don't deserve it any less. We try to be good stewards of that which GOD provides. We try to make good use of His many blessings. And, He has always rewarded our efforts.

Today's word is a reminder to me that GOD expects me to do my part. 1 Timothy 5:8, NIV, reads, "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

GOD tells us that we are to provide for our families. One of His commandments is to "Honor your Father and Mother." We are to take care of those in our families, especially those in our own household. Trish, Blake, and Olivia are my great blessings, and my first earthly priority. I am to take care of them, provide for them, protect them. It isn't just my duty and obligation - it is my privilege and blessing.

GOD only knows how my kids are going to turn out. I pray every day that they will listen to His calling and answer. I pray that they will find good examples to follow and that they will see that His way is THE WAY. I pray that they will be able to see His love through me. I pray that I set a good example and that they will see that I try to follow Him.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T