by Emily Howsden | Feb 19, 2018
It’s almost here, can you feel it? I woke up this morning to a house that felt a little more humid, and I didn’t nearly freeze as soon as my feet hit the tile in the kitchen. It was overcast outside, and there was no howling, winter wind.
I’m hoping this means that spring is just around the corner. Each year I look forward to the new life that spring brings as we open the windows and come out of hiding from what seems like the eternal darkness of winter.
How refreshing it is to not have to put on layers upon layers just to step outside! Some days, however, I do have to get the heavy coat out of the front closet and resume winter as normal. Frequent weather changes are a big part of Oklahoma springtime.
I think I can pinpoint my love for spring beyond the return of green grass and blue skies. I think what I enjoy most about this season is the impending hope and joy that are promised to come.
Sunshine, flowers, time spent outside and so many other things that come with spring are what personally seem to lessen the blow of frigid temperatures, short hours of sunlight and overall dead vegetation outside.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve had many seasons of my life that mirror the transition from the dead of winter to a glimpse of spring.
Lately, I’ve seen and personally experienced a shocking amount of sickness, death and tragedy that has struck my family and people whom I know either with a personal relationship or someone I know through friends.
It seems unfair that the devil would place people I know and hold dear under such attack, especially in the middle of the bitter winter. It seems almost fitting that the devil would thrive during this time, doing his best to steal our joy, rob us of our health and take residence in our thoughts in the form of doubt or fear.
But I have faith that spring is around the corner. The Lord protects those who call Him their father. His plans are greater than our own, and He is omnipotent even when we doubtingly ask, “Lord where are you? How could this happen?”
I know that He has promised joy and hope in the morning, as He tells us in Lamentations, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22-23).
As I wrote last week, my brother Joel had brain surgery this past weekend. His immediate recovery in the hospital went so smoothly. Everyone around him, including myself, has just been floored.
He passed post-op tests with flying colors, shows no signs of memory loss and seems to be on the fast road to recovery. I don’t hesitate to say that his progress so far is a direct result of the outpouring of prayers Joel and our family received on his behalf.
In the midst of our scary winter-like weekend, where we prayed for Joel’s protection and recovery, the Lord covered us with His wings, surrounded Joel with His healing hands and filled our hearts with hope.
It is because the Lord loves giving His children the desires of our hearts that I won’t stop praying for Joel. We will receive pathology results within the next few days, and I pray for a positive report.
God has shown Himself in our lives, and we are extremely fortunate to come out of this situation still having our Joel by our sides. Like I said before, many families I know are currently grieving the loss of someone they love.
There is hope. While it might be hard to see hope over the horizon of the wintery storm you’re currently enduring, I promise you, friends, there is joy in the morning, and in the most unlikely situations.
Recently I interviewed a pastor, Drew, who lost his wife and baby. I can’t begin to imagine the devastation or grief he feels, but I constantly find that I’m reminding myself of how he explained he is managing to carry on in this tough time.
He said that if his testimony, and the testimony of his wife and son is what someone needs in order to see the Lord and His goodness—if their testimony can further the Kingdom of the Lord, then he can find hope in knowing the Lord is working his tragic situation together for good.
I pray daily that I don’t take for granted the good in my life, but also that should I experienced tragedy, that I would do so with the grace that Drew is demonstrating.
I hope, friends, that you can look to the spring with hope and anticipation that He has risen from the grave, taking all of our pain, sorrow, sin and suffering with him, so we no longer have to bear those burdens alone.
by Emily Howsden | Feb 12, 2018
This week I write Millennial Monday with one particular thing on my mind, or one person I should say. I’m going to be incredibly transparent and share something I don’t generally share with just anyone, because I am asking for specific prayers. My 28-year-old brother, Joel, will have brain surgery on Friday and I am selfishly using my blog to ask for your prayers.
Joel’s journey is an incredible one. Three years ago, he was staying at my parent’s house when they heard some strange noises from his room. My dad went to find Joel having a seizure and mostly unresponsive.
After an ambulance ride to the hospital and many tests that would provide answers to why my then-otherwise healthy 25-year-old brother would have a massive seizure, we found out that Joel had a brain tumor in his front left lobe.
By the end of the week he was in surgery to have the tumor removed. Surgery went as planned, Joel’s tumor was removed and thankfully had grown in a ball, rather than a spider web fashion, and we found out it was stage 2 cancer. The good news was that the incredible team of doctors successfully removed the entire tumor, meaning no further form of treatment was required for Joel.
Having a tumor-sized gap in Joel’s brain did however mean he was susceptible to seizures, and would need to take a seizure medication for the rest of his life. In case you didn’t know, seizures aren’t good for your brain, so keeping the number of seizures Joel had to a minimum was important.
