Category Archives: Spiritual Journey

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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July 17, 2008 · 6:00 am

Waiting


My recent faith journey has been a good one.  I’ve seen little miracles along the way, but I still haven’t climbed out of the “dip”, if you know what I mean.  I’ve been saying all the right things.  Praying all the right prayers.  Speaking words of life.  You get the picture. 

And, then I just get plain frustrated.

I question.

I regress.

My friend and prayer warrior, Lynn, reminded me of this scripture the other day:  “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.  They shall mount up with wings as eagles.  They shall run and not grow weary.  They shall walk and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

(By the way, not many can pray like my dear friend, Lynn).

So what does it mean to wait?  I did a little research, ya’ll.

The word “wait” comes from the Hebrew word, “qavah”  (kaw-vaw’).  You kind of sound like a bird when you say it, don’t you?  It translates “to wait, look for, hope, expect.” 

Apparently, I’m not a very good waiter – in life nor in restaurants, I’m sure.

We’re going to have bumps in the road.  Our faith is going to be tested.  But be of good cheer – He has overcome the world.  So you can bet your bottom dollar (whatever that means) that He will pull you through whatever hard-hitting time is staring you in the face.  And, when you get discouraged – wait.  Hope.  Expect.  And, trust.  Remember the other times in your life when He came through – the other times where He made a way where there seemed to be no way.  This time will be no different.

When we wait upon Him, He renews our strength.  Waiting without Him wears us out.  I’ll stick with Him.  You?

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July 11, 2008 · 6:00 am

Still growing.


It’s been a learning, growing, stretching week.  Here are some highlights of things I’ve learned and re-learned:

I am not alone when I struggle.

Of all the voices I hear, nothing compares to His voice.

When we listen and obey His voice, we can’t go wrong.

To forgive is, indeed, divine.

The body of Christ is my family.

The things I think will impress my children, don’t.

Keep walking even when your feet get a little wet.

God is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

I am the mother.  She is the daughter.

If the only thing Christ ever did for me was save me by His grace, that would be enough.

He does more.

When I keep my eyes on my own needs, I take my eyes off of Him.

My Kung Fu skills embarrass my five year old.

There is no substitute for compassion. 

My dad is strong, and his heart is full of the love of Jesus Christ.

God loves turtles, too.

His plan is always better than my plan.

Taking the time to communicate with Kris is paramount.

Allowing Anna to mix her plaids and stripes is easier.

I am learning who I am in Christ, and who Christ is in me.

I have a lot to learn.

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July 9, 2008 · 6:00 am

In the meantime.


After writing yesterday’s post, I was overwhelmed by not only enormous support, but a love that just reminds me of how truly blessed I am.  I said to my friend, Sharon, “Somebody raise the rod already!”  In other words, I’m ready for my Red Sea to part….like yesterday.

So, what do we do in the meantime?  What does trusting God look like?  I’ve always liked the scripture, “Be still, and know that I am God.”  Psalm 46:10 I can’t tell you how many times I’ve quoted it to myself and even to others.  Truth be told – it sounds good.  But, for a girl like me who gets ants in her pants often, it’s a tough one to swallow, really.  To be still is to trust Him.  His timing just isn’t always ours. 

Joyce Meyer says this about trusting God:

“As we continuously mature in the Christian life, we learn to believe for things not NOW but in God’s perfect timing. Hebrews 11:1 says, ‘NOW faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’  We can always have faith now, but we cannot always have the manifestation now.  Trusting God often requires not knowing how God is going to accomplish what needs to be done and not knowing when He will do it. We always say, ‘God is never late,’ but He is generally not early either. Why? Because He uses those opportunities to stretch our faith in Him, and we grow during times of waiting.”

Amen, Sister Joyce.

This lady reminded me yesterday how important it is to listen to His voice.  “My sheep know my voice.”  John 10:27 Kitty said that “God continues to call us closer to Him.  ‘Search me O’ God…and know my heart.’”  That’s what I need to do in the meantime….and every day.

