Category Archives: God Stuff

April 2, 2009 · 6:00 am

In His Presence.

tony-wp

Meet Tony Brower.  Father of two beautiful daughters.  Skilled martial artist.  Unbelievable musician and songwriter.  Comedian.  Cowboy.  Jesus-Lover. 

No one sang “Rain of Your Presence” with more passion than Tony.  Let this song be our prayer.  Every day that we live.

Let the rain of your presence fall on me
Every day that I live with every breath I breathe
Let the rain of your presence fall on me
Everywhere that I go, Lord let your presence flow
Rain on Me
Love divine
Joy unspeakable
Overflowing in my soul
This heart of mine
Is refreshed and at rest
In Your presence, in Your presence

After a long battle with cancer, Tony stands today in our Savior’s very presence.  I know that joy unspeakable is overflowing in his soul.

You’ll be missed, Tony Brower.

Thank you for your passion and for teaching us what it means to be a fighter.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

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March 26, 2009 · 6:00 am

Different Eyes

jh-different-eyes

As I was taking John Henry to school the other day, he noticed how small the trees were around us.  We had just spent time in Georgia where the trees are tall, lush, and plentiful.  This fact can, often times, make me critical of Oklahoma’s lack of vegetation.

“The trees aren’t like that here,” I told him.

“But they’re growing,” he said.

His response stayed with me the rest of the day. 

But, they’re growing.

How often we look at situations – specifically people – with a critical eye.  I recently heard my dad talk about blurred vision and how we often try to focus on both worldly and heavenly values.  Matthew 6:22-23 says, “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.  But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!”

Our critical eyes can allow darkness to fill our body.  I don’t want to have blurred vision.  I want to be able to look at people with His eyes.  And, when I do, I just might see that they are growing.

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March 3, 2009 · 6:00 am

Who are you?


I could write about a lot of things right now, because there are many things going on in this little head of mine.  But, today, I just want to tell every one of my readers (as many or few as that might be) one thing:

You aren’t who people say you are.  You are who God says you are.

I know I’ve said this before, but I think it’s worth repeating time and time again, since the enemy would love to steal your identity away from you. 

Soooo, on that note…

God says I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me. (Romans 8:37)

Your turn.

Who does God say you are?

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March 2, 2009 · 6:00 am

He stopped me in my tracks.


I was talking the other day with someone when another individual’s name came up.  {My apologies for my vagueness.  I’m sure you understand.}  I started in with comments like “the nerve,” “I can’t believe…,” “Puh-leese,” and even “he/she has some serious issues.” 

Brothers and sisters, Jesus was just pouring off my lips, wasn’t He?

Then, right in the middle of my compassionless spill, God spoke to me.

“See people the way I see people.”

Uh, you talkin’ to me?

He was.  So, I stopped right there, and gazed across at the person I was talking to, and said, “God is so good.  Do you know what He just told me?”

I went on to share with that person how God wants me to see people the way He sees them.  Then, I asked him/her to forgive me. 

It’s very hard to do sometimes.  Especially, when people do not live up to our expectations or behave in a way we deem inappropriate.  And, sometimes, these people hurt other people.  But, you know the saying:  “Hurting people hurt people.”

So, I just have to remind myself.  That person is a child of the Most High.  And, He loves him or her more than I can comprehend. 

God, let me see people the way you see them.  And, let me love them the way you do.

Do you ever struggle with this like me?

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February 19, 2009 · 7:00 am

A reminder that He is Immanuel.


I know I write about my experiences in parenting, well, far too often.  But, it’s where I am.  And, I learn just as much from those experiences as my children learn from me.  I feel certain of this.  I also realize that I tend to write more about John Henry’s seemingly spiritual insights and Anna’s crimes of fashion and occasional use of profanity.  It’s not necessarily that one loves God more than the other.  Hmmm. Well, maybe just a little.  For now.  Or perhaps, one just responds to His love more than the other.  Look, I don’t have the answers here.  I’m just figuring this thing out as I go, or in this case, as I type. 

I write all of the above nonsense to say that my children teach something almost daily.  And, if it’s not a new life lesson, it’s a reminder of how God has called us to live our life.  Yesterday was one of those days.

Upon letting John Henry out of the car, I decided to pretend there was a bug around his feet.  You know.  To scare him.  ‘Cause I’m a good mother who gets a kick out of frightening her children.  Go ahead and send that Mother of the Year Award to Oklahoma, please. 

So, the story went….