Along with brain surgery came many other things that someone who hasn’t gone through that situation themselves or with a family member would never realize.
To start, Joel couldn’t drive a car for six months, because in the state of Oklahoma you aren’t allowed to drive for six months after a seizure. So Joel had to have family members drive him from point A to point B, or take public transportation, which in the state of Oklahoma is not as easy as it might be in a large metropolitan area.
In addition to his driving restrictions, much of Joel’s life became doctors’ appointments and he was, rightfully so, closely monitored by family and friends to make sure he wouldn’t have another seizure.
Fast forward to last summer, Joel had mostly gotten on with his life. The tumor and brain surgery were behind him, and all he had to do was continue to take seizure medication and visit his doctor every six months for an MRI to make sure everything in his brain was normal.
However, tragically, one summer night Joel had somewhere around five undetected seizures, and no one found him because he lived on his own. After not hearing from him for an unusual amount of time, his fiancé, Kelli, went to check on him and found him unresponsive and in extremely poor condition.
When he arrived at the hospital the doctors and nurses feared for his life because of the effects of not being treated for so long after multiple seizures. Joel was in the ICU for two days and the hospital for, I believe, eight days total. It took him nearly 48 hours to wake up from his coma-like state, in which we as his family waited anxiously for good news.
This was much different than the stay at the hospital for his brain surgery. This time, Joel had a lot of memory loss. Initially, he didn’t remember most of our family. He had to re-learn names and who was dad, who was a sister, even who his fiancé was.
In some ways, it was like Joel had started over, and we had to teach him his likes and dislikes. However, when he still couldn’t remember maybe what city he was in, he could sing full songs that he had always loved, and definitely remembered that he was a hardcore OU fan. These things about Joel were incredibly encouraging.
Here we are, months later, and we found out through an MRI scan that my mom ordered because of what I believe was the Lord’s leading, that the tumor had returned to the size it was three years ago. His doctors say it is what most-likely caused his seizures last summer and will need to be removed.
It seems daunting, just as his sister, to believe that Joel and the rest of our family must go through this process again. We want Joel to live the life that most 28-year-olds get to live, without having to worry about brain tumors or surgery. I can’t imagine how Joel truly feels.
Yet, it seems Joel, his fiancé and my parents, who are the people most directly affected by this process, are at peace. Joel attends TheChurch.at Downtown in Tulsa, where my parents also attend, and the congregation laid hands on Joel and prayed blessings upon him. I can’t imagine any of us going through this process without the body of Christ surrounding us like they have time and time again.
Here is where I need your help. I believe in praying for specific things. I believe that if we pray for Joel’s healing that the Lord hears these prayers and wants to give us the desires of our hearts. This is my heart’s desire.
Right now, we are praying that when Joel goes in for his pre-surgery MRI, the tumor is miraculously gone, because we know that God is the God of miracles and that He hears our cries. That is our primary prayer. Would you join me in praying that?
If the tumor is still there on Thursday, I ask that you pray for Friday, the day of the scheduled brain surgery. I pray that the Lord would guide the hands of the surgeon and give Joel the strength he needs to endure this procedure.
Most of all, I pray that the Lord will rid Joel’s body of this cancer. I pray that for the rest of Joel’s long and happy life he can tell of the miraculous way that the Lord healed him and made his body new.
Thank you for taking the time to read about Joel’s journey. I pray that his testimony is one that is far-reaching and brings glory to God. He has already done so much good and healing in Joel’s life, we pray that this is another way Joel can sing His praises and share the Good News of the Gospel and ultimate Healer.
by Emily Howsden | Feb 6, 2018
How do you attend church? Do you attend church on a Sunday morning? Do you watch a live-stream of your church from home or is a Wednesday night your day of preference? Do you simply go, say your hellos and then leave, or have you plugged in to several smaller communities within your church?
No matter the size of your church, one of my most favorite things about “church” these days is the small group my husband and I attend. I find most churches have some sort of family group system in order. Some may call it a family group, a discipleship group or lifegroup, but I like to call them my family away from family.
Let me start by saying I am admittedly an extreme homebody. My family and where they all reside (NE Oklahoma, God’s country) are extremely important to me. Now, consider the fact that I live two hours and more than 90 miles away from them. It might not seem like a lot to most people, but at times, it feels like I might as well be across the country.
Stay with me as I elaborate, I promise I have a point, and this isn’t as random as it seems…
Last night was the Super Bowl, a night I generally don’t care about, aside from the fellowship, food and fun that can be had when a large group of people gather for a special occasion. This is the perfect instance in which at least some of my family members might gather, but not an instance in which one would drive hours away on a Sunday night.
