Hey guys, it's Micah here, and today, I have the privilege of sharing one of my poems with you! I believe I've written poems since late 2021. I definitely doubt I am a master poet, but I hope I was able to string together some stanzas that you will find encouraging. With that out of the way, I present to you, my poem: What You Hope In Matters I lowered my head into my arms; Against the bed had I panting breath; Couldn't take it anymore, felt like death; I've never felt this before, many pains and harms; I was numb, I was shocked, I was horrified; Squeezed my thumb, was rocked and desensitized. Died did my heart, a ballerina was my brain, Fried was my mind, an arena of despair; My tale, this part, was not my desired gain; The fail did me bind; my dreams shattered, And I cannot believe my heart was as shards scattered Cause I'm bereaved, eros ebbs to thin air. My heart was exposed, My hopes were all now my woes, My dreams were disposed. My hands were full, empty now, And my plans, null and void, were no more; This I know in my soul, I'd learned before; Wrong. Honestly, didn't realize how I'd find this primary somehow GOD, everything I just had to have Passed me by, and is, in fact, not had. Be careful what you tightly grab, And harken to the next paragraph. I promise what you hope in matters, Cause if it is not GOD, it shatters; This world has a way of showing you That holding on is foolish to do. Dreams, flying by at speeds much higher Than what you should ever dare desire; And it's not that we can't aspire, You know better! This world will be in fire. Because nothing last forever; If He has to from you, He'll sever. GOD is the only One we can hold onto; Not settling in dead of night at eleven As you're hopelessly alone with no one to phone; GOD is the only One there; here's something true: Our hope, known not by sight, it's in heaven; By faith we'll know He's constant till we're at His throne; This world is not our home, so hope in Him alone. Psalm 42:5-6, " Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation 6  and my God."

I grabbed a pen and paper, giddy and grinning. It was almost 2020, and a novel decade was upon us. I believe this was the most anticipated year maybe ever. I know one thing- I was ready to soar in like a spear, piercing fiercely with a drive like never before. I'm sure most of you can relate to this. You're hyped for the start of the year, you're ready for a fresh start, you prepare some ambitious goals, and you feel this surge of motivation ready to explode. If I were to fast-forward the snippet above about six months, I'd be sitting in bed, doing nothing, and most disappointingly, wondering what happened. Hey guys, my name is Micah, and I have a question for you. We are super pumped and ready to aim for the sky, but sometimes, we fall flat, splatting not even one month in. Why do so many New Year's resolutions fail? If you're a Christian, you may write goals like these: Read the Bible daily, work out five days a week, and pray twice a day. By February, you're scrolling on your phone at 7 AM everyday, you forget to pray, and it has been two weeks since you worked out. (This is a hypothetical!) One meme that some of you may know is the clip from The Lion King, in which Simba the lion cub sits in the valley, horrified as wildebeests, a thousand strong, plow through, almost pounding him to pancakes. I've watched that meme, and it was tied to the idea of the gym being flooded in January and becoming a ghost town by the end of the month. What's up with this one-month spike that literally dies overnight? How do you sustain it? Well, I have a root for a solution—or two! I believe the primary answer as to why resolutions fail is that they lack a why. Hear me out. Of course you read the Bible to be closer to GOD, but why? Of course you hit the gym to be fit, but why? I've done some impressive feats, according to my family, friends, and classmates. I've woken up at 3:30 AM every day for school (in 10th grade), and I abstained from 99% of treats, desserts, and junk from October 2021 to late 2023 (to the extent that having a treat surprises some of my family to this day!). I have also kept the Mohawk as my hairstyle for four years straight. I did that amongst a culture where you have to have the trending hairstyle to be "fly" and fit in! How did I wake up at THREE AM and resist super irresistible treats for such a long time? I had a why . I had a legitimate reason why I carried out those endeavors. For