Some Days...

Some days I just want to crawl back into bed and hide under the covers. Not because I am depressed or upset or going through some other form of emotional distress but because I am a Christian. I know that seems like a horrible thing to say, but sometimes it is true. Being a Christian in itself is not what makes me want to hide it is some of my brothers and sisters in Christ that make me want to hide because of their actions and words. I speak love and think love. It has taken me a long time to get here for me to be able to that. I was always about justice before I was about mercy. I think it is better to extend a hand to someone to help them or welcome them than to preach at them and tell them how horrible of a person they are. I saw this video this morning when I was going through my RSS feeds. It is from MMI. I will not say that I agree with abortion or that I think it is the right thing to do, because that is farthest from my beliefs. I will say though that this video upset me and made me a little angry. Maybe it was because of the content and I think it was partly because it was a little kid that was the center of the video. I felt like I was a little kid again having my gifts exploited. Anyhow, here is the video. Try not to want to go and hide.

glumbert - Young Preacher

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Mike

A Reminder to Love

This email was sent to me by a friend. It is absolutely a prayer that reminds us to think more like God and see situations and people through His eyes and with His love. I truly believe we come across people and situations in our lives solely for the purpose of adding them to our prayer list or at the very least to pray for them at that moment. I pray that as you read through this, you will be able to identify with it and it will touch you as it did me.

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together Heavenly

Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with just those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love. Amen.

I am not big on "pass it on" letters, but in this case how can we afford not to remind people to love everyone, not just those we want to? If you send this to 5 people, then you have a chance to touch 5 people. Working for God on earth doesn't pay much......butHis retirement plan is out of this world

Be blessed and Be a blessing!!
Mike Aguilar
Empty Vessel Ministries

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)

No More Smiley For Me

Today is the first day that I am officially with out a job. I have worked for the same company--The world's biggest retailer since I was 19 years old. I worked my way up the ranks until I was pretty high in the store level and making a more than decent living. I allowed myself to be worked until I was sick. Months at a time with out a day off working 16+ hours a day. My body finally said no more and I had to go out sick. The timing was a blessing because my mother also got sick at the same time and I have been able to spend time with her as she is getting better. I received a letter two weeks ago from the corporate office not thanking me for my service or checking on my status but rather it notified me of my administrative termination. It seems that I am too sick to go back to work and they no longer have a need for me. They also have no desire in paying for my recovery or even admitting that I am indeed sick. I know all things work out for good and I stand on that. I thank God for the time I have had to regain my sanity and to truly see the corporate giant the company swears it is not. Even so, Lord I pray according to your will, Bless them and all they do.

Here is to today as the final day of being able to identify with them. And more importantly here is to tomorrow which is the first day in following a new plan and new direction that my Father God has for me.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Mike

Crazy Kind Of Love

I had the distinct privilege of going out with my best friend and some of her friends this past Saturday night. It was a real cool Hollywood VIP themed part with limo, red carpet, paparazzi and all. I decided these folks are cool as we had attended a wedding with them the previous week. I have known one of here friends for a while and I just met her boyfriend at the wedding. Watching them this past weekend makes me believe in the old saying that "true love is blind." There is a lot that I can say about this and I am already on my way to saying but I don't think I should. All I have to say is that if I ever trip up and find myself in love I want that person to love me the way these folks love each other. No matter what they look like they are the most wanted person in the room. It was a memorable and learning filled experience. That's all I am gonna say. Peace.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!

Mike

Singing....I think....

I am not a great singer. I am not one to criticize usually because it takes guts to get up and sing in front of people--even when you are a good singer. But I am a fan of embarrassment intervention--you know someone who steps in to make the blind and deaf aspiring stage performer aware by saying "hey maybe music is not your gift...." My question is where was this girls family or friend who should have intervened before her moment of fame was captured in perpetuity on You Tube? Can it really be that bad? Have a look for yourself:




It was that bad, huh?

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing--Stop a friend from doing this to themselves!
Mike

Midweek Video Distraction

There are a lot of things I would like to have over a hundred of....cars, computers, cameras, casas (had to keep the "c" thing going). But cats is not one of them. I think that anyone who has or even wants that many cats is a little out of this world (not in the good way). I happen to think that cats are gross, little blobs of fur who are way to emotional and temperamental. Here is a video of one of those out of the world people. Just the way they are fed makes me nauseous.






I don't know what else to say except never be this person if you have neighbors.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Mike

Wow Some People....

Some people are serious about their coffee at 5AM. I mean SERIOUS. There was almost a brawl over coffee in the Starbucks I chill in this morning because something wasn't made right--twice. The customer came with attitude and that set off the associate behind the counter and it was on!!! I don't think 5AM is the time to be anything but sleepy. I hope this is not the precursor to how my day is going to be.

Be Blessed and BE a Blessing!
Mike

I like Starbucks--Not This Much

I like Starbucks--Alot! I pass several of them on my way to various places. I am a regular at several stores--I spend alot of time writing in the ones near my house and I chill in one while mom gets her dialysis done. Never ever would I have ever thought to hit all of the Starbucks in my area in one day. This guy did though! I think he hit something like 171 stores in the Manhattan area. Crazy Caffeine Junky! That is just a cry for help. Check it:





Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Mike

Kidney Donor Reality Show

This has got to be the sickest hoax I have ever seen. What a low we have reached in the world of reality television!

I couldn't get the player to play right in here so here is the link to the page where I read about it. The producers had someone faked that she was dying of brain cancer and had her pick 3 applicants from 25 of who would get her kidney when she passed away. She had to interview the applicants' family and friends and the whole works.

My mom and my friend's mom both need kidneys. This is sickening.

Mike