“John Henry!  There is a bug crawling around your feet!”  I said frantically in a voice worthy of a daytime Emmy. 

He skirted a bit.  Then, I said, “I scared you, didn’t I?”

“I don’t get scared,” he said.  “God is always with me.”

I probably should’ve felt ashamed at this point.  After all, I was trying to scare my son and he was basically rebuking me with the name of Jesus.  {I blame my own father, because he tried those same antics with me.}  But, I just felt proud.  Then, I felt comforted.  Because, my six-year old reminded me that:

No matter how grim things look….

No matter how desperate we become….

No matter how lonely we feel….

No matter how anxious we are….

No matter how scared we are…

God is with us.  Always.  When we walk through the waters, He will be there.  When we walk through the flame, He will be there.  He never leaves us.  He never forsakes us.  He goes with us all the way to the end.  He goes with us to those terrifying doctor’s appointments.  He goes with us when we drop our child off at her college dorm for the first time.  He goes with when we start a new job.  He goes with us when we walk down the aisle and say I do.  In everything we do, in every place we go, He is with us.

So, wherever you are walking today, know that He is with you.  And, you have nothing to fear.

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!  She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.'”  Matthew 1:23

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February 18, 2009 · 6:00 am

He’s so high, high above me.


John Henry came home from school last week and told me, “people who don’t love God don’t know Him.”  I’m pretty sure 1 John 4:8 is one of his memory verses.   I thought it would be fun to interview my children on what they know about God.  Here are their answers. The spelling and punctuation are courtesy of mom.  Grammar and content are courtesy of a 6 year old and 4 year old.

John Henry

That He is our Father.

He sent His son Jesus to earth.

And, He made us. He made Brew, all these animals.  The seventh day He rest.

I pray to talk to Him. We pray to Him anytime we want to.

We praise Him, and we celebrate His birthday.

Whenever you look up, you’re looking at Him.

He died on a cross to save our sins, and He loves us.

Anna

When God doesn’t know us or someone doesn’t know God, we have to pray to God so He’ll talk to us.

God praise us to bless our hearts to breathe.

God is in our hearts so He can hear us, ‘cause He’s so high when we pray.

He lives in heaven ‘cause heaven’s His favorite place to live.

He does lots of good stuff.

And, if we be bad we tell the truth.

And, He makes us by eating food to grow.  If we don’t have food in our tummy, we die and go to heaven.

God bless us with rats to hold and cats to hold.  Rats are like mouse.  Rats are tiny, and they scratch.

And, there ya go.

What do you know about God?

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February 13, 2009 · 6:00 am

He gives me love, love, love, love, crazy love.


My Valentine left yesterday for a trip.  I asked him before he left if he’d like his Valentine gift today, or if he preferred waiting until Monday upon his return home.

“Err, Monday will be good.”  He answered.

“Aha!  You want to wait until Monday, because you do not have me a gift!”  I responded, aware of my own marital trap.

“Exactly.”  He said.

“That’s okay.  I was just messin’.  I don’t have you one either.”  I told him.

I laughed.  He thought I was kind of mean.  I thought I was kind of funny.

I’ll miss him on Cupid’s little holiday.  But, I always miss him when he’s not sitting right beside me.  And, I can look into those Scandinavian eyes anytime and celebrate our crazy love.

While Kris’ love for me is pretty wonderful, it cannot compare to the love God has for me or for you.  He lavishes us with extravagance every single day.  Perhaps, we become jaded from over-exposure to things such as a bird chirping, a sunrise, or even our child’s laughter.  But, His love is extravagant. 

Even, when we mess up unbelievably, He still loves us.  Much like when our own children make a mess of things, our love for them never wanes.  Don’t we love them more today than we did the day before?  {Okay, so don’t answer that if you couldn’t get your kids in bed fast enough last night.  I feel your pain.}

I am forever amazed that we are the center of a divine love.  Wow.  It’s really hard to grasp sometimes.

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  Ephesians 3:18

Oh, and Happy Valentine’s Day, Kris Takle.  You are my favorite person, and I love you big.

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February 10, 2009 · 6:00 am

Sometimes, I just need a high dose of protein and a little prayer.


After Sunday’s lunch choice – Whopper Jr. from “the” Burger King – I thought it best that I fast yesterday.  But then I remembered how ludicrous fasting is and caved in about, oh 8:00 AM.  I’m not much for fasting food.  Not even for Jesus.  I’m not sayin’ I wouldn’t.  I’m just sayin’ I’m not much for it.  I usually give up something like the internet in lieu of food for a day instead.  And that, my friends, is torture enough.  Amen?  Yes, I see that hand.

