Some people think they are in charge. I mean, they really think that they control things. While we do control certain things and make certain decisions, which control certain things, we don't actually control things. These folks seem to think that if it weren't for them, GOD would never get anything done.
I will tell you that it is a good thing that GOD doesn't leave me in charge. If He did, there would be a few less people in this world. There would definitely be less drama in this world. I would venture to say that there would be a lot less channels on television. Does anyone actually watch C-Span? Much less C-Span 2...
Today's word is a saying I came across a while back that says, "Remember, GOD has not gone of vacation and left you in charge."
We so often feel as though we have to do everything. We have to figure everything out and make everything happen. Without us, nothing would ever be accomplished.
Don't get me wrong. We have to do our part. It is imperative that we accomplish our part. It is of the utmost importance for us to make plans and set goals and do everything in our power to accomplish those things that are ours to accomplish. However, and this will come as a shock to some people, you are not in charge. If you really believe you are, tell the river to reverse flow. Or, tell the rain to cease falling and rise. We like to think we are in charge but we are not.
Look, all I am trying to say is, GOD needs us to be what He designed us to be - faithful servants. He is the Shepherd; we are the sheep. He is in charge; we follow Him.
Now that we have that cleared up, let's get back to work! There will be time for vacation later...
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Born into it
I have often shared with our youth that we are all born into sin; no one has to be taught to sin, we naturally know how. The example I like to give them is the one about lying. No one had to teach you how to lie, you just knew.
If you walk into the room of a three-year-old and ask if they made the big mess in the floor, they will look you dead in the eye and say, "No." Now, nobody taught that little one to lie, they were born into it.
Our little guy bit another child at daycare last week. Now, normally, our little one is the bitee but this time, he was the biter. When I arrived home that afternoon, my wife said, "He bit a little boy at daycare today." So, I sat down beside him on the couch and asked, "Did you bite someone today?" He looked at me and simply said, "Uh uh." He didn't have to be taught to lie, he knows.
Today's word is a quote from Bo Bennett, which says, "For every good reason there is to lie, there is a better reason to tell the truth."
We can think of all kinds of reasons to tell a lie - to keep ourselves out of trouble, to make ourselves look better, to make ourselves feel better, etc. but, if we would only take the time to think, we could think of even more reasons to tell the truth - it's the right thing to do, nothing compares to a clear conscience, a man is only as good as his word, it is important for people to trust you, etc.
We are all going to tell one every now and then, we are born into it, but in matters of importance, truth matters. Next time someone asks you something, tell the truth. Each time you choose to do this, you will find it easier to do the next time. You'll be surprised at just how liberating truth telling can be. Yes, we are born into it, but we don't have to die doing it.
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
If you walk into the room of a three-year-old and ask if they made the big mess in the floor, they will look you dead in the eye and say, "No." Now, nobody taught that little one to lie, they were born into it.
Our little guy bit another child at daycare last week. Now, normally, our little one is the bitee but this time, he was the biter. When I arrived home that afternoon, my wife said, "He bit a little boy at daycare today." So, I sat down beside him on the couch and asked, "Did you bite someone today?" He looked at me and simply said, "Uh uh." He didn't have to be taught to lie, he knows.
Today's word is a quote from Bo Bennett, which says, "For every good reason there is to lie, there is a better reason to tell the truth."
We can think of all kinds of reasons to tell a lie - to keep ourselves out of trouble, to make ourselves look better, to make ourselves feel better, etc. but, if we would only take the time to think, we could think of even more reasons to tell the truth - it's the right thing to do, nothing compares to a clear conscience, a man is only as good as his word, it is important for people to trust you, etc.
We are all going to tell one every now and then, we are born into it, but in matters of importance, truth matters. Next time someone asks you something, tell the truth. Each time you choose to do this, you will find it easier to do the next time. You'll be surprised at just how liberating truth telling can be. Yes, we are born into it, but we don't have to die doing it.
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Simile
I have to admit, as I have before, that I never really liked English. If you are an English major or love English class, I am sorry - you probably need some help. Just kidding, of course. I am glad there are those who love English, I need so much help in that area.
What I do remember about English is a simile. A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two things. I like comparisons. I have been compared to a lot of things. When I was younger, I was compared to all the other misfits I ran around with. As I got older, I was compared to all the smart kids in my class (someone had to be the opposite, which is a comparison). As I have gotten older, I have been compared to fascinating things such as a turtle, a invalid, and dirt. Hey, at least I still resemble something, right?
Today's word is a saying I came across that compares things that I really like: The difference between "like", "love", and "in love" is the same as the the difference between "for now", "for awhile", and "FOREVER".
We have a tendency to want to compare things to love. I can tell you without a doubt that absolutely nothing compares to love. Love is the greatest feeling you will ever have - great to give, better to get! Yet, so many people take the word way too flippantly. LOVE IS FOREVER!
Look, I like things - my truck, my house, work. I love things - people, vacations, bacon, banana pudding. But I am IN LOVE with Trish. I will always be in love with her. There is no comparison.
