May 4, 2009 · 6:00 am

What Are The Odds?

The 50 to 1 odds for Mind That Bird to win the Kentucky Derby have certainly not been over-looked in the past few days.  Wow.  What an incredible under-dog (or horse) story.  These kinds of odds remind me of how often we want God decrease the odds in our own life.

But, that’s not usually how God works.

In the book, In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day, Mark Batterson addresses this very thing.  Take the story of Gideon, for example.  Gideon started out with thirty-two thousand men, and they were still outnumbered by the Midianites.  They were the underdogs with thirty-two thousand!  But, God tells Gideon he has too many men.  And, He orders Gideon to let go of the scaredy-cats.  Apparently, he had a lot of scaredy-cats, because two-thirds of them went home to momma.

Still too many men, God told him.

If I were Gideon, I’d be like, “Do wha?”

So after a drinking contest.  Wait.  No.  After Gideon discharges his men that drink water like dogs (per God’s instruction), he gets down to a measly three-hundred.

300.

Talk about pretty stinky odds.

But, ya know what?  Israel wins.  Midianites lose.

So, why did God not decrease their odds?  Actually, why did he INCREASE them? 

Simple.  Because, He wants all of the glory.  ALL of it.

Judges 7:2 says “The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.”

Mark  Batterson writes:

“Maybe that is why God sometimes invites us to defy impossible odds.  Maybe it is one way He can show His omnipotence.  Maybe God allows the odds to be stacked against us so He can reveal more of His glory……..

Too often our prayers revolved around asking God to reduce the odds in our lives.  We want everything in our favor.  But maybe God wants to stack the odds against us so we can experience a miracle of divine proportions.  Maybe faith is trusting God no matter how impossible the odds are.  Maybe our impossible situations are opportunities to experience a new dimension of God’s glory.”

If the odds are stacked against you today, do not lose heart.  Remember Who is in control.  And, remember, He not only wants, but deserves all of the glory for your victory.

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April 30, 2009 · 9:24 am

The Four Year Old Pandemic.


Good Morning Everybodeh!

John Henry finally returned to school today, and Kris and I began the day throwing darts at one another.  Well, I’m probably being overly-dramatic.  I just started saying (apparently yelling) something to him, and he interrupted with a “I’m right here!”

I immediately stopped in mid-flow of my thought, and told him we apparently needed to spend some time in the Holy Word of God together.  He said waking up to me was like waking up to the Word itself. 

I sensed no sarcasm in his voice.  At all. 

Then, I completely forgot what I was going to tell him in the first place.

He went on about his business, and I spent the better part of this morning watching Anna stress over Legos not fitting together perfectly.  I tried to take a picture of her frustration like a good mother.  She refused the photo op, pushed the Legos toward me and sighed, “I’ll NEVER build something!”

I started thinking, “Where on earth does this drama come from?” 

I know, right?

Count your blessings, America.  Your worry over the swine flu pales in comparison to the stress of unassembled Legos on my kitchen table. 

On a more serious note, don’t let fear grip you.  Know that God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  That’s 1 Timothy 1:7 King Jimmy style.

Of course, a sound mind in the Takle house is questionable today.

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April 28, 2009 · 6:00 am

I Pray For You, You Pray For Me.


I’m going to take a day or three off from the blog to take care of my youngins.  John Henry has pneumonia, so prayers are always appreciated.  We are not worried, because we know Who is in control.  And, God loves him more than I do.  So, holla!

James 5:16 tells us to “pray for one another, so that you may be healed.”  So, if you’d like, leave a prayer request in the comment section of the post.  I’ll pray for you, and we can all pray for one another.  Cool?

Your comments go directly to my e-mail which goes directly to my nifty iPhone which rarely leaves my side.  You’ll be in my thoughts.  And, I know John Henry will be in yours.

Love y’all.  Mean it.

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April 27, 2009 · 6:00 am

Sometimes, I Just Need To Count My Stones.


Pastor Craig Groeschel of Lifechurch.tv made this statement yesterday:

“God is often doing the most when we understand the least.”

I’m in a trusting place with God right now.  Well, are we not always in a trusting place with God?  But, especially trusting Him more than usual.  Does that sound wrong?  I dunno.  Anyway.  When we don’t see Him moving or we don’t understand, we often question if He is doing anything at all.

He is.

