Category Archives: God Stuff

August 28, 2008 · 6:00 am

My Momma is so smart y’all.


Obsessive.  Sometimes compulsive.   But never obsessive-compulsive.  This is me on occasion. 

I’ve been all consumed with John Henry’s Kindergarten experience.  Not only academically, but how he relates to others, how he feels about himself, and so on and so forth.  He’s adjusting pretty well.  But, he’s also having to learn how to adapt to structure, how to know when not to be funny, and how to know when to say “poop” (and never at a Christian private school….ever).

He is also trying to find his place in this brand new world.  And, we are trying to teach him that he is great just the way he is.  Yet, he has this need to be accepted.  I guess we all do.  But, he uses humor or exaggerated stories to prove to others his self-worth.  It frustrates me.  I worry about his emotional state.  Whatever his teacher tells me, good or bad, affects me.  Is this normal moms? 

I became so emotional and so stressed over what is best for my little boy, I began to question my decisions for him.  Perhaps, I should home-school him.  Maybe he needs me all day every day.  And, while I know that home-schooling is the right option for many, I just don’t think it’s what’s best for John Henry.  At least not for now. 

So I stressed. 

I even cried like the hormonal chick that I am.

To my momma.

You wanna know what my momma told me?  (I don’t know why I’m calling her “momma” when I’ve always called her “mom”, but we’ll just roll with it.)

She said, “Dusty, you have to trust God with John Henry’s life.  You have to trust that God has His hand on him.”

Oh, but here was the kicker.

“Dusty, don’t you know that God loves John Henry more than you do?”

Get back Jack!

I responded like any other girl brought up in faith, hope and love, “Oh!  You’re right!  I forget that stuff!”

I forget that He is in control.  I forget that I am not.

I forget that He who began a good work will be faithful to finish it.

I forget that He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  Oh, that’ll preach.

You see all things were created by Him.  All things are sustained by Him.  And, He works all things for our good. 

And, He loves my John Henry more than I do.  Sure does.  That’s a big honkin’ love.

Thanks, Mom.

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August 25, 2008 · 6:00 am

East to West.


I’m forgiven.   Every day.  Because, I do not walk a sinless life, I have to be.  And, He freely gives it to me.  Yet, many struggle still with this concept.  How can the creator of the heavens and the earth, the author and finisher of our faith forgive a little me with dirty, rotten insides?

Because, He is the creator of the heavens and the earth, the author and finisher of our faith.  And, He does whatever He pleases. 

But, perhaps, a better answer is because He loves you and me.  Since the day He created man, God has desired to walk in relationship with us all.  And, it’s His desire for that relationship – and His immense love for us – that He so sweetly forgives us all. 

He forgives all things. 

He sacrificed His very own son to wipe away our sin. 

I love ya.  And, I’d maybe die for some of you.  But, I sure as heck wouldn’t give up one of my youngins for any of you. 

But He did.  ‘Cause His love is a love that surpasses all knowledge. 

Don’t let guilt grip you.  Don’t let it hold you hostage.  Know that you are a child of God cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.  You are forgiven.  And, oh, how you are so loved.

11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.  12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.  Psalm 103:11-12

Aren’t ya so glad?

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August 18, 2008 · 6:00 am

Loving the hard to love.


I like surrounding myself with fun people.  I often avoid those who carry a lot of emotional baggage such as bitterness, addictions, or depression.  I avoid people who aren’t nice.  Let’s face it.  Life is short.  Why waste a perfectly great night out with people who don’t seem to “fit in”?  After all, those babysitters aren’t cheap.  Why invite them into my home only to watch the clock and wonder when they are going to go back to their house?  Why return their calls?  Respond to their e-mails?  They never seem to listen to my advice anyway.  They are still going to hold onto their stuff like it’s a sack full She Takes the Cake’s “Chocolate Therapy”.  And, my condolences to you poor souls who’ve never tasted that little bit of heaven.

I like fun people. 

But, Jesus said love your enemies.  Now, I don’t consider the people described above as enemies.  But, if God wants us to love our enemies, I’d bet he means them, too.

This kind of love isn’t easy, is it?  The Apostle Paul wrote, “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding” (Philippians 1:9, NLT).  This means that as we get to know Jesus – and understand who He is more and more, that this kind of love will grow.  Not overnight.  It’s a lifelong process.

I think the first thing to remember is that we ourselves are in desperate need of a Savior.  That we, too, fall short and fall short often.  Pride sets in when we don’t realize how God loves us in spite of our failures and short-comings.  And, we all know that pride and love mix about as well as oil and water.  But, when we see that we all need His grace, then we become less judgmental.  And, loving the not so fun people becomes easier.