By the way, I had not consumed a meal from Burger King in YEE-ERS.  I stood in line THIRTY minutes at the Atlanta airport with my six year old to satiate my yearning for the BK.  No regrets folks.  No, not one. 

This post really has nothing to do with boosting my iron deficiency or elevating my cholesterol, but I was just sittin’ on this information and it just flowed off of my fingertips.  So, there ya go.

In other news, I listened to President Obama’s address last night.  I’m pur-tee sure it’s no secret that we are in an economic crisis.  Many are living in fear.  Many are frustrated.  It is so easy to become disheartened in the midst of struggles.  We pray and pray for our marriage to get better.  We pray that God would change something within our own life over and over again.  We pray for healing day after day. 

So what gives?  How long do we pray?

Psalm 86:3 says “Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you ALL DAY LONG.”

In other words, keep praying NO MATTER WHAT.  No matter how hopeless things appear, no matter how frustrated we become, no matter how broken our hearts are.  Keep praying. 

I have a lot of good days that I remember to take my burdens to the cross.  Then, I have a weak moment like yesterday afternoon, and I say things to my husband like, “Um, how about a little reassurance that everything is going to be okay?”

Kris can give me that reassurance the best he can.  But, only God can give me a peace that really does surpass any kind of understanding I may have or ever will have. 

So, I remembered.  Oh.  Lookie there.  I could pray about this.

I know, I know.  I’m a clever one.

Our heavenly Father never eats or sleeps.  I know, right?  He waits with bated breath to hear my voice.  To hear yours.  Take your fears, take your worries and lay them down at His feet.  Speak His name, or heck, cry out to Him, and let His reassurance engulf you.  Let His peace do a number on you.

And, no matter what, don’t stop praying. 

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.   7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7

What, me?  Anxious?  Nevah. 

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February 4, 2009 · 6:00 am

Word up. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)


For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow:  it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 
Hebrew 4:12

The word of God is living and active –

It’s not dead.  It’s full of life.  It produces results.  God loves His word.  And, He watches over it to perform it. 

Sharper than any double-edged sword….dividing soul and spirit –

Our soul is our flesh.  The word is sharp enough to separate our soul from our spirit, so we can discern if we are functioning in our spirit being or our flesh.  And, as children of God, we are spiritual beings.  Not in a freaky kind of way but in a “we’re created in His image” kind of way.  I tend to function in both.  I’m trying to spend a little more of my time operating in the spirit….no matter what Anna is wearing J

It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart –

Only the word can judge our intentions.   Are our thoughts – our intentions – pure?  The word of God can pierce our spirits and reveal to us our true self.

How are we treating others?  What feelings are we dealing with that are not from Him?  Are we struggling with jealousy?  Are we struggling with judging others?  Are we remaining discontent?  Are we reacting to situations with a negative attitude?

Whatever our inner battle, the word of God is sharp enough to pierce it and reveal the yuck in our life.  Not so we walk away condemned.  But, so we walk away forgiven.  So, we walk away filled with His goodness.  So, we walk away feeling ALIVE. 

Reading His word and letting it saturate our hearts is not just a good thing to do.   It’s a necessary thing if we want to walk in all of the wonderful things He has for us. 

And, I don’t want to miss a thing.  (Thank you, Steven Tyler for that one.)

Set aside a little Jesus time, as I call it.  You will be filled with His life.  And, ya know what else?  You’ll enjoy life a whole lot more. 

Soooo, get yo ‘self in the word.

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February 2, 2009 · 6:00 am

I’m here to help. In case You need it.


Me:  John Henry, take that ball out of the living room.  If you hit the television, you will be in some serious trouble.

Anna:  And, get a spankin’.

Me:  You’re not the parent, Anna.

Anna:  I was just sayin’ it for you!

Me:  I don’t need any help, thank you.

I wonder how often we think God needs our help with things.  Ya know.  Just in case He forgets what His Word says or something like that.  

I’m not saying we don’t pray.  We need that.  He digs that.  I’m just saying that some things really aren’t about us.  Some things should just go into the God box instead of the Me Box.  And, most things are beyond our control anyway.

And, that’s okay.

He’s God.

I’m not.

I don’t even play the role of the Holy Spirit well.  Believe me, I’ve tried.

Let Him do His thing.  He’s pur-tee good at it.

Be still and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:10

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