example, I was probably most passionate about school and rising early in 10th grade, so I wanted to be on my A-game. GOD's mission across Scripture had a why! You'll often read that He acted "for His name's sake." In Hebrews 12, Jesus, for the ' joy that was set before Him, ' did everything He accomplished, leading to the cross. But He's GOD, we cannot compare this to Him. What's your motivation for your resolution? How does it benefit you or help you progress in life? Maybe ask, " Who am I doing this for?" If you don't have a real 'why' for what you do, you'll become demotivated and won't end up anywhere! Another quick reason that springs to mind is that your goal may be unrealistic! You may have the best motives, but if you expect to read the Bible three times a day with a full-time job, or you are a parent with several kids (with their own extracurriculars), hitting the gym five times a week may be far-fetched. Watch out for the "new year, new me" slogan because character is built over time, not by procrastination. Discipline and motivation have to be your "Batman and Robin," if you will, and in that order. My Bible professor once stated, "Who you are now is who you are becoming." That is profound! So, remember, GOD wants your heart more than a thousand military-intensive, Optimus Prime and Superman-esque feats! My sister mentioned that she started some of her resolutions early in December, which sets discipline and habits super early, so shoutout to her!!! When you make a resolution, don't just do it because the calendar changes. I am not against fresh starts, but I heard that a moment of action is infinitely better than a year of perfect planning. So, when you plan, know your why and keep asking why! Have a reason and don't let it be surface level! In fact, don't just have a reason, have a reasonable reason! Be realistic. You know yourself and your limits as well as tendencies. I have a few verses that I believe are pertinent, the first being Psalm 37:5. "Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act." The second one is 1 Corinthians 15:58. "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, knowing that in the LORD your labor is not in vain." With 2026 before us, make sure you truly know your why as you step into the year. Examine your motives and make reasonable reasons. Be thorough with it! If you do it for GOD, bonus points for you because you won't be wasting your time. What tips and lessons have helped you make better yearly resolutions? Please drop a comment! I'd be pleased to hear from you. Thank you for reading, I pray you have a GOD-glorifying 2026, and I hope it is blessed.

It almost feels silly being an adult who still has a Christmas wish list. Maybe that means I'm still a kid, but I digress. Merry Christmas from MiCalling! My name is Micah, if we haven't met, and I wanted to share my Christmas wish list as well as a snippet about being content. Let's begin this list, and I ordered it in a countdown style. 10. Philadelphia 76ERS Merch Whether it'd be a hoodie or a hat and gloves, it's winter, and there's no better time to rock my favorite basketball team's merch (I eyed some other merch for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Mavericks—the secondary basketball team I wanted to root for—but I never settled on anything). 9. Bike I wanted a bicycle more while I was dorming at college and without access to a car, but it still would be legendary to own a bike. Okay, perhaps 'legendary' was an exaggeration, to state the least. 8. Writing Utensils + Notebooks I already have pencils and notebooks, but my eyes glow whenever I pass the stationery section at the store. I cannot help it, I'm sorry! I have been a writer since I was nine, plus I used paper and pencil through and through to this day. So, even if I already have utensils or books at home, I'm always down to have more. 7. Superman Water Bottle I loved Superman growing up and watching the animated Justice League TV series. Lately, I have been using Superman merch, so I would appreciate a bottle accordingly. The previous one I purchased, despite its Man of Steel logo, was not steel-insulated! I despise water anything less than cold! 6. Lion & The Lamb Bible + Lion Cross Bible Case After my favorite Bible was soaked during my latest trip to NYC , I wanted a replacement as well as a neat case that would fit it, of course, and complement it. 5. Updated Tech I was alarmed when I found out my computer only contained 57 GB in storage, which is lower than the average phone's storage! If I can't access another SD card, I would want a computer with more storage. Second, I would love a phone with less lag and a better camera because my A16 only slightly one-ups my previous A13. Enough of tech wishes, it sounds like complaining more than actually wanting better tools anyway! 