Tag Archives: God Stuff

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 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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January 2, 2009 · 6:00 am

Meltdowns and resolutions that matter.


After two weeks of indulging in holiday delights, I was excited to wake up yesterday morning to a new year.  My excitement rapidly waned when I realized the coffee pot was vacant and the wireless internet was down.  I could hardly look anyone in the eyes.  How was I supposed to begin a day, much less a new year, without two of life’s morning essentials? 

Well, making a fresh pot of java and PLUGGING THE ROUTER’S POWER CORD IN prevented any potential meltdown. 

Oh, the conveniences we so quickly become dependent upon. 

Lunch provided the traditional black-eyed peas and collard greens with my mom’s fresh ham.  HEAVEN.  And, I spent the rest of the day doing absolutely nothing meditating and rejuvenating the soul. 

As I think about 2009 and any resolutions I may or may not keep, I am reminded to listen to my Father’s voice.  It’s so easy to make our own plans.  And, while planning is often essential and wise, I don’t want to miss the whispers.  Resolving to take better care of my physical body is one thing.  Resolving to be attentive to my spiritual well-being – well, that’s a whole other story.

I’m not as attentive as I probably should be every day.  As a matter of fact, I have days where the first time I say God’s name is during my children’s bedtime prayers.  He can handle it.  He knows exactly where I am and still knows how many hairs are on my highlighted blonde head.  That’s one of the amazing things about God.  He knows everything single thing about us – even my calorie consumption yesterday.  And, even when I fail to recognize His presence in my life, He still sits and waits with bated breath for me to call His name. 

I hope He hears His name a lot more in 2009.

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November 6, 2008 · 6:00 am

He can’t fit inside my box.


I’ve been listening to some Ayiesha Woods lately.  Her song “Big Enough” is one of my favorites.  The song says,

And I don’t wanna box you in
You’ve been doing big things since the world began
Sometimes I just don’t wanna believe
That you’re big enough – but you’re big enough.

I think I like this song, because I relate to it well.  I have those days where I believe that He is able to do anything.  But, to be honest, I don’t function in that daily.  I tend to try to fit Him into my little box.  How quickly I forget the big things He’s already done.  And, there I go doubting that He will do big things again. 

Then, He does.

Again.

And, again.

Because, He’s big enough.

Do you ever try to put God in a box?

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