"Trey Tuesday" - May 19, 2020

That’s so unfair!

Some counties are in the yellow phase!  And some are STILL in red!!!
That's so unfair!

Employment, health, family.....beauty, strength, wit....the list of comparing ourselves to an unspoken, yet highly-desired, sometimes unachievable, status is endless.

Let's focus on a different list...abandonment, judgment, anguish.....all consequences we deserve from God....but, thanks to the perfect love of Jesus, we receive grace, unconditional love, mercy, peace!  That's sooooooo unfair!  Unfair...but in our favor!  :) We cannot work to earn those blessings!

Trey had cancer. Countless appointments and treatments and surgeries and emergencies. Trey shoulddddddd have been a scared and sad little boy. God is so unfair in His dealings....Trey was a JOY-filled little boy who LOVED going to see his friends at the hospital every time!

How has God changed your lens and focus to see His unfair love of you?

"we went through fire and water, but You brought us to a place of abundance."  Psalm 66:12

"Trey Tuesday" - May 12, 2020

1-2-3-4!

Today is Trey's birthday!  His Royal/Golden Birthday!  Twelve years old on the 12th!  :)

Nobody celebrates a birthday like Trey:

- We could have given him a rock and he would have jumped and shrieked and hugged and thanked and enjoyed that rock as the best gift he had ever received!

- Blowing out candles was more of a sport than a tradition!  Trey was always quick to the draw to blow out the candles before the singing was over - even if it wasn't HIS birthday cake!  :)

- And the Mitlo family doesn't sing just 1 birthday song, but 2 birthday songs, right in a row!  Once upon a time, a random time at that, the bridge between the songs was adopted by Trey.  Time was suspended as all eyes were on him with great expectation (and a little bit of impish control)...a loud, "One, Two, Three, Four!" and the second chorus could commence!  

Jay posted today:  Live life today. Live it hard. Trey would have.

And Rachel:  Is there a way you could extend some kindness or grace today?

Thank You, God, for the precious gift of our Baby Trey!  <3 

"Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven;"  Matthew 5:12

"Trey Tuesday" - May 5, 2020

Enough

Do you have enough?
Have you had enough?
How will we know when enough is enough!?!?

It's impossible to measure some things these days....so let's stop trying.
In Scripture and in our lives, God determines our, 'enough'.
Until then, let's focus on a God-sized quantity!  :)

"I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."  John 10:10

"And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life."  I John 2:25

"Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 
I Corinthians 13:7

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine"  Ephesians 3:20

"continue to walk in Him....overflowing with thankfulness."  Colossians 2:6,7

"Trey Tuesday" - April 28, 2020

Masks and Zoom

Interesting times these days...Hang out in your cozy clothes at home....with the same people....allllllll day.......every day....If you go out, slide a mask around your hair and over your face.....and THEN....show your face on Zoom and suddenly have the appearance of none of the above conditions?!?  LOL!  What a world!  

We've worn masks for many years, though.  Maybe all our lives.

Covering up pain and grief and fear and pride and envy.

Our inner selves neglected and our outer selves masked with a smile.

But Trey had a Broviac line which led right to his heart that needed the utmost care at all times. That mask served as vital protection!

What masks are you wearing?  Let's mark this season with a new opportunity to deal with what is hiding behind our self-imposed masks. Make time to grieve. Learn new Scripture to replace the fear our media supplies.  Spend time - lots of time - loving someone's mask off!  

"We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts."
I Thessalonians 2:4  

"Trey Tuesday" - April 21, 2020

Together!

A baby's life is at stake tonight.  An unborn baby.  Culture would say the circumstances are too much for the young mom to bear.  The road ahead is indeed steep and filled with many unknowns.

BUT a praying community can rally for this tiny baby's life!  Together!  Will you join me in praying for Baby N and mother?  For God's hedge of protection to surround him/her!  For the young mom to choose life for her baby!  May much redemption come for the entire family!

We got to know Trey.  We LOVED Trey.  God's hand of protection surrounded him all the days of his life. Please pray that Baby N be given the gift of earthly life and eternal life in Jesus!

"But you, Lord, are a shield around me,

my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

I call out to the Lord,

and He answers me from His holy mountain."  Psalm 3:3

"Trey Tuesday" - April 14, 2020

Of course!

Have you noticed?!  Have you experienced phenomenal coincidences these past 4 weeks? - - -- Devotionals that are spot on?
- Sermons, although planned long ago, that are perfect for today’s circumstances?
- Every time you open the Bible God's Word has relevancy to our time of isolation?

OF COURSE!  :)  "For the word of God is alive and active."  Hebrews 4:12

God has a message for each and every one of us - for all time - for each and every circumstance! Loss of job, fear, pain, loneliness, cancer, and yet also celebration, praise, hope, joy, and every emotion you can imagine or experience, God is alive and available!

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." Romans 15:4

"Trey Tuesday" - April 7, 2020

Dog Bones

Yes!  It takes Dog Bones for me to hear God's lesson!

Grocery shopping last week included shopping for Easter basket items.  I needed to stop myself in the Pet aisle as I reached for a fancy pack of Dog Bones.  "Should I get her these?  Or these?  Oh, wait!  Look at that cute little toy!"  And then came the screeching brakes sound in my head.  "I don't have brain cells for this right now!  Our dog doesn't even need anything for Easter!"  

We are living with a different set of rules these days and our time and energy are being invested in surviving, navigating, understanding, and helping others to do the same.  It's OK this Easter to change your traditions and expectations. 

Jesus is Alive!  And that Ancient Truth will never change!  :)

"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen."  I Timothy 1:17