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
What I do remember about English is a simile. A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two things. I like comparisons. I have been compared to a lot of things. When I was younger, I was compared to all the other misfits I ran around with. As I got older, I was compared to all the smart kids in my class (someone had to be the opposite, which is a comparison). As I have gotten older, I have been compared to fascinating things such as a turtle, a invalid, and dirt. Hey, at least I still resemble something, right?
Today's word is a saying I came across that compares things that I really like: The difference between "like", "love", and "in love" is the same as the the difference between "for now", "for awhile", and "FOREVER".
We have a tendency to want to compare things to love. I can tell you without a doubt that absolutely nothing compares to love. Love is the greatest feeling you will ever have - great to give, better to get! Yet, so many people take the word way too flippantly. LOVE IS FOREVER!
Look, I like things - my truck, my house, work. I love things - people, vacations, bacon, banana pudding. But I am IN LOVE with Trish. I will always be in love with her. There is no comparison.
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
Monday, July 15, 2013
I need some guidance
I remember in high school asking our guidance counselors what they would recommend for me after high school. I won't go into all the details because I am sure they didn't mean all those things. (Just kidding, of course). They tried to give me direction towards subjects in college, technical fields, the military, etc. They were there to direct and advise high schoolers about their futures.
Once I joined the military, asking for advice was completely unnecessary - someone was always there to tell me what to do, how to do it, how long to do it, when not to do it. Yet, that, too was guidance. I learned a lot from the guidance and advice I received from the guys I served with.
Then, I have asked guidance from family, friends, pastors, teachers. I have sought guidance through prayer, Bible study, meditation. When I have something going on and need answers, I am not afraid to ask. I think we all will ask, the problem comes in taking the advice and applying it.
Today's word comes from Proverbs 11:14, NIV, which reads, "For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers."
I think we can all attest to the fact that if we had only heeded some advice we wouldn't have found ourselves in certain dilemmas/situations. I think, looking back through history, if nations had listened to good advice, we could have avoided some of the conflicts we have had. The verse tells us that nations have fallen for failing to listen.
Decisions are hard to come by at times. And, I think the tougher the decision, the more we have our opinion about it, the more personal it is, the more difficult it becomes. Yet, there are folks out there who love us and will give us good guidance if we would only listen. Victory is won through many advisers. Don't be afraid to ask. Don't be afraid to hear what they have to say. Don't be afraid to do. Who knows, you may just end up in the Navy. You never know...
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
Once I joined the military, asking for advice was completely unnecessary - someone was always there to tell me what to do, how to do it, how long to do it, when not to do it. Yet, that, too was guidance. I learned a lot from the guidance and advice I received from the guys I served with.
Then, I have asked guidance from family, friends, pastors, teachers. I have sought guidance through prayer, Bible study, meditation. When I have something going on and need answers, I am not afraid to ask. I think we all will ask, the problem comes in taking the advice and applying it.
Today's word comes from Proverbs 11:14, NIV, which reads, "For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers."
I think we can all attest to the fact that if we had only heeded some advice we wouldn't have found ourselves in certain dilemmas/situations. I think, looking back through history, if nations had listened to good advice, we could have avoided some of the conflicts we have had. The verse tells us that nations have fallen for failing to listen.
Decisions are hard to come by at times. And, I think the tougher the decision, the more we have our opinion about it, the more personal it is, the more difficult it becomes. Yet, there are folks out there who love us and will give us good guidance if we would only listen. Victory is won through many advisers. Don't be afraid to ask. Don't be afraid to hear what they have to say. Don't be afraid to do. Who knows, you may just end up in the Navy. You never know...
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Maybe it's time for something better
I used to have an old car that would leave you stranded at the most inopportune times. It would never fail that when I really needed to be somewhere, it would really need to break down. The one thing you could depend on about that car was that it was completely undependable.
We worked on it, replacing various parts, chasing wiring, troubleshooting codes, etc but never straightened it out. We probably spent more time, blood, sweat and tears than the old car was ever worth. Eventually, I figured it was time we had something better. But, we had no money - we had spent it trying to fix the lemon.
Today's word is just something I came across some time ago and that I have subtracted from/added to, which says, "As much as you want to plan your life, it has a way of giving you something unexpected and better than you ever had planned - that's GOD!"
We didn't really have the money to purchase another vehicle but we certainly couldn't keep pouring money down the money pit that was the lemon. So, we prayed about it, decided on what we thought we could do, and we bought an old car at an auto auction for $400. I didn't expect it to last long or to take us very far but maybe it would get us through. We drove that car 58,000 miles, even to Ohio and back, and it never left us stranded.
The lemon was a much better looking car, a much prettier car, but it was nowhere near the vehicle as the one we replaced it with. Sometimes, we think we have it all worked out but something changes our plans. Often times, that change is even better than anything we could have ever thought for ourselves, like a $400 car that carried us through - that's GOD!
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
We worked on it, replacing various parts, chasing wiring, troubleshooting codes, etc but never straightened it out. We probably spent more time, blood, sweat and tears than the old car was ever worth. Eventually, I figured it was time we had something better. But, we had no money - we had spent it trying to fix the lemon.
