Tag Archives: God Stuff

July 16, 2009 · 6:00 am

I Need To Choose Him More.

John Henry:  Why did God make us separated?

Me:  What do you mean?

John Henry:  Why is God in heaven, and He made us on earth?  Why didn’t He make us be together?

I admit.  John Henry’s question caught me by surprise.  Let’s see.  How do I answer this so a six-year old can comprehend?  I could take him back to the garden.  Of course, I risk losing him with that story.  So, I just explained it this way instead:

Had God made us in heaven with Him, we would have no choice but to pursue Him.  {How could we not pursue Him if we saw Him face to face?}  God wants us to CHOOSE Him.  So, here on earth, we have the choice to pursue Him.  We may not see Him, but His Spirit is here with us and inside of us. 

Our conversation continued.  And, I was suddenly overwhelmed by a God who wants more than anything for me to always choose Him. 

Come close to God, and God will come close to you.  James 4:8a

8 Comments

Filed under God Stuff, Kid Stuff, Spiritual Journey

Tagged as , , ,

July 3, 2009 · 6:00 am

All The Single Moms & Dads.

I wanted to title this post “All the Single Ladies,” but I just couldn’t make it work.  Another blog, another day. 

I’d like to introduce you to my friend, Kim Heinecke.  I met Kim in my bible study almost a year ago, and we instantly connected.  Our stories of divorce are similar.  And, our stories of how God healed our broken hearts are even more similar. 

I want you read her testimony.  Besides it being one of the most beautiful pieces of writing you will ever read, it will make you want to fall in love with your Father all over again – whether you’re single OR married. 

Kim writes:

“It is my testimony that when the Lord becomes the fountain of everything meaningful in your life – when He is your companion, your protector, your provider – you will never be lost or disappointed by what happens or doesn’t happen on your journey.”

Read Kim’s testimony here.  It’ll be the best thing you read today. 

I assure you.

4 Comments

Filed under disappointment, divorce, God Stuff, Motherhood

Tagged as , , ,

June 18, 2009 · 6:00 am

Sometimes, I Feel Like Somebody’s Watching Me.

As you may or may not know.  I Twitter.  I love The Twitter.  Every once in a while, I read a tweet (that’s Twitter talk for a status update) that captures my attention.  Yesterday, Michael Thurston (a.k.a. Mike T – youth pastor extraordinaire of EWC) said, “feels like God is watching me. In a good way.”  If you know Mike T, you can appreciate his tweetfulness.  Yes, yes.  Feel free to use that that one.  Tweetfulness.  What I appreciate about Mike is that he sees God.  In the big things.  In the small things. 

In all things.

So, I totally got his tweet. 

Do you get it?

Are you seeing God in your life?

2 Comments

Filed under God Stuff

Tagged as , , ,

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

5 Comments

Filed under God Stuff, Spiritual Journey

Tagged as , ,

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?

9 Comments

Filed under God Stuff, life, Spiritual Journey

Tagged as , ,

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.

3 Comments

Filed under God Stuff

Tagged as

May 12, 2009 · 6:00 am

He Makes All Things Good.

Good news.  I didn’t throw up. 

This past Saturday, I spoke at a Mother-Daughter Luncheon.  Anna participated in the annual fashion show revealing how she completely despises the spotlight.  I’ll see if I can get a video clip to post in the near future. 

I seriously enjoy that girl.  She’s a good balance for me and keeps any legalism I may exhibit from time to time in check. 

On Sunday, I spoke at Eagles Way Church.  I have to say I don’t take for granted the opportunity for God to use me from that pulpit.  My grandfather stood from that pulpit.  My dad stands from that pulpit every week.  My grandfather loved God’s Word more than anyone I’ve ever known.  My dad loves the Kingdom more than he loves himself.  They are both selfless men in that pulpit.  And, I had a heightened awareness that the pulpit is not about me.  Not.One.Bit.

