"Trey Tuesday" - December 31, 2019

Lights! Camera! Action!

The Year:  2010
Setting:  Penn Hills, PA

Time:  New Year's Eve

Cast of Characters: Trey, Jay, Rachel, Aunt Cathy, and many, many others!

Plot Elements:

The stomach bug ran rampant through the Mitlo Family

Trey admitted to Children's Hospital to begin cancer treatment

Jay and Rachel staying with Trey

Joe and Bella need a caregiver (with a strong stomach)

Aunt Cathy (from the healthy side of PA) drives 300 miles to help relieve the friends who had been babysitting.  Little did Cathy know that "helping" involved spending New Year's Eve away from her family and alone, undecorating the Mitlo house from Christmas, untillllll Rachel enters stage left to come home to regroup from the hospital.

What was it like to spend New Year's Eve with a grieving mom?  And not just a grieving Mom, but with the strongest Mom you know?!
How can someone EVER put away someone else's decorations.......correctly?

And how is it that Jay was changing our TV channel from the hospital?! (Thank you, friends, who provided that luxury soooooo quickly!)

This was a God sized task! He had all the details taken care of!  He provided all the courage and peace humanly possible in this situation. Do you want to grow your faith in God? Listen for His voice. Just say, "Yes!"  Go where He sends you.

Do you have a new word for 2020?  How about YES?

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."  Philippians 4:13

"Trey Tuesday" - December 24, 2019

For Unto Us

With every gift you give and every gift you receive, remember these 3 Little Words and The Gift of Jesus sent with HUGE love from our Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!

For Unto Us

Christmas Eve was when Jay and Rachel - and their family and friends - received the devastating news that Trey had cancer....

For Unto Us

Long ago the Prophets foretold to a generation of rebels and nomads....

For Unto Us

And to each one today: happy, sad, rich, poor, average, sick, well, lost, found, alone, together...

For Unto Us

"For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end"  Isaiah 9:6, 7

"Trey Tuesday" - December 17, 2019

Camels and Chickens

Look at your Nativity scene.  Each figure represents someone or something doing what God created them to do.  Sheep bleating, a donkey working, and wise men....doing wise things!

Why do we goof this up?  Why aren't we content and confident in being who God created us to be?  Musically gifted or shy or athletic or smart or hard working or funny or creative - or billions of other combinations.  God. Made. One. You.  Trey lived the life God gave him to live.  Yes, it included cancer, but Trey lived his life as best as he knew how.  

Our church is preparing for 18 performances of a Living Nativity this weekend.  I will giggle as I see the camels walk by:  What if the camels thought they were chickens and ran around and tried to lay an egg?!?  And what if Mary got upset because she always wanted to be an angel with the glittery wings?!?

No wrapping paper, no shiny bow.  Accept the gift God has given this world:  One beautiful, unique YOU!

"for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."  Philippians 2:13 

"Trey Tuesday" - December 10, 2019

Elf on the Shelf

Love it or hate it - he/she/it is here to stay!

Butttttt....what about Self on the Shelf?  Ever feel like you're the ever elusive, always in motion, attention demanding, insatiable, even naughty Self on the Shelf of life?  Not really engaging and jumping in....just posing....watching...maybe judging....always comfortable Self.
Let's start a new Pinterest page and social media campaign of Self OFF the Shelf ideas!

I just started reading a book about how we can not just show, but BE the Love of Jesus wherever we go.  What a great CHRISTmas gift - and every day gift!  Volunteer your time, visit a shut in, SMILE, offer forgiveness, don't fight the cashier who won't accept your coupon, let someone cut in front of you in traffic - WITHOUT sign language!, take the slow aisle at check out, clean your spouse's car....the list is endless!

"By this everyone will know that you are Jesus' disciples, if you love one another."  John 13:35

"Trey Tuesday" - December 3, 2019

Keeping a Promise

Christmas time is filled with lots of promises from kids (and adults!) who promise they will not be naughty....empty promises of being nice while sneaking cookies or peeking at presents!

BUT....CHRISTmas is a season designed to help us remember the best Promise ever kept!  Since Adam and Eve, God had promised a Savior.  A Redeemer.  His Son.  And God ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS keeps His promises!

Jay and Rachel needed to own this since Christmas Eve 2010 when Trey was diagnosed with cancer.  Four years of treatments and surgeries and near death experiences.  Where were God and His promises then?

A promise to never leave them?  Promise Kept!
A promise to always provide for them?  Promise Kept!
A promise to be their Provider and Shield, Sustainer and Rock?  Promise Kept!

But what about 11-5-14? A day etched in my heart forever when God took Trey home?

"For God so loved the world that He gave his One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16  Promise Kept!

Despite what it looks like right now, or feels like, or seems like....God IS keeping His promises!  Learn them. Share them with the people He has given to you.  Seek the Promise Keeper.   

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:19"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength."  Isaiah 40:29-31

"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  Matthew 11:28