And, as for my comment yesterday on the righteous, and how “I hope I fit into that category”, this lady was precious to make sure that I remember that “we are not made righteous by our own goodness but by the blood of Christ!!!”   Can I get an Amen?  So, I want to make sure you all know that, too.  Otherwise, it is all works.  Thank Jesus for His grace.

Since I have a difficult time sitting still, I’m going to use this time to feed my spirit.  I’m going pray.  I’m going to serve.  I’m going to LISTEN to His voice.  I’m going to read His Word daily.  I’m going to read other life-giving books.  I’m currently reading “When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back In the Box” by John Ortberg.  Good read so far.  Up next on the reading list is “Crazy Love:  Overwhelmed By A Relentless God” by Francis Chan. 

I want to live with a crazy love for Jesus.  I want to live like a Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego who not only had such a trust in God – and such a crazy love for Him – that they could proclaim before being tossed in a fiery furnace that even if God didn’t deliver them, they still would not bow. 

That’s good stuff.  And, the really cool part is that God did deliver the three young men.  And, He still does.  He is the same yesterday, today, and so on and so forth.

So, in the meantime, I’m going to trust in Him, and pursue Him, because I know He is pursuing me.

How are you feeding your spirit right now? 

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July 8, 2008 · 6:00 am

And the Red Sea will part.


For the next two days, I’m not going to post a silly story on one of my adventures of motherhood.  I’m not going to draw from some well of wisdom and spiritual insights.  You see, I’ve been functioning and ministering from what was poured into me quite some time ago.  I’m going to disclose my current spiritual state.  My dad has always advised, “Dusty, whatever comes from the heart goes to the heart.”  I hope that in my reveal, God speaks to you.

I believe that the steps of the righteous are ordered by the Lord.  I hope I all fall into that category.  I know that I have the authority to say, “Rejoice not my enemy, for when I fall, I shall rise again.”  And no one, I mean no one, can quote it like my dad.  You just gotta believe it whenever he says it.  I also know that we have an advocate with the Father – and I need to trust in Him.

After I posted “Cashing In” last week, this lady e-mailed me and said “ahhhhhhhhh grasshopper……VERY GOOD STUFF…..very wise and Godly advice.” 

I can be very honest and uncover myself with Judy.  So, I did and replied, “Thanks.  I may have some wisdom and Godly advice, but between you and me, my faith is in the pits right now.  May blog on that one tomorrow and call it “Runnin’ Low’”.

Don’t even think Miss Judy didn’t respond to that one.  Within 15 seconds she responded, “in the FAMOUS words of Buren Goss…the words that have literally gotten me through every almost CASH IN situation in my life….EVERYTHINGGGGGGG IS GOING TO BE OK!!!!!!!!”

I didn’t edit any of Judy’s responses.  She puts extra letters on everything to get her message across.   Well done, Judy. J

How do we know that everything is going to be okay?  Here is a story my mom recently reminded me of, and it did a number on my faith.  In a good way.  I pray it does a number on yours.

Let me set the story up for you.  Forgive the Dusty-like summary. 

When the Israelites left the land of Egypt with their leader, Moses, there were two ways they could go – the easy way, and the not so easy way.  God sent a cloud bright enough for them to follow by day and night.  So, they did.  All the way to the not so easy way – The Red Sea.

They obviously had to stop and regroup here.  They couldn’t exactly call my husband to charter a flight across.  Nor was Noah standing around with the Ark.  It appeared that there was no way out.  Had God brought them this far to leave them for dead now?  Especially with Pharaoh having second thoughts on their release from Egypt and subsequently sending some soldiers in big honkin’ chariots after them. 

Then, everybody started complaining to Moses.  Whine, whine, whine.  And, complaining to Moses was the same as complaining to God.  He is the One who led them that way. 