Who did Jesus chill out with when He walked the earth?  Well, not the self-righteous Pharisees.  Nope.  Not a one.  He kicked it back with prostitutes, stinking fishermen and even the I.R.S. of the day.  And, we are called to love just as He loved. 

It doesn’t mean it’s an easy endeavor.  But, we have the Holy Spirit within us.  And, that empowers us to love with the love that lives within us.  As a child of God, that kind of love is our inheritance.

One day, I might even share my “Chocolate Therapy” with the not so fun people. 

I’m just kidding.  I don’t even share that with my friends.

Do you struggle loving the hard to love? 

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August 4, 2008 · 6:00 am

The Sunday Experience


I love Sundays.  It’s the first day of the week.  It’s a day we set aside to honor our Creator – for the local church to worship together, celebrate together, and grow together. 

 

We were on one of our weekend Georgia visits, so I worshipped at the home of my spiritual roots.  Dad began a series on minor prophets.  It’s really a series on minor league prophets with major league issues.  Yesterday, he covered Habakkuk. 

 

What stood out the most to me besides the obvious despair, questioning of God, and rescue was that God was always in the middle of the mess.  How easy it is to be in the middle of our stuff – our valley – our own despair, and wonder “where is God in this?”  We pray fervently for Him to do something.  To deliver.  To take away the heartache.  And, we question His presence in it all.

 

A good friend of mine is really going through a difficult time.  Someone told him recently, “God is behind the scenes working in this.”  His response made me laugh:  “If He’s behind the scenes, man, He is way behind the scenes.” 

 

It feels like that sometimes, doesn’t it?

 

But, He is.  Not only is He behind the scenes, He is in the middle, and He is already ahead of you.  Pray that God will open your eyes to see Him in your difficulty.  When Elisha’s servant told him that enemy armies were standing against them, 2 Kings 6:17 says that “Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

 

God, open our eyes and let us see You.  That you are a God who goes before us and makes a way. 

 

Not sure what I’d do without those Sunday experiences.  It’s a great start to a week, and an even better reminder that God is on the throne.  And, He deserves my praise.

 

How was your Sunday experience?

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July 31, 2008 · 7:00 am

The greatest commandment.


We’ve all heard it a thousand times.  30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  No other commandment is greater than these.”  Mark 12.30-31

 What does verse 31 look like?

We usually think of our neighbors as those who live next door to us.  But, Jesus explains in the story of The Good Samaritan that our neighbor means all persons, enemies included. 

I love a Three Musketeers bar.  Does this mean I split half of it with my neighbor?

Is it extending forgiveness?  Is it the golden rule?

I’m curious.  What does loving your neighbor as yourself mean to you?

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July 30, 2008 · 6:00 am

It really does all go back in the box.


My kids keep asking if money is power.  Not because they suddenly want to have some sort of philosophical discussion – obviously.  But, it’s a line in some old Tom and Jerry movie.  I tried to relate it to them on their terms by asking questions like “Does money make you happy?” 

“Yes!”  John Henry answered.

I tried again.  “What makes you happiest?  Toys or friends?”

“Friends”, he said. 

Okay.  “What makes you happiest?  Toys or having a mommy and daddy?”

“You and daddy”, he responded.

Whew. 

Then, Anna chimed in, “Mommy, Daddy AND toys!”

Poor analogy for a three-year old.  For many of us, it’s a tough one, too.  We can spend so much of our time accumulating or trying to accumulate stuff, we fail to accumulate the things that really matter.  We store up earthly treasures, and what do our heavenly treasures look like?   

We let worry and stress rob us of the knowledge that our time here on earth is brief.  It’s but a vapor.  Read Psalm 39:4-5.  And in the end, no one will say, “Man, he had a really awesome boat.”  Nor will we hear, “Did you ever visit her house on the beach?” 

What will be said of those who store up heavenly treasures is “He was selfless.” 

“She was a great mom.” 

“He served others.” 

“She invested into her friends’ lives.” 

“He led me to the Lord.” 

“She brought me food when our family was hungry, and I had no money.”

“He always prayed for me.”

“She understood God’s grace and imparted it to me.”

“He forgave me.”

“She was my teacher at church told me all about Jesus.”

The list could go on.  Let’s not let stuff consume us.  Let’s be generous toward others.  And, let’s invest into what really matters. 

Money is not power.  Christ in you, the hope of glory is.

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ… Philippians 3:7-8

Are you storing up more earthly or heavenly treasures?

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July 22, 2008 · 7:00 am

Living with a chronic disease.


My senior year of college was a stressful one.  I over-loaded on classes for the single goal of finishing school a year early.  Silly girl.  What was I thinking?  It was during this time that I was diagnosed with an incurable, but usually manageable disease.  I will spare you the details.  Believe me, there is nothing glamorous about it.

It’s been fourteen years since my diagnosis.  I have had periods of frustration and remission, along with a few triumphs.  I’ve also had feelings of envy.  There were times that I would look at some other mom in a mall and think, “Must be nice to be completely healthy.”  Then, sometimes, I would think, “I bet he can eat whatever he wants and not think twice about it.”  Or, I’d mumble under my breath, “Please, don’t complain about your piddly aches.  Do you want to know my daily regimen just to attempt a good day?”

I’ve come a long way since those thoughts.  Those frustrations.  Those moments of envy.  I’m in a much better place today – even when I’m fighting for remission.  Here are some things I realized:

·         I have no idea what that other mom at the mall is facing.  My life is possibly much easier.

·         These are the cards I’ve been dealt.  It could be worse.

·         When I focus on my disease, I don’t focus on what’s really important.

·         I can choose to walk in healing every day.  And, I speak it over my life.   Our words are powerful, remember? 

·         I know my worst case scenarios.  I will still survive.

·         God is bigger than my frailties.

·         I take the meds….even when I don’t want to.  It’s not just about me.  I’ve got a family who needs me around.

The biggest lesson learned has been to not focus on my disease.  This doesn’t mean that I ignore it, or let it go untreated.  But, I don’t let it consume me.  The enemy – and there is one – wants us to take our focus off of others and place it on ourselves.  When we focus on ourselves, we are unable to do the things our Savior has called us to do.  And, He has called us all to live beyond ourselves. 

So, when I’m struggling with my disease, I submit it to my prayer warriors.  And, they pray!  Scripture tells us that the Lord is our physician. (Exodus 15:26)  And, His medicine is His Word. 

No matter your struggle – heart, soul or body – we serve the great physician, a life-giver, a healer.  He has plans to prosper you, not to harm you.   A plan for a life and a future. 

For those in the middle of a battle right now, here is my prayer for you.

“Father, I thank You that You watch over Your word to perform it.  I thank you that Your word says that whatsoever we desire, when we pray that we will receive them.  We walk in healing today.  Heal our hearts.  Heal our souls.  And, heal our bodies.  Give us a peace that really does pass all understanding.  And, we praise You for Your grace that we don’t deserve, but You give so freely.  I know that every thing that concerns me, concerns You.  You are a good God.  A gracious God.  And, we are nothing without you.  Amen.”

I’m a New Living Translation kind of gal, but nothing says this one quite like the KJV (or affectionately known as Mr. Jim) – Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:  Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.  Psalm  103:2-3

So, tell the enemy to put that in his pipe and smoke it.

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July 18, 2008 · 6:00 am

I shall not want.


1 The Lord is my shepherd;
  I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
  he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3   He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
  bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
  through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
  for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
  protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
  in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
  My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
  all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
  forever.

Psalm 23 (NLT)

Ahhhh.  Don’t ya feel better now? 

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June 26, 2008 · 7:00 am

Do Over.


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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June 23, 2008 · 7:00 am

Sweet Interruptions


So, I was in the kitchen the other day.  No, I wasn’t whipping up one of my incredibly famous meals from scratch.  My wonderfully pink Dell laptop rests on my kitchen counter, and I was all consumed.  I do understand that it’s cool to go Mac, but Dell and I have had a successful relationship for many years now.  He has been faithful and true – and my software works as it should on him.  To toss him aside for a trendier model just seems unkind.

So, I was in the kitchen. 

I hear John Henry calling from the family room, “Mom, would you come in here with me, so I know where you are?”

I saved my draft and met his request.

A couple of days later, it was pretty much the same scenario.

“Mom, would you come in here, so I can see you?”

“Yes, son.”   And, so I did.

I wonder how often God calls us to come be with Him, and we are too frenzied with other things.  I can assure you it happens all the time with yours truly.  Don’t get me wrong.  I dust off my Bible at times and read it the old-fashioned way.  I do, however, like the accessibility of reading the Bible online – on my wonderfully pink Dell, no less.  I’m always swift to pray for my family and others.  I usually serve when there is a need.

But, I often don’t take the time to slow down – take my eyes off of the consumptions of the day – and just be with Him.  No appealing.  Just a little girl enjoying time with her Father – and a Father enjoying His little girl.

I think our Heavenly Father call us often.  “Hey, Dusty, would you come in here with me, so I can see you?”

Gotta run.

“Coming John Henry!”

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