www.susielarson.com

Times and Places...

Greetings, Dear Friends!

Susie Larson here...

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way.

Each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts on my blog. Would you believe it's already time to announce the winner for June? The winner of a $10.00 gift card from Starbucks goes to...

Drum roll please...

Stephanie Carlson! Congratulations! Please note that you have to email me your mailing address some time before I award next month's winner. Contact me at: info@susielarson.com 

*One more important note. I will be on vacation next week and will be away from the internet and out of email range. I'll look forward to connecting with you on the 15th of July. 

Now on to my topic...

Many years ago, I learned a valuable lesson: God is not subject to my timetables. I may have good reason for expecting Him to come through for me on specific occasions, but His actions will not be dictated by my timelines. 

As a young mom, I never realized how much I had hoped in God for my circumstances (instead of through them). 

After six months on bed rest due to a high risk pregnancy and in spite of some scary neurological symptoms during that pregnancy, I had hoped God wouldn't allow me to go from dealing with bed rest to dealing with a disease. But He did.

Amidst babies in the hospital and my own health battles, I had hoped that God wouldn't allow us to suffer financially, but He did. 

After going through several years of crisis, and then finally having the opportunity to go on a vacation to a resort with my extended family, I had hoped God would bless us with great weather and healthy kids for a week, but He didn't. 

At the end of the day, I wanted to stomp and scream and wonder what was the point of faith (and I definitely had my moments), but deep in my soul, I knew God was there with me, teaching me to hope in Him - and not in my circumstances. 

A verse that I love comes from first Timothy (6:6) and it reads:

Godliness with contentment is great gain.

To me, godliness speaks of forward movement; an earnest pursuit of the Father; a strong hope that He will come through for us; and a faith that believes in God's promises amidst the absence of evidence. 

And then there's contentment. My Thesaurus describes contentment with these words: fulfillment, peace, happiness, ease, comfort, well-being, satisfaction, serenity.  

To me, that's a measure of maturity; embracing a forward moving faith, along with a peaceful, satisfied heart that embraces God amidst your current circumstances.

When our hoped-for plans come to a screeching halt and God disappoints, how do we find peace, fulfillment, ease, well-being, and satisfaction amidst it all?

We step back and remember that God is God. And He is good. And He is always up to something. 

We wrap our arms around the Vine, we pursue godliness, and we embrace contentment; a contentment that declares, "I will find God in this somehow! My hope is in the Lord, and not in the idea that things should always go my way. Plans may fail, the rain will fall, and circumstances will sometimes fall short of my expectations, but this is where my faith counts. When I put everything on the table and give God room to work, I will find Him in the most unexpected places, and I will grow in the process!" 

Godliness with contentment is great gain. 

Though our plans may fall short of our expectations, we must not miss the opportunity to gain ground in our walk of faith. We hope in the Lord, not in that next raise, the next potential job, vacation, family time, etc. We make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps (See Proverbs 16:9). And in due time, we will enjoy a surprisingly sunny day, or a peaceful morning, or a sweet vacation, or a quick breakthrough. And those times are especially sweet when we learn to put our hope in the Lord. It's like icing on the cake. :)

In closing, read this wonderful quote by John Tauler written in the 1300's:

"Be assured of this, you do not know God in truth, and have no true peace, if you are depending upon times and places. Remember that whatever God gives you to do, from moment to moment, that is the very best thing you could possibly be doing, and you little know where and when the Lord will meet you. He who does not seek to find God everywhere, and in everything, finds Him nowhere and in nothing." 

Have a blessed couple of weeks.

PS ~ If you haven't signed up for my free quarterly E-zine, you might want to. Some of my author friends give away free copies of their books, I write a devotional, share some great book recommendations, great quotes, and a prayer to send you on your way. My next issue releases on the 15th of July. Click the link below to sign up:

Sign up for Susie's Ezine...

Your Covering and Protection...

Greetings, Dear Friends!

Susie Larson here...

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. 

Each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts on my blog. This month's card is from Starbucks. So share an insight or a story, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and a friend!

Now on to my topic...

How are you handling the times? Are you struggling with fear and uncertainty? Are you anxious and unsteady? 

Well, I have good news for you!

With the Lord at your side, you have nothing to fear! 

Picture the protection of the Lord as a big umbrella. Underneath it we are safe from the enemy's plan to destroy us. The umbrella represents the stronghold of God - the place where we abide in His presence, obey His word, and live the way He calls us to. 