Enter my church family. Our family group is made up of six or seven families, all within the same stages of life. Our ages vary slightly, but for the most part, we are all beginning families or raising young ones, together.
Each Sunday night we meet at the same house and study the Bible, as well as spend time together talking about what’s going on in our lives, laughing at and with each other as well as adoring each other’s precious babies and children. These are the people I consider my family, and I wouldn’t have them if it weren’t for our church, or the big “C” Church.
Aside from my family, these are the people I rejoice life’s victories alongside. These are the people I run to, asking for prayer when burdens become too heavy to bear on my own. These are the people whom I ask questions about how to face some of life’s challenges, and I know their answers are rooted in Scripture and Love. These people are whom I think God intended the earthly Church to be.
I often think where would I be without these Sunday evenings together, or shopping trips the girls in our group take, or the baby showers we throw often (because we are singlehandedly repopulating our church due to our stage of life, HA!)? I don’t know, and I don’t want to know, but I have our home church to thank for all of these wonderful people and their families.
Because my husband and I got plugged into our church more than just attending on a Sunday morning, we found family that we never anticipated finding. We have found a group of believers, somewhat alike but all different in our own way, that get to stand alongside each other as we navigate this world as believers.
Together we get to be love to other families in need, share things we wouldn’t share with just anyone and we get to grow in our faith, which I think is the reason we have become so close.
I say all of this to urge you to find your place in your home church. If your church doesn’t have family groups, start one of your own! I think you will be amazed at how the Lord can bond a group of people who start as strangers, to be some of the people you treasure most in this world. This is how we multiply as disciples and go into the world and replicate the process of disciple-making, by stepping outside of the physical walls of our church buildings, and living God-honoring lives in community with each other. Be more than just a church-goer!
by Emily Howsden | Jan 29, 2018
What are you passionate about?
One thing that both brings the world together and drives us apart are the things that we as humans have decided to passionately love or hate. These things can range anywhere from favorite restaurants or sports teams to religious and political beliefs.
Someone asked this question recently on a video of a conference I was watching, and it caused me to pause and have a short time of self-reflection. What am I passionate about?
Just the other day I discussed with a coworker how I believe that Tulsa, Oklahoma is in fact, the best part of the state—God’s country if you will! I grew up in the Tulsa area, which could have something to do with it. It was the city with which I identify my first 19 years of life, and so many pleasant memories. But even as an adult, and as an OKC resident now, I still love Tulsa the most.
I love the feeling of being in Woodward Park in the springtime, walking around the Philbrook grounds on a hot summer day and catching a drive-in movie at night. Going to a Drillers or Roughnecks game and sitting on the grass, or the many evenings or Saturday mornings we spent in the car driving to soccer games. I love visiting the Tulsa Zoo, even though that is one area in which I will admit OKC bests Boomtown, perhaps the only area.
My family is another thing I can talk about for what might seem like forever to most, but I would just be getting started. Being the youngest of six children has been and will always be one of my favorite things about myself. I love my huge family.
I also have six nephews and one niece with which I will admit, I am overly obsessed. They are all in the Tulsa area and some of the most precious blessings of my life. Each time my siblings tell me that their little ones asked about “Emmy” or my cat or dog, my heart swells, and in that moment that child could ask me for literally anything in the world and I couldn’t give it to them fast enough!
My parents are also in the Tulsa area, Verdigris to be more specific, my hometown, which I also love. I’m convinced that my parents are in-fact super heroes, and the best people on earth. All I’ll say is I’ve never seen my Dad and Superman in the same room, and I’ve never seen my mom and Wonder woman in the same room, I’ll let you put two and two together.
I am also completely head over heels for my sweet hubby, Casey. I find myself actively stopping myself from talking about him in social settings so as to not wear out my welcome or tire my friends with the same old gushing about my saint of a hubby. I could go on for days about all of Casey’s attributes, but I’ll just say he loves me and loves me well, and I am so blessed by him and his servant’s heart.
I also talk about my pets, often. I love my kitty, Hagrid so much it hurts, even though the same feeling is rarely reciprocated, I keep coming back for more. My husband, a huge dog person, got me Hagrid the first year we were married for my birthday, I knew he loved me then. We also just adopted a dog, a Boxer named Sadie. She is adorable, even though I will admit owning a dog took some getting used to…for both Hagrid and myself. Now we can’t imagine not having her around, at our feet, at all times.