4. Wii-U If I owned a Wii U, I could play my favorite video game that I've never played! When I was younger, I would watch Super Mario Bros Wii-U gameplay, and I fell in love with the game. Last year, I beat Super Mario Wii consummately with my sisters, and after grinding that game out for several years, I wanted and still want a novel, audacious endeavor to take on. 3. Camera I am a vlogger , and one of my friends inspired me to up my game. I never wanted to make it obvious if I was vlogging in public, but if I want to bring more people in, I want to make quality content. Hence, a phone's graphics don't cut it anymore. 2. Men's Mach 6 Hokas A vivid mix of deep and light blue with neon green is a deal that catches my eyes nine times a day! Right now, those Hokas are at the top of my wish list pertaining to sneakers. 1. Digital Watch I was wondering what I could possibly want most that isn't outrageous (e.g., a house) for someone to buy me. The digital watch tops my list, and it is a perennial item. It tells time, and it does not wear out as shoes would, for example. Over the last couple of years, I would travel peripatetically for my trips, so I would have loved to have a resource to track my steps. Now, I drive, so hoping for 15,000 steps in a day would be far-fetched. A digital watch is convenient across the board, and it serves a few yet elite purposes. Well, there you have it! That is my Christmas wish list for 2025. If you guys had anything similar on your lists, let me know! I don't expect to receive anything that I shared with you (not that I've told anyone), and while I do want the items I listed, I hope to be content. I believe it is okay to want presents, but I want to remember what the best gift is and be deeply thankful for it. I often glaze over what difference Christmas makes for me. We can briefly tell ourselves, "Oh, Jesus is what I should be thankful for." This time, I prayed to be genuinely grateful of what the Bible would consider a better gift than anything on this list or perhaps anyone's list. The ultimate gift is Jesus Christ, and I read somewhere that 'the Giver is the gift,' which was profound to me, as Jesus gave Himself up for us. So, this Christmas, I want to be content and absolutely delighted because I have received the best gift that could ever be given: the Savior of the world, Jesus.

You want to please GOD and live out His plan for you. You want to serve Him, but you don't want to screw up. You wrestle with the all too common, crippling question, "What is GOD's will for my life?" Where can you find a definitive answer to this question with thousands of videos, books, articles, and views on GOD's will? Hey there, my name is Micah, and I wanted to recommend to you 120 pages of an unorthodox yet practical approach to discerning the will of GOD. Just Do Something, by Kevin DeYoung, is the perfect combo of a quick read, packaged with a credible approach to GOD's will. In only 120 brief pages, the author addresses what GOD's "will" is and the definitions people use when discussing such topics. He backs his arguments with Scripture, real-life stories, and real-life examples. DeYoung explains how Christian's can avoid being crippled when trying to find GOD's plans for their lives. He doesn't just tell you to "pray" and "read the Bible," even though that's part of it. He doesn't tell you to listen to the Spirit better or suggest a confusing formula that would fail you, as any will. This is why you should invest in DeYoung's book for no more than ten dollars (costs across markets range from $4-$10)! The author uses a simple, straightforward, but biblical and down-to-earth approach to finding GOD's will, and guess what? It's not rocket science. So, if you need a better perspective or direction to follow the Spirit in discovering GOD's will for your life, "Just Do Something," and read DeYoung's book! You will be surprised by how clear the answers are because you would never expect anything other than complex math equations! Thank you for reading my book review! If you end up reading DeYoung's book, please let me know your takes on it! I hope to hear from you soon.

