Trey Tuesday - December 31, 2013

They Loved the Box!?!

Do you have typical kids?  Did they love the box that the gift came in almost as much as they loved the gift that was inside!?!?

Aren't we all a little bit like that?

Celebrating Christmas as a one day "event" instead of appreciating God's awesome gift of His Son every day of your life is like only liking the box without ever looking inside at the gift!

And just like using a smart phone to only make phone calls (who does THAT anymore!?!) :) is like only recognizing Jesus as a that sweet little baby in the manger!

Those of you who know Trey well know that he is much more than that poor little boy who has cancer.  He bears the name Young Warrior for good reason!  Able to endure the surgeries and treatments and medicine, yet ever the silly, fun, lovable sweetheart and Energizer Bunny!

This new year, won't you dig a little deeper?  Tear off the wrapping paper of your Bible!

Go ahead, open the box!  Crack open the cover!  Spend some time getting to know Jesus: the man, the Savior, the Lord!

And please keep praying for Trey!  :)

Happy, Blessed New Year!
"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."  Luke 2:11

Trey Tuesday - December 24, 2013

Make Some Noise!

No sleeping in heavenly peace going on...

No Silent Night either...

Many creatures should be stirring...even the mice!
And we're doing more than just laughing all the way!

The angels declared it: "Glory to God in the Highest!"

Let's declare it, too! :)

Glory to God for Trey's amazing "health!" :)

Glory to God for the strength and peace of Trey and his family! :)

Glory to God for the testimonies of Trey's supporters: Team Mitlo One! :)

O come, all ye faithful!

Hark! The herald angels sing!

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

O night divine!

 

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:11-14

Trey Tuesday - December 17, 2013

Bows, Tinsel, Icing and A Noisy Gong

What do they all have in common?  Nothing...nothing at all.
Except that they are the opposite of love:
"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong" I Corinthians 13:1

You can wrap your gifts in the prettiest of wrappings,

decorate your trees with the finest decor, and

embellish your gingerbread house with the tastiest of treats,

but without a loving and kind spirit, they are merely fluff and show; they are like a noisy gong.

Trey can be a noisy gong sometimes...literally!  :)
But deep inside he is a verrrrrry loving little boy!  :)  Oh, to see Christmas through the eyes of a child!  The gifts (of course!), the manger, the baby Jesus, the tree, the star, candy canes...gifts of hope and joy and yes, love!

Think of all the love that has been shown to Trey!  He is an adorable yet sick, little boy!  Who could resist him?
What about those in your life who are not quite so adorable?  You know, the ones you would like to resist!?!?

Take some time this week to show God's Christmas spirit of real love:
Stop by your coworker and say, "How are you?" and mean it!  :)

Offer, and deliver, a plate of cookies or a slice of pie! :)

Let the cranky neighbor shovel your driveway!  :)

Tuck your child in a little longer tonight...just because!  :)

And please pray for Trey - for God to heal his body!

For a local study to open up for him!
For Trey and his family to feel God's peace which passes understanding!  :)

"This is real love--not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins."  I John 4:10

Trey Tuesday - December 10, 2013

Power!

Looking at Christmas lights while driving around town provides a whole evening of joy! Isn't it amazing how different each house looks? The basic white lights provide a classic look.  The inflatables conjure up exciting childhood images! And the flashing colored lights set to synchronized music proclaim a zealous Christmas spirit! Different displays, yet all those lights come from the same source: One electric outlet. (I'm sure there is a more electrically appropriate description, but work with me here!) :)

God is the One True Source of all that we have and all that we are.  What do you do with that Power? What do you do with Him? Do you display a dim reflection? A safe and well rehearsed time and place to shine? Or do you fill the grid with a radiating display of God's praise and glory?

Trey and his family choose to tap into God's source of power on a daily basis!  Team Mitlo One wears the shining truth loud and clear: One Faith One Family One Fight! :)

Pease continue to pray for Trey and his healing!

And for God to provide a treatment plan for Trey!

And for a curative study to open up for him in Pittsburgh!

And for Trey's family to feel the spark of Christmas hope!

"Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress...The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned." Isaiah 9:1,2

Trey Tuesday - December 3, 2013

Strange...

Christmas is a strange celebration.  We remember the birth of baby Jesus, born in a remote place, with a manger for a bed.  Pretty strange entrance for the King of Kings wouldn't you say?  An odd arrival of the One prophets predicted would rescue the people....The Savior, the Messiah...not arriving in a grand cavalcade, but born to a teen mom and a foster dad outside the comfort and warmth of a home or inn.

There is a Christmas song, Strange Way to Save the World, that sums it up nicely:
Why me, I'm just a simple man of trade
Why Him with all the rulers in the world
Why here inside this stable filled with hay
Why her, she's just an ordinary girl
Now I'm not one to second guess
What angels have to say
But this is such a strange way to save the World

I guess that's just the way God works.  Think about the many unpredictable ways in your life that God has used the unexpected to solve a problem, provide a need, create a miracle!

And so, this Trey Tuesday, let's entrust Trey to the Unpredictable Author of Life, the Designer of Unexpected Events....God.  Yes, it is strange and it definitely wasn't in "the plans" that Trey would have cancer, yet we know God's plan is perfect in Trey's life and in each of our lives. 

Please keep praying for Trey's health, a local case study for him, and for continued joy surrounding that household!  :)

"Nothing is impossible with God....May it be to me as You have said."  Luke 1:37, 38