So, what am I doing in the meantime?

I am remembering what He has already done.  I am remembering my stones.  Because, He has proven Himself more than enough times.

Remember what God has already done.  And, rest in knowing that He is doing something.

Mkay?

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April 24, 2009 · 6:00 am

Sometimes, I Create Words In My Sleep.


I have to be honest.  Completely honest.  I have nothing really significant to bring to the table today in blog world.  I’ve been a little busy the past few days.  Not to mention my efforts to beat my high score on Scramble.  Talk about time-consuming.  Oh, then my kids still expect to eat.

Two years ago, I spoke at Eagles Way Church where, somehow, the word “freakin’” came out of my mouth.  It’s taken my dad two years to apparently recover from that.  But, I’m speaking this Mother’s Day again.  Up until yesterday, my message was a stellar sixty seconds.  So, I’m thinking I should put a little more effort into it to maintain the integrity of the pulpit.  Otherwise, my dad will wait another two years before he allows me to speak again.  Of course, he just might do that anyway.

Those thoughts are consuming my mind at this time.  And, creating words on Scramble. 

What’s taking up space in your mind right now?

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April 23, 2009 · 6:00 am

Finding God’s Will


“However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’ – but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit” 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

I am constantly seeking God’s will for my life.  Of course, aren’t most of us?  I read this verse again recently and the “revealed to us by His Spirit” part brought me a whole lot of comfort. 

God has already planned our steps.  He knows what our first step looks like and our last.  He has already mapped out our journey.  The really cool part is that the Spirit walks out our journey with us.  We never go at it alone.  We don’t have to play a guessing game with God’s will.  

The Spirit not only guides us but, He is also our companion.  And, He reveals to us His will along the way. 

That’s all I got today.  But it’s that just completely cool?

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April 22, 2009 · 6:00 am

Love Is Having To Say You’re Sorry.


I usually do well watchin’ my tone with my husband.  I’ve also learned that how we express certain issues can come across as an attack; thus, causing my husband to feel the need to defend himself.

I usually do well with this.

Usually.

But, a few nights ago, I told him exactly what I thought about how he was handling a situation.  May as well have added a “So, ha!” at the end.  I left him in our family room and headed to bed.

So, he could stay up a while an mull that one over.  Sure ‘nuff.  Uh huh.  Take that Captain Takle.

Because, that approach is going to make him want to run out and fight hard for the love of his life. 

Orrrr, it’s more probable it won’t.

He came to bed shortly after.  I didn’t see any apparent revelations in his eyes of how right I was and how wrong he was.  He didn’t look at me and say, “Wow, Dusty.  The way you approached this one really got to me.  Thank you for showing me what is right.  I will change the way I handle this.  From now to forever more.  Oh, my sweet, sweet love full of such wisdom and beauty.  May, I please serve you Junior Mints in bed?  Because, you are way too skinny, and I love to see you delight in all things chocolate.”

It didn’t go anything like that.  As a matter of fact, my sweet husband said nothing.

Oh, beautiful conviction.  For me, that is.

The next morning, I approached him as a very different Dusty from the one the night before.  I told him how terribly sorry I was.  I told him I handled my feelings very, very poorly.  And, I asked him to please forgive me.  Because, I was very wrong.

When I told him how wonderful he is and how he didn’t deserve my attack, he said, “Yeah.  That’s kind of what I was thinking.”

I’m pretty conscious of how I address things with Kris most of the time.  But, I failed miserably with this one.  We probably all do from time to time.  A softened, repentant heart is what was needed here.  I knew it.  And, he received it. 

Whoever said “love is never having to say you’re sorry” was probably never married.  Long.

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April 21, 2009 · 6:00 am

Maybe I’ve Judged Jack Bauer.


My friend Shari left this morning on a red-eye flight back to Florida.  But, not before she made me sit through an episode of 24. 

Sorry friends.  I’ve never really made friends with Jack.  None the less, she managed to shush me the entire hour.  Then, she sneezed over and over again during commercials.

For the love.

Despite her obsession for Mr. Jack Bauer, I did enjoy her visit.  And, we did manage to share our hearts and where we felt Christ was leading us.  I also told her the most recent issue God has been dealing with me on.

Judgmentalism.

I know, right?  It seems like I would have already dealt with this by now.  I’m not sure how God deals with you, but He doesn’t seem to play around with me.  Remember this post?  At first, God whispered to me, “See people the way I see people.”