Today's word is just something I came across some time ago and that I have subtracted from/added to, which says, "As much as you want to plan your life, it has a way of giving you something unexpected and better than you ever had planned - that's GOD!"
We didn't really have the money to purchase another vehicle but we certainly couldn't keep pouring money down the money pit that was the lemon. So, we prayed about it, decided on what we thought we could do, and we bought an old car at an auto auction for $400. I didn't expect it to last long or to take us very far but maybe it would get us through. We drove that car 58,000 miles, even to Ohio and back, and it never left us stranded.
The lemon was a much better looking car, a much prettier car, but it was nowhere near the vehicle as the one we replaced it with. Sometimes, we think we have it all worked out but something changes our plans. Often times, that change is even better than anything we could have ever thought for ourselves, like a $400 car that carried us through - that's GOD!
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
My time
Man, my time is limited. It seems that there aren't enough seconds in the minutes, minutes in the hours, hours in the day. I cannot seem to get anything done, much less everything that needs to be done. You ever been there?
I don't know about you, but I, then, often like to talk about "My time". Yeah, I want a little more "My time". What exactly is "My time" and what would I really do with it? In our present society, we meet so many others that seem only interested in doing things their way in their time.
Today's word comes from Psalm 31:14 & 15a, NIV, which reads, "But I trust in You, LORD; I say, 'You are my GOD.'" My times are in Your hands..."
We seem so wrapped up in "My time", when the truth is that it is all GOD'S time. He has something for us to do, and the more we concentrate on doing what He wants, the more we will see that we are using our time wisely.
I know that this is not what the scripture is saying. But, if we will trust in GOD, we will see that our time is in His hands. And, He controls the hands on the clock. I think I need to concentrate more on letting GOD control time.
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
I don't know about you, but I, then, often like to talk about "My time". Yeah, I want a little more "My time". What exactly is "My time" and what would I really do with it? In our present society, we meet so many others that seem only interested in doing things their way in their time.
Today's word comes from Psalm 31:14 & 15a, NIV, which reads, "But I trust in You, LORD; I say, 'You are my GOD.'" My times are in Your hands..."
We seem so wrapped up in "My time", when the truth is that it is all GOD'S time. He has something for us to do, and the more we concentrate on doing what He wants, the more we will see that we are using our time wisely.
I know that this is not what the scripture is saying. But, if we will trust in GOD, we will see that our time is in His hands. And, He controls the hands on the clock. I think I need to concentrate more on letting GOD control time.
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
It ain't over
Yogi Berra has a quote that says, "It ain't over til it's over." That just simply means not to give up, to keep on pushing, it's not over until it's over. So many people are willing to throw in the towel, to roll over and play dead, to cede the victory way too soon. I am going to stay until it is over.
Years ago, I played for a softball team that was a middle of the pack team. We would win a few but we would lose more. We were playing the number one team in the league this particular night, a team that had trounced us twice before. However, tonight was going to be our night.
After the first inning, we found ourselves down by seven or eight runs. But, little by little, we began to get a few hits, drive in a few runs, stay close. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the last inning in softball, we were down six but ended up tying the game. Then, for the next several hours, they would score one, we would score one; this continued until about three in the morning. Finally, in the bottom of the twenty - something inning, we scored two runs and won. WOW! The longest game I had ever been involved in, and we won because it ain't over til it's over.
Today's word is an anonymous quote, which says, "Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end."
You gotta keep pushing, keep believing, keep on keeping on. Yes, there will be times that efforts seem futile. There will be times when trying seems the hardest thing in the world. There will be many times when giving up seems to be the simplest answer. But, don't do it! Keep pushing. Everything will be okay in the end.
Look, you are going to find yourself tired and confused and ready to give up occasionally; that's pretty natural. It's okay to sit down and catch your breath. It's okay to take the time to develop a new plan. But, if it's not okay, it's not the end. See it through to the end. It may take twenty something innings, but you just may pull it out.
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
Years ago, I played for a softball team that was a middle of the pack team. We would win a few but we would lose more. We were playing the number one team in the league this particular night, a team that had trounced us twice before. However, tonight was going to be our night.
After the first inning, we found ourselves down by seven or eight runs. But, little by little, we began to get a few hits, drive in a few runs, stay close. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the last inning in softball, we were down six but ended up tying the game. Then, for the next several hours, they would score one, we would score one; this continued until about three in the morning. Finally, in the bottom of the twenty - something inning, we scored two runs and won. WOW! The longest game I had ever been involved in, and we won because it ain't over til it's over.
Today's word is an anonymous quote, which says, "Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end."
You gotta keep pushing, keep believing, keep on keeping on. Yes, there will be times that efforts seem futile. There will be times when trying seems the hardest thing in the world. There will be many times when giving up seems to be the simplest answer. But, don't do it! Keep pushing. Everything will be okay in the end.
Look, you are going to find yourself tired and confused and ready to give up occasionally; that's pretty natural. It's okay to sit down and catch your breath. It's okay to take the time to develop a new plan. But, if it's not okay, it's not the end. See it through to the end. It may take twenty something innings, but you just may pull it out.
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
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