My point with all of my ranting and raving about my favorite city, my family and my pets, and the point of the speaker in the video was, don’t you love talking about things about which you are passionate? When was the last time you talked someone’s ear off about Jesus?
Do people say about you, ‘Oh man that Emily loves Jesus,’ or ‘Don’t get her started talking about Jesus, she’ll never stop.”
Sadly, I don’t think that would be the immediate reaction of people when asked about me, maybe it would be. But what I’m saying is I SHOULD, without a doubt, be able to answer ‘Yes!’ when asking myself the above-mentioned question.
Recently I heard an incredible way of explaining the question I seem to have heard many times, “If God is so good, why is there killing and sin in the world? Why do people go to hell?”
The person explained saying that God did not create people to be evil. When He created man and woman, he created us with a free will, or the option to choose. When people go to hell, it’s because God has allowed them in His Sovereignty to choose and is honoring the choices they make.
I had never heard that answered so clearly and simply. So now, I feel equipped to answer that question concisely, and I will back it up with Scripture, as I think Scripture should always be present in a conversation about God. This is just one way I am going to talk about Jesus more.
Bring Him up in everyday conversations as you would talk about your favorite sports team, favorite band or place that you’ve visited. Because when we love something, we should love to talk about that thing, right?
We could all do better to talk more passionately about our Lord and Savior and what He has done for us and the world. Why not start today?
by Emily Howsden | Jan 22, 2018
This is such a hard subject to write about because I so passionately believe that all lives matter, no matter the age, race, religion or gender. At the same time, arguing on the internet is right up there with a root canal in terms of things I enjoy experiencing.
But I can’t be silent. I feel like this should be a one-sided argument, always. I don’t think under any circumstances that life should be taken voluntarily inside or outside of the womb. I realize the horrors that some women face due to the injustice and inhumane crimes like rape or any form of sexual abuse. However, I stand by my previously stated belief, that life is not ours to take.
I have always thought this way. I think, as a born-again Christ follower, it seems odd that any person who professes the Lord as their Savior would think differently, but I respect their right to disagree.
Something that has helped to change my perspective on this matter, however, is my own pregnancy. In November, my husband and I found out that we are expecting our first child, and we are absolutely thrilled to welcome our baby into the world this summer. I am now 15 weeks, and the things that I have experienced in these 15 weeks or 3.5 months make me shake my head in disbelief that anyone would ever abort a child.
Legally, according to some research I’ve done, I am still allowed to abort my baby in the state of Oklahoma. Let me tell you some facts about my baby that should shed light on the inhumanity of abortion in our state and everywhere it is legal.
My baby is the size of an apple, weights around 2.5 ounces and is approximately four inches long. My baby has all body parts, fingers, toes, legs, a heart, a brain, a respiratory system and developing lungs. The baby has eyelids and is even sensitive to really bright light at this stage. My baby is forming taste buds, and we will soon be able to see via ultrasound what gender the baby is. Our baby can frown, grimace and even suck his or her thumb. The baby’s kidneys are producing urine and IF the baby is a girl, she would already have more than 2 million eggs in her tiny ovaries.
I could go on and on about the fascinating things going on now in my body as my baby grows, but aside from all of these scientific facts, the fact that the Lord calls us to value the life of the unborn should be reason enough to say no to abortion.
Today, on the 45th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, more than 60 million children have been tragically killed in America. America, a country that was founded on the promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, for all.
Our Declaration of Independence, which we have strayed from many times, says: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Many injustices have been done in this country, and those who have been treated other than the Lord our God would treat them, as his precious children, have spoken out many times against the wrong doing they have experienced. But what about the group, the 60 million that have no voices, and cannot be heard because they were denied their right to be born?
Each day as our baby develops and a miracle takes place inside my body, I pray for the health and well-being of our child. This pregnancy, even in its earliest stages has seemed to last a long time because there is worry around every corner that something might happen to the precious life inside me. I do all that I can daily to protect that life and make sure it grows as it needs. Therefore, I can’t imagine anyone willingly stopping the life of the child inside their womb.
I don’t know if I’ve done this topic the justice it deserves, I’m going to learn towards no. There are still millions who believe it’s their choice whether another human being can enter this world or not. But however jumbled my thoughts may be, I will continue to share them in hopes that we can take a stand and protect the lives of potentially 60 million or more children.
Someone close to me said, in those 60 million lives taken, there could have been doctor that developed the cure for cancer. There could have been an astronaut, the next president of the United States, or one could have been your future neighbor. Have you stopped to think about that? Do that for a moment.
Stop dehumanizing the unborn and give them the voice they so desperately need. Put an end to the cruelty of abortion. Place value and the utmost of importance on the sanctity of human life, now and always.