Oh, I totally got that.  For a while.

Then, without even realizing it, I’d make a judgment on someone again.  And, I know – I’m completely uncovering myself here.  But, it’s true.  I’d judge them for not making what I thought was a Godly decision or for walking in disobedience. 

Until.

Until, God started showing me how ugly it all was.  It was as if He put my judgments in my face and said, “Isn’t this ugly?”

It was.

I was convicted.

I’m becoming more and more conscious of it now.  Perhaps, it’s kind of like forming a habit.  You practice and practice not judging until you finally really see people the way He sees people.

As His children.

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April 20, 2009 · 6:00 am

Bend It Like Anna.


God has been dealing with me on a thing or twenty that I’ll share later in the week.  Today, I just had to post some pics of Anna in her first soccer game ever.  Because, I love her.  And, she makes me laugh so hard.

 anna-soccer-3

anna-soccer-1

anna-soccer-2

She really enjoyed herself and her over-sized soccer shirt that could double as a dress.  That didn’t stop her from getting in there in and dominating posing on the soccer field.  When she noticed I had my camera aimed at her cute self, she decided to turn, stop, and smile.  Headed tilted and all.  Instead of taking the picture, I did what any good mother would do.  I yelled, “Go!  Go!  Your team is on the OTHER side of the field!”  So, she returned to face her fiersome opponents. 

When she wasn’t winking at me or striking a pose, she did manage to take the ball away from her opponents and teammates.  We were so proud when she handled the ball so well, kicking it with all her might towards the goal.  So what if it was the other team’s goal.  She was in the zone. 

The Chargers did lose.  But, please don’t tell her.  When she asked who won, I said her team did.  Because, all good mothers lie to their children for the sake of their self-esteem. 

In other news, my good friend, Shari, came out for a visit.  She made it just in time for Anna’s soccer game.

anna-soccer-5

Shari looks a wee bit more excited than Anna here.  But, no worries.  The High School Musical backpack Shari gave her won her right over.

Is it just me or does Shari favor Beth Moore in this pic?  Take a closer look.

shari-beth-wp

It kind of makes me want to persuade Shari tell me more about the disciple, John or somethingoranother.  But, alas, we will just shop instead.

That’s all folks. 

 

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April 17, 2009 · 6:00 am

Yes, Bearded People Are My Friends.


Yesterday turned out to be an eventful day despite remaining in my house most of the day with a four year old who insisted I rub her back for an hour at a time.  Once three o’clock rolled around, I knew it was time get out of my pajamas and pick up John Henry from school.  Then, after a quick trip to Wal-Mart (insert sigh), I gave a dollar to my homeless guy.  Not sure why I refer to him as my homeless guy other than he’s my favorite one to give to?

Moving on.

“Who is that?”  Anna asked.

“It’s a man who doesn’t have a home,” I ‘splained.

“Well, he can come live with us,” she suggested.  “He can sleep on the floor in your room.”

“I don’t think daddy would like that, and I’d really have to hear from God on that one,” I told her.

So, in jumps John Henry.

“And, people might think we had someone strange in our family if he lived with us,” John Henry added.  (I wanted to tell him that we actually do have some strange ones in our family, but I’ll just let him figure that one out in his own time.  You know.  Kind of like working your way through your own salvation.) 

“Oh, I see.  He’s strange because he has a beard,” Anna said.

Exactly.  Because he has a beard.  Wha?

Sometimes, you just go with it.

Later that evening, we went to John Henry’s Spring Program at his school.  He and his class sang Jami Smith’s “Your Love Is Deep.”  I could have sworn it was just for me.  You know those moments you needed to be reminded of God’s love, and you didn’t even know you needed it?  I had one of those.  God is good.  Yes, He is.

So, even later that evening, I went out to meet up with some of my Bible Study girls.  For fella-ship and to talk about stuff that’s not in the Bible but should’ve been.  Or, perhaps, not.  Anyhoo, when I headed back home, I noticed the most amazing lightening show ev-ah!  Wow.  Things you don’t really see when you’re inside playing Scramble on your iPhone. 

So, that’s pretty much it.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  And, just in case you need a reminder of His love.  I’ll leave you with one of my fav-oh-right scriptures.

…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 1 8may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.   Ephesians 3:17-19

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