The Lord establishes boundaries for our safety and our good. He loves us so very much and knows what the enemy wants to do to us should we venture out from under His established protection. Not that God can't get to us anywhere; He'll come for us if we call on His name; but He'll also allow us to walk away from Him and endure the consequences of our actions. That's how we learn. Any good parent would do the same thing. 

The Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and knowing the Holy One helps us understand Him (Proverbs 9:10).

Fearing the Lord simply means, "I respect and honor the Lord enough to do what He says, because I know He will do what He says." 

At the very edges of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. If we don't have a healthy reverence for the God who created the heavens and the earth; the One who put the stars in their place and who told the oceans where to stop; if we don't tremble at the thought of dishonoring Him, well then, we are fools. 

He is loving and gracious and kind and good, but He's still God. And He means what He says.

The amazing thing though is that He takes this mandate so seriously that when He finds a soul humble enough to honor Him and revere His name, He honors them. He blesses them before a watching world. He entrusts them with the great honor of serving Him in magnificent ways. 

When a man or woman fears the Lord, his or her enemies respond differently; evil doesn't stand a chance, and the world receives a proper picture of what a relationship with the Lord Almighty is supposed to look like. 

The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him; on those who hope in His unfailing love (Psalm 33:18).

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid (Psalm 27:1)?

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear the Lord; and He delivers them (Psalm 34:7).

Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil.

When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him (Proverbs 16:6-7).

The fear of the Lord leads to LIFE; then one rests content, untouched by trouble (Proverbs 19:23).

Do not fear anything except the Holy One. If you fear Him, you need fear nothing else; He will keep you safe (Isaiah 8:13-14)

Instead of fearing others' opinions, may we honor and fear the Lord, He will take cares of those who stand against us.

Instead of fearing the economy and clinging to what few resources we have, let us honor God, sow generously, give to those who less than us, and trust Him to supply our needs.

Instead of fearing the instability of the times, let us daily read Psalm 91 and Psalm 112, and reacquaint ourselves with the promises of God, and live in a manner worthy of His name. 

The Creator of the Heavens and earth knows your name, and mine. He loves us and wants to hide us in the shadow of His wing. He calls us to live close beside Him and to trust Him fully when the storms rage. He is faithful and He is serious about our obedience. 

These are not days for lukewarm faith and casual commitments. May we walk in the fear of the Lord.

God bless your week!

PS ~ And if you haven't signed up for my free quarterly E-zine you might want to! The next issue comes out in mid-July. A number of my author friends give away free books; I write a devotional and offer some great book recommendations and favorite quotes, and then I leave you with a prayer to send you on your way We have lots of fun together! Here's the link to sign up:

Susie's Ezine...

Rebellion and Obedience...

Greetings, Dear Friends!

Susie Larson here...

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. 

Each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts on my blog. This month's card comes from Starbucks. So leave a comment, share a story or insight, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and a friend!

Now on to my topic...

If you read last week's post you know that I'm going through a number of transitions in life. On top of that I'm working on a new book titled, Growing Grateful Kids: Teaching Them to Appreciate an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Places. This book has me taking many trips down memory lane.

While recalling many of the battles and victories on this journey of faith, I've noticed something very important. Obedience is crucial for us as Believers, and we'll never enjoy the full victory and blessing God intends for us without it.

Every time I heeded the voice of God and obeyed Him even when it cost me, I came out of those times richer spiritually, more aware of His presence, and more sensitive to His voice. When He entrusted me with little and I was faithful, He blessed me with more of Himself (and the opposite is true as well).

When I think of my own kids and the times they chose to respectfully obey me even when it crossed their will, their actions both blessed and honored me. So much so that I blessed and honored them when the time was right. How much greater is God's work on our behalf!

In the book of Samuel, King Saul was given a clear directive from the Lord. And yet he only partially obeyed. Then he made excuses (ever do that?). Read Samuel's response from 1 Samuel 15:22-23 (NLT):

But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. Listening to him is much better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as bad as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you from being king."

God calls for our obedience every single day. He speaks, nudges, urges, and prompts us to be living, breathing representatives of the Most High God. We have to be daily in tune with Him if we hope to fully obey Him.

I remember one day reading an essay written by A.W. Tozer where he explored the difference between the giants of the Christian faith, and those who only blended in. He stated that since God is no respecter of persons, the difference had to be in the people themselves. What he found was quite interesting. Looking back at the Wesleys, Finney, the Booths, and the other greats from our past, he observed that the differences were as stark as the day is long. Some were educated, others weren't; some were rich, others were poor. But what they did have in common is this: these spiritual giants listened for the voice of the Lord and when He spoke, they did something about it. And God entrusted them with more.

Obedience is paramount to living out the gigantic calling on