Much like the Israelites, I’ve been complaining to God, too about the path he has taken me lately.  Did He bring me this far for nothing?  But, I’m learning to be a little more like Moses and do what he did.  Moses reminded the Israelites that God would fight for them.  And, he prayed to God for help.

Remember that big bright cloud?  God caused it to become really dark and put it between the Israelites and Pharaoh’s soldiers.  This bought them a little time.

Then, God told Moses to hold his rod over the Red Sea.  (This is the same rod Moses had in the beginning.)  God reminded Moses that He had promised to help him.  And, He did. 

He parted the Red Sea.

Rumor has it that the Israelites went across and didn’t even get their feet wet!

Maybe you’re like me and are having a difficult time seeing a way out or wondering where to go from here.  God still parts Red Seas today.  No matter what is staring you in the face, God always goes before you, clears the path, and orders your steps.  And, when we trust in Him and obey Him, He is certain not to fail us.  “Everything is going to be okay.” 

Then, like the Israelites, we can sing,

“The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.  This is my God, and I will praise him – my father’s God, and I will exalt him!”  Exodus 15:2

Are facing a Red Sea in your life right now?

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June 17, 2008 · 7:00 am

The Three Parts of Marriage (1 of 3)


A good friend of mine just celebrated her one year anniversary.  She commented that she made it through what people say is the hardest year.  I understand what she meant, but I would also argue that marriage should always be hard.  Not in a striving, miserable kind of way.  But in a way that you exert actual effort in making it what God intended. 

My dad once told me that three parts make up a marriage.  He said that marriage should be one-thirds spiritual, one-thirds emotional, and one-thirds physical.  In this little blog series, I’d like to share my views on the three, how they affect my marriage, where Kris and I get it right, and where we sometimes fall short.  “Fall short” is for you Uncle Ken.

Now, I do not claim to be an expert on the topic.  This is my second marriage, after all.  And, you might be reading this thinking, “I think marriage is four parts” or “I think marriage is this” or “I think marriage is that.”  Well, you might be right.  Share your thoughts with me, and maybe and we’ll both learn something new.

Today, I’m going to open up the dialogue with the spiritual part of marriage.

I believe when this part is done right, two individual people can come together in an extraordinary relationship.  When Kris and I first married, he didn’t feel he was a “spiritual” person since, in his mind, his spirituality was based on knowledge of the Bible.  As I began to share with him that his heart for other people, his simple acts of kindness, and the way he loved John Henry and I made him as spiritual as one can get, his understanding of it changed.

Kris and I don’t daily sit down and read God’s Word together.  So, perhaps, we fall short here.  But when I read a scripture that really grabs a hold of my heart, he is the first person I share it with.  When we pray together, it is always me praying out loud.  And, regardless of your thoughts on this, I am okay with it.  I’ll never forget in our first year of marriage we were lying in bed, and I wasn’t feeling well.  I leaned over and asked him to pray for me.  He said, “Okay.”  But after about 3 minutes of silence, I reacted, “Kris, pray for me!”

“I am!  You just interrupted me!”  He responded.

I couldn’t help but chuckle then, and I still get a kick out of that story today.  While, I am comfortable praying aloud, Kris would rather not.  However, he always prays aloud for our children.  And, that’s what matters most to me.

But, I know he prays.   He will often tell me what God is showing him about our family, about our business, and about our children.  And, I can’t tell you the number of times that we both came together and shared something we felt God was showing us to do, and it was the same thing.  That’s when the relationship becomes extraordinary – at least to me.

I respect Kris as the spiritual leader of our home.  And, he respects what God shows me.  And, while marriage offers the best place for raising children and offering companionship, it also offers the opportunity to learn valuable spiritual lessons of love, compassion, and commitment.  It provides a place to live as Christ-followers.  It is where God is considered in every decision.  It is where as individuals, we live as God has called us to live – and when we come together, God is glorified.

