"Trey Tuesday" - November 28, 2017

Giving Tuesday, Wednesday, June, July, Always!


We bounce from Thanksgiving right in to the Christmas season!  We go from being so very thankful for each other and the many blessings around us, and then super size it during a month of parties and mangers and decorations and gifts and music and cookies and peace on earth good will to all!  :)

We are so very blessed!   Yes, there are still very heavy burdens and betrayals, illnesses and heartbreaks, but through it all.....we can give thanks for God's unchanging presence and steadfast love.  In the midst of every step of their journey, Trey and his family identified with and relied on God's faithfulness and provision because Trey wasn't a "cancer-ian", he was a Christian!  :)

This is a good verse to memorize and use as a reminder to start and end each day.

"It is good to praise the Lord

and make music to Your Name, O Most High,

proclaiming Your love in the morning

and Your faithfulness at night" Psalm 92:1,2

"Trey Tuesday" - November 21, 2017

An Invisible Thanksgiving

Let's play a game.  It's called An Invisible Thanksgiving:  When you say what you are thankful for this year, mention something that is unseen.  Try it now:  Turn to the person closest to you and give thanks for an unseen trait.  Why?  Well, God is more concerned with who we are, than what we accomplish, accumulate, or achieve, so we should be, too!  :)

So, instead of saying you are thankful for the way your child gets good grades, maybe you could say you are thankful for your child's diligence in studying!  :)

Not thankful for your clean kitchen, but thankful for your family's selfless team spirit in pitching in with chores!  :)

Not just, "Thanks!" for your coffee refilled at the diner, but offer thanks for your server being efficient and pleasant.

Yes, Trey was a cute little boy, with beautiful blue eyes, and a contagious smile....but Trey's invisible qualities are all we have left: the memories of the way he made us laugh, his zeal, his joy, the faith of Team Mitlo One, and the way Trey lived his little life so large!  :)

Take some time this week and plan ahead.  Bless your family with An Invisible Thanksgiving!  :)

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."  2 Corinthians 4:18

"Trey Tuesday" - November 14, 2017

I Call You Out!

That's an old saying for when one person challenged another to a fight.  Ready or not, the offense faced the nemesis with courage and boldness (sort of like how Trey faced cancer, his parents, unwanted hugs, loud noises, etc!)  :)  Or think like a junkyard dog.....alllllllll business to defend his "stuff."

It seems the enemy is really prowling around lately in our families, our friends, our churches, schools, country, and world!  Our whole culture is being tempted and attacked.  We must fight as children of the Eternal King!  The Most High God!  Our Victorious Redeemer!  Creator of Life and yet Most Intimate Lord of our hearts! 

But don't go at it alone.  

"O LORD, oppose those who oppose me. Fight those who fight against me."  Psalm 35:1

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."  2 Corinthians 10:3,4 

"Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees."  Hebrews 12:12

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."  Joshua 1:9

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power."  Galatians 6:10

"Trey Tuesday" - November 7, 2017

Birthday Presence

It was 3 years ago tomorrow that I shared by birthday with hundreds of family and friends as we gathered to remember the precious life of sweet baby Trey.  To be greeted and embraced at such a sad time was the most precious gift of love!  :)  

It is amazing to realize that even in this busy, frantic culture in which we live, people still practice the tradition of honoring those who have passed away by gathering to comfort the grieving at funerals.  The universal languages of love and tears cross over barriers, lift us up and unite us.

Trials, grief, worry, fear, and stress tend to isolate us.  We crawl in to our cocoons and try and shield ourselves from the world around us.  But what if we opened up, allowed our friends and loved ones in, and asked God to work through them?  The blessings increase!  The burdens lessen!  Even a little joy can be found!  :)

"Carry one another's burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."  Galatians 6:2