I was nervous.  But, I had a calmness and peace that I knew could only come from God.  So, thanks to all of you who were praying.  Just another reason why I love the body of Christ.

Bigmama told me, “You did a real good job.  But, I was hopin’ you’d get happy in the end.”

“What do you mean by ‘happy’ Bigmama?”

“You know.  Where you get all excited and quote a bunch of scriptures,” she explained.

I love that woman.  She can say whatever she wants to me.  It was, after all, her husband who stood from the pulpit first.

I was pretty tired Sunday afternoon.  I spent the afternoon watching some cheesy Lifetime movie with my mom.  She loves cheesy Lifetime movies.  And, I love her.  I also apparently love cheesy Lifetime movies, because once I start watching one, I have to watch it play out.  Cra-zee.

After a delayed flight, we made it back to Oklahoma.  When I tucked Anna in, she told me, “God and Jesus make good things.”  It reminded me of this scripture in Romans 8:28:

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 

The verse that follows says, “For God knew his people in advance….” 

God loves you.  He knew you before you were ever conceived.  He was already on the other side of whatever you are going through right now long before you were thought of.  He has already made all things good.  Don’t lose heart.  Your victory is on its way.  And, if I need to get happy and quote a bunch of scriptures to remind you, just let me or Bigmama know.

11 Comments

Filed under God Stuff, Motherhood

Tagged as , , ,

May 6, 2009 · 7:03 am

He Has A Universe. I Don’t.

Francis Chan, author of Crazy Love, was on the Lifechurch.tv stage yesterday shooting his message for the upcoming One Prayer event.  I could’ve gone to hear him live.

Could’ve.

But, my dear friend, Lance, didn’t tell me about it until it was pretty much over.  I’m not bitter.

Anyhoo, Lance posted a lot of Chan quotes on Twitter yesterday.  This one spoke loudly:

“God does things His way in His universe.  You may think you have a better way, but you don’t have a universe.”

Can you come to terms with the truth that God is God, and He does whatever He pleases? (Psalm 115:3)

And, can you trust that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them? (Romans 8:28)

9 Comments

Filed under God Stuff

Tagged as , ,

March 17, 2009 · 6:00 am

The Greatest Decision.


I’m not one for seeing two five o’clocks in the same day.  I’m a girl who appreciates sleep.  But, Saturday morning meant everyone in the Takle household would have to stretch before sunrise.  John Henry stirred much sooner than we anticipated.  Anna, a girl after my own heart, wasn’t about to let her snuggled self be bothered until it was time. 

Eventually, Kris and John Henry made their way into the family room.  John Henry started asking Kris several questions about life after death. 

“Dusty!”  Kris called for me.  “John Henry has some questions for you,” he said. 

Funny.

So, I joined my two favorite men, and I answered his questions the best I could.  He has been talking a lot about salvation lately and asking a few questions.

So, I knew it was time.

“John Henry, do you want to ask Jesus to come into your heart?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said.

So, we prayed.  And my six year old boy made the greatest decision he will ever make.

While, he has believed in Jesus Christ, I explained to him this was just a confession of his faith. 

Then, yesterday, Anna said she had Jesus in her heart.  John Henry argued that she did not since she had not prayed. (We’ll balance our sweet boy out as time goes on.)

John Henry then asked Anna to repeat after him.  And, he led her in the sinner’s prayer, and she asked Jesus into her heart, too.  He just might evangelize the world before he turns seven. 

If God can use him to change his sister’s life, God can use him to do anything.

On that note, Kris and I are off for a mom and dad only get-away.  I am leaving my laptop at home.  I know, right?  I’ll have my phone.  If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, I might take a little Twitpic and post it on occasion.  But, my main focus is going to be my Scandinavian hunk of burnin’ love.

God bless grandparents.

See y’all again next week.

10 Comments

Filed under parenting, Spiritual Journey

Tagged as ,

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?

8 Comments

Filed under God Stuff

Tagged as ,