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June 12, 2008 · 7:00 am

Rebuilding of a broken life.


If anyone could relate to this topic, it was Nehemiah.  How we deal with adversity says more about our character than anything else.  Want to know what someone is really like?  Watch them when things go wrong; when they are inconvenienced; when someone cuts them off in traffic.  We can learn a whole lot from Nehemiah in how he dealt with adversity – how he rebuilt a wall – how God rebuilt a life.

I count it one of my greatest honors to aid my dad in preparing for messages.  Sometimes he incorporates my research and thoughts, and other times he kind of ignores them.   Who does he think he is?  A pastor who has been preparing messages all on his own for the past thirty plus years?  Sheesh. 

Well, since he does use some of my thoughts, I figured I could use some of his.  To follow is an excerpt from some of his notes on Nehemiah.  He is one of our greatest examples to dealing with adversity and rebuilding a broken life.

PRINCIPLES FOR REBUILDING:

·         You need to set a time for completion.

5 I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”  6 The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request.  Nehemiah 2:5-6

·         You need the right materials to rebuild.

·         You need not give in to discouragement.

1 Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, 2 saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing?  Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices?* Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap – and charred ones at that?”  3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!”   Nehemiah 4:1-3

·         You need to know that what you are rebuilding is worth the effort.

2  So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages  in the plain of Ono.  But I realized they were plotting to harm me, 3 so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?”   Nehemiah 6:2-3

15 So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. 16 When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.  Nehemiah 6:15-16

How do you respond to discouragement or adversity?

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June 9, 2008 · 7:00 am

Falling Short.

If you are a fan of horse racing like my mom, then you probably experienced disappointment on Saturday when Big Brown failed in his bid to become the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years.  I imagine that no one was as disappointed as the owner, trainer, and rider at the Belmont Stakes.  Although, one trainer, Nick Zito, was quoted as saying, “Things happen for a reason.”

Do things really happen for a reason?  Sometimes.  But, sometimes, falling short is just a part of the human experience.

It is never easy when we miss the mark.  Or, comforting your son or daughter when their team loses a championship game.  Or, in our case, when I beat John Henry in Uno, and he looks at me like I’ve just destroyed his day.  There are occasions where he wins, but I generally play him straight up.  Sound harsh?  Okay, it’s only harsh when I chant to the tune of a Queen favorite, “I am the champion, my friend.”  And, I don’t do that every time.  Back to the topic at hand.

Fact is, if you haven’t fallen short yet, chances are you will.  It’s a part of life.  The key is to give it all you’ve got.  And, we learn more from our failures than we do our successes.  We all know that.  They are not nearly as fun, but they build character – the good kind. 

And, although Big Brown didn’t take the Triple Crown, he did win two others.  So, even if he never runs again, he will have finished well. 

So, play hard – even when you fall short.  Then, like Paul, you can say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.”  2 Timothy 4:7

What else is there?

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June 5, 2008 · 7:00 am

The Tithe (Part 2 of 2).


Let’s play the “what if” game. 

What if I tithed and God never blessed me for it?

What if I tithed and the pastor ran off to the Caribbean with “my” money? 

What if I tithed and nothing good ever happened?

The primary reason that Kris and I tithe is out of obedience.  However, we have experienced personal blessings because of our faithfulness.  Here are a few of examples of how God has blessed our family through the tithe.

Not long after Kris and I married, we lost a major aircraft management contract that put food on our table at the time.  Since people weren’t chomping at the bit to buy airplanes, we depended solely on the management of this aircraft. 

We had just returned from celebrating my mother-in-law’s birthday on a cruise.  We lived it large on the high seas.  I even purchased my 3 month old baby girl a Burberry dress.  It was fabulous.  And, these cost just a wee bit more than those princess nightgowns.  The day we returned from our fun in the sun and frolicsome expenditures, we get the call.  No more contract.