I bet I know a question you've heard and asked far too many times. "What's GOD's calling for me?" If you have read anything like this, you already know of the typical stressing and questioning that happens. Hey guys, it's Micah here, and today, I want to show you how to find GOD's calling for you! Many of us search for it, but how do we actually follow through to secure it? There are three factors to finding GOD's plan for you, and we can find find them in Jeremiah 1:5. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." The LORD appeared to a young Jeremiah who did not believe in himself, but GOD called him anyway. So, let's check out the three steps in this verse to finding GOD's calling for us! First things first, we need to know GOD. Finding our calling doesn't happen before a relationship with the One Who calls us. The passage tells us that that the LORD "knew" Jeremiah, and that applies to us as well! Everything needs a foundation, and here, it is GOD fully knowing and loving us and us loving him back . GOD's calling to Jeremiah didn't start with the commission or the command, it started with the kinship- the relationship. If we don't know GOD, we won't know who we are. That is the second factor to help us find our calling. We must know who we are. If we don't know GOD, we're dead to sin, but in Him, we are renamed and given life. The LORD "consecrated" Jeremiah, meaning that He set Jeremiah apart for serving Him. That is the 'identity' here, we're chosen by GOD, consecrated to live for Him! Our identity is in Him! If we're not in Him (and not connected to Him as He's our Maker), how are we supposed to know who we are?! If we don't know who we are and where we're meant to be, how will we know what to do (our calling)? That leads me to the third point: GOD gives us our calling. Everyone has a universal calling and ultimate purpose. Ultimately, we strive to eternal life, which is to know GOD and Jesus Christ (John 17:3). We're called to love GOD and others (John 13:34-35), and we're called to make Him know (Matthew 28:19). Our goal overall is to further the kingdom, but GOD may have a more specific task for you under that 'umbrella,' if you will. What gifts has GOD given you? What are you passionate about? The answer to those questions might be a kickstarter in finding what GOD has called you to do. This order in Jeremiah 1:5 is essential, and starting with GOD, leading to who we are in Him, makes way for our calling. That sequence is set in stone and imperative! So, you might be wondering, "What if I can't do it?" You raise a valid point as Jeremiah asked a silimar question. After all, he was only a kid, right? Yes, but no. GOD chose Him anyway. Later Jeremiah 1:9-10, GOD touched Jeremiah's mouth, putting him over kingdoms and nations. Guys, GOD qualifies those He calls! He will be with you as He promised Jeremiah, and He won't throw out there without helping you. The last verse I want to show you is later on in the passage, Jeremiah 1:19. "They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you." So, how do we find GOD's calling for our lives? We need to know GOD, for starters. That's the foundation- knowing Him is life, eternal life (John 17:3), and we live and move and everything else in Him (Acts 17:28). We need to be in Him to know who we are, consequently, and that is how we'll be ready for Him to show us what to do. Our ultimate purpose and calling stays the same (living unto the LORD), while our specific assignment may change. The best part is that He qualifies us. He equips us. Know GOD, remember who you are (IN HIM), and walk in what He has for you, knowing He undergirds you. Thank you for reading, you all! I hope and pray GOD gives you some insight here if needed, and I hope to chat with you soon.

Hello everyone! My name is Micah, and I am privileged to welcome you to my blog. Today, I want to share my 'mind map' of what I hope to do with this blog—perhaps, a manifesto , if you will. In January of 2022, I created a blog called "MiCalling," inspired by my name and a desire to know my calling. Therefore, I concocted a name I still can't help but feel proud of: Micah + my calling = MiCalling. The purpose of MiCalling was to build my writing platform and community to further the kingdom. Long story short, I believe GOD used my blog, and it was fruitful- I was fruitful! But I wasn't faithful. As life passed, I feel like I was inconsistent, uncommitted to my own calling. This is the rebirth of MiCalling. I love writing and words, and I do not want to squander that gift. I want GOD to use me and help me steward it well. I don't just want to know my calling or stand in my calling. I want to walk in it. That is why I'm here with a rebirth. My goal is to be faithful and use my love of writing for GOD. 1 Corinthians 15:58 is an iconic verse for me about working for the LORD. It encourages us believers, "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, knowing that in the LORD your labor is not in vain." So, I would be honored if you join me in my endeavor because I'm not sure I can do it without support, encouragement, or your prayers. With that, welcome to my blog, in which I will be "Walking In MiCalling." If you choose to join me, I hope we can grow together, and I hope to hear from you soon.