Monthly Archives: June 2009

June 11, 2009 · 6:00 am

Do Over.

* Originally posted June 26, 2008

Remember when you were a kid playing one of those recess games, and someone would yell, “DO OVER!” And, usually he got his do-over? Life’s not always so simple. There have been many circumstances in my twenty-three thirty-three years I wish I could do over.

Like the time I told my parents I was going to see Driving Miss Daisy with friends, and I cruised up and down Taylor Street instead. My mom asked me which theater the movie was playing in….smart little booger….. “the left theater, center theater or right theater?”

“The, the, the left!” I answered.

How could I not know it was the center? After all, the movie was filmed in my hometown. Why wouldn’t it take center stage? I wish I could do that one over. It would have saved me two weeks of grounding.

I’d also like a do-over on the time I colored my hair orange, my last speeding ticket, and probably the chips and queso I ate yesterday. Oh, who am I kidding? I’d so eat the chips and queso again today.

Point is, we all have something in life we’d like to get a do-over on. For most of us, they are not things as trivial as mentioned above. We’d like a do-over on a friendship, a marriage, a job – you know what I’m talkin’ about. And, while we can’t get do-over’s on those things, we do get a do-over every day with God.

Many people think we serve a God who stands over us with a giant rock, ready to crush it on our little heads. A God whose wrath is fierce. A God who positions Himself to punish His children at a moment’s notice.

That’s not Him.

At the second we ask Him to create a clean heart in us, He does. He is a God who loves. A God who forgives. We don’t have to earn it. We don’t have to work for it. The price has already been paid. He freely gives, we freely receive.

I get a do-over every morning. I’m glad I do. I need it.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

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Filed under God Stuff, Spiritual Journey

Tagged as forgiveness, God Stuff, grace

June 10, 2009 · 6:00 am

Four Friends.

Today, I leave for a three day adventure with my Mom, Judy Young, and Bonnie Spencer– my friend of more than thirty-one years, who just happens to be Judy’s daughter. Gotta love lifelong friendships. And, it’s the first time the four of us have taken a road trip together. I know, right?

A few things are certain for the time I’ll spend with these three:

– Laughs will be plentiful.

– I won’t go hungry. As a matter of fact, I’m pur-tee sure I’ll OD on carbohydrates. And, maybe even bacon.

– Judy will laugh out loud at Bonnie and me. I can even hear her now.

– My Mom will do most of the drivin’. ‘Cause she’s responsible like that.

– Bonnie will talk me into getting the new iPhone 3G(S) due to be released June 19. I won’t be a hard sale. ‘Cause I’m responsible like that.

– Bonnie and I will have compassion and understanding for one another as we demonstrate our ability to respond to e-mails, Twitter, text and discuss the latest trends in sunglasses all simultaneously.

– Breakfast. We won’t miss a one.

– A buffet. Somewhere.

Did I mention we’ll eat?

I’m excited. Very Excited. Oh, and we won’t wear matching home-made dresses like we did Easter of 1980 something.

In the meantime, I’m gonna run some re-runs on Thursday and Friday. Stop yellin’. I’ll be back with something original on Monday. M’kay?

Later gators. I’m hittin’ the road.

Love ya. Mean it.

6 Comments

Filed under Friendship

Tagged as friendships, road trips

June 9, 2009 · 6:00 am

On A Lighter Note.

We’ve been visiting family and friends here in the Peach State. Oklahoma culture is not a far cry from Southern tradition. But still.

Still.

There’s just something about the deep South. Perhaps it’s the sheetrock guy who shirt reads “I Tried.” I only kid. Sort of. But, I find myself taking notice of things a little more than when I lived here. And, it brings back sweet childhood memories.

Take last night for example. We all sat on my mom and dad’s back porch talking. I was even swingin’. Yes.I.Was.

Soooo, tell me what is one thing about Southern culture that you just love? And, if you’re not a Southerner, what’s something that comes to mind (good, bad or ugly) that reminds you of Southern culture?

Be nice. And, have fun. Y’all.

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Tagged as Southern tradition, the South

June 8, 2009 · 6:00 am

I Need To Find Myself.

I really dislike this statement. “Find Myself.” Actually, the Word of God tells us to LOSE ourselves. “Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.”

I can understand the heart behind how these words are referenced at times. But, truthfully, it is far from what we should be doing.

Because, when we lose our life and pursue Christ, we know we are. We can read the Word of God and know we are. God is clear in His word that we are:

– seated with Christ.

– bought with a price.

– called His friend.

– children of God.

– justified in Christ.

– complete in Him.

– forgiven.

I could go on. And on. And on. My point is that we don’t need to find ourselves. God has already told us who we are.

My friend, Ron Walters, recently told me a better term for “finding” oneself. He explained how he felt God had told him to “define” himself. To define his boundaries. To define what he’s looking for in a career. To define what he was willing to accept from others, from himself, and for himself. To define how to put legs to what God has called him to do.

Maybe you are in a place where you just need to define yourself. To define yourself and how you are going relate to your current circumstances. But, define yourself knowing WHO you are in Christ.

I know what it’s like to be sitting in a very different place in life where circumstances have changed drastically. I’ve been married then suddenly sitting in a house with newborn baby. A single mom. A very different life. But, I never had to go find myself. I already knew who I was. Because, God had already told me in His Word. I had to define how to apply what was already inside of me to my current conditions.

I know. A little too deep for a Monday. But, I do feel better now. Thankyousokindly.

Are you in a defining place?

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Filed under God Stuff, life, Spiritual Journey

Tagged as find myself, God Stuff, Word of God

June 5, 2009 · 6:00 am

So Far In the Peach State…

My parents have been doing some minor renovations to their home. I’m still trying to recover from the sheetrock dude whose t-shirt read “I Tried.”

For real.

John Henry has been enjoying his new electric scooter. Only one bloody nose so far. We call that success.

Anna has been enjoying planting flowers and making her mark in the fashion world.

We’ve all been enjoying the pool in this Southern humidity. And, by “the pool”, I mean any one who offers theirs to us Takles.

In other news, John Henry is about it lose his first tooth. Finally. Anna says it’s not fair that John Henry has a loose tooth, and she doesn’t. If you ask me, that’s like being envious of someone else’s kidney stones. Not that pulling a tooth is as violent as kidney stones, but still. If pulling this tooth is as dramatic as it was when I was a youngin’, may God be with us.

So, what’s the going rate for losing a tooth these days?

16 Comments

Filed under Kid Stuff, Randomness

Tagged as electric scooter, loose tooth, Randomness, renovation, swimming, tooth fairy

June 4, 2009 · 6:00 am

Praying This One.

Both of my kids love the Mathew West song, “The Motions.” I’m pretty sure they can sing every word. The chorus says:

“I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me.
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking,
“What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?”

I cannot tell you how much I pray this very thing over my children. How much I don’t just want them to go through the motions of life. But to go through them intentionally.

Intentionally.

With purpose.

With resolve to do life in a way that makes a difference.

Where they live beyond themselves.

And, quite possibly, change the world.

My Dad begins a new series this Sunday called “Intentional.” Intentional in our pursuit after Christ. Intentional in our marriage. Intentional in how we parent our children. Intentional with one another.

I’m pretty excited about it. As a matter of fact, I’m building my life on it.

Are you doing life intentionally?

2 Comments

Filed under making an impact, parenting, Relationships, Spiritual Journey

Tagged as intentional, Matthew West, Relationships, The Motions

June 3, 2009 · 6:00 am

He’s In the Impossible.

Last night at the dinner table, we were throwing around the scripture in Luke 18 that “what’s impossible with man is possible with God.” It became our blanket answer for every problem thrown on the table. I was being somewhat silly with it. Hard to imagine. I’m sure. But, the reality of the verse is that while we can’t do everything, God can.

It might be the simplest matter of throwing our hands up in surrender to our King and crying out, “God, I need you.”

Or, laying something down at His feet.

Or, the remarkable realization of how truly massive – how great – He is.

That we are able to finally sit back and recognize that we are nothing. And, He is everything.

So, we can truly experience that what is impossible for us is possible for God.

And, watch Him perform the impossible.

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Tagged as God Stuff

June 2, 2009 · 6:00 am

My Prayer Challenge.

I am usually a person of prayer. I find it easiest to pray over my children, for travel mercies, or for others with needs. But, I have found myself slacking in praying for things, specifically desires, in my own life. I have felt challenged in my prayer life recently.

To pray without ceasing.

I think I tend to pray for something I desire. Then, I stop there. I leave it. Because, I just assume that whatever God’s will is will be anyway. So, why continue to pray for it?

But, where is the glory in this? How can God get glory in answering our prayers when we stop praying? When we just presume that whatever be will be?

I’m not taking away from God’s will for our lives. But, what if, at times, we delay His will, because we become slack in our prayer life?

I’m just thinkin’. Out loud. On my blog.

In scripture, we see people of faith who prayed with persistence. How many times did Elijah send his servant to the top of the mountain? He prayed with perseverance.

And, God honored His request.

Maybe, like Elijah, you are facing your Mount Carmel.

Pray.

And, pray again.

I think I’ll do the same.

Never stop praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

3 Comments

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Tagged as prayer

June 1, 2009 · 6:00 am

It Was Her Special Day.

John Henry was packing to spend the night with his Daddy Bryan. Anna was sobbing to go with him. She pulled her pink suitcase out of her closet and began shoving her clothes in. Sure, that wasn’t heart-breaking. Kris and I had already planned a date night out. I began to question our decision to proceed with our evening knowing I had a little girl with a sad heart.

In steps Nan. {My Mom.}

Who makes all things good. Kind of like Jesus. Just not exactly like Jesus. But pretty dang close.

Nan assured Anna that she would have a special day.

And a special day she did.

The heart-mending began with a manicure and pedicure.

Anna - pedicure wp

Nothing cures the blues like a little nail care. Even if these are your color picks:

Anna - nails wp

Anna later acquired this loot from a little shopping with Nan:

Anna - loot wp

The hair salon diva Barbie doll was unavailable for this photo op. However, the loofah and watermelon made it in. Seriously, who DOESN’T need a pink loofah? And watermelon? And cake?