I turned to Kris and said, “That contract is not our source, God is.  We have been faithful givers, and He will not forsake us now.”

He didn’t.  Two weeks later aircraft sales picked up and we made in one sale what that contract provided for one year.  Whew and Amen.

Here is another important point.  Tithing does not make you immune to financial struggles, as stated in yesterday’s post.  A lot of factors contribute to a hurting bank account – the economy, unexpected emergencies or events, frivolous spending, or simply poor money management.  We’ve all been affected by one or all of the above.  But, God will not leave the righteous forsaken or a seed out begging for bread. 

Such was the case a couple of years ago, when a large debt exceeded our bank account.  A couple of the above factors contributed to our lack of preparation.  Kris and I took a deep breath, thanked God for our health, and called on Him.  Money didn’t pour out from the clouds.  But, He began to direct our paths and show us how to make the money to pay our debt.  And, we did.

Now, I could take you way back to growing up in ministry and watching God provide for my family time after time because of the simple act of giving ten percent.  Like the time we used one of those propane gas tanks and it was on empty.  A lack of funds kept the house cold for a couple of days until someone showed up at the door with enough money to fill that tank again….just because, God led them to give it.

Then, there was the time that I was looking for a teaching a job, and I reminded God of my faithfulness in giving (just in case He had forgotten.)  That afternoon, a principal calls and offers me a job.

When I was pregnant with John Henry and single, my budget was, well, itty bitty.  I never stopped tithing.  As a matter of fact, I gave above and beyond the ten percent.  After John Henry was born, another couple felt led to supply diapers for one year!  And, in spite of a modest bank account, we never, ever lacked. 

I’ve asked Kris to give his own personal thoughts on tithing.  Here ya go, from Mr. Takle himself….unedited J

“Tithing establishes and strengthens your faith in God.  Too many people look at tithing as ‘what’s my return on investment or ROI’.  Tithing is not a financial transaction where you are buying something for ‘x’ dollars and getting ‘x’ dollars back.  I believe that tithing strengthens your relationship with God, your relationship with the Church – the community of believers, and your relationship with your family.  It is my goal to always give above and beyond the tithe.  I want my children to always see us blessing the church and others so that they, too, will grow up to be a blessing.”

Our list of personal experiences with being faithful with what belongs to God could go on and on.  We are continually amazed at God’s unfailing mercies and blessings.

Now, could we still be blessed financially and otherwise without tithing?  It’s possible.

But, again, tithing is central to my relationship with God.  And, I’m not willing to risk it.

Do you have any personal experiences where God has blessed you because of the tithe?    

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June 4, 2008 · 7:00 am

The Tithe (Part 1 of 2)


Tithe.  For some, it’s a dirty word.  For some, it’s controversial.  For some, it’s irrational.  For some, it’s a principle.   For me, it’s central to my relationship with God.

What is the tithe?  In simple terms, it’s a tenth of one’s increase (Deuteronomy 14:22).

A few of my thoughts on tithing:

  • – It is one-tenth of any increase in our house.
  • – It lays a foundation for God to bless my family.
  • – It honors God.
  • – It is an act of obedience.
  • – It does not make me immune to financial struggles, but it does give me a platform when I appeal to God to meet a need in my life.
  • – For me, not tithing is the equivalent of robbing God.
  • – It’s the first check Kris and I write.
  • – It is not based on “what is the church gonna do with it?” question.  It’s a Kingdom principle.  Scriptures do not give stipulations or exceptions on tithing.  Neither should I.
  • – My heart is where my wallet is.  For my sake, it better be with Him.

I get seriously excited when Kris and I tithe.  We don’t just give “every once in a while.”  We give upon every increase.  We get to tithe. 

Some people argue that they cannot afford to tithe.  I argue that I cannot afford not to.

Tomorrow, I’ll give some personal examples of how God has blessed our family through honoring Him with ten percent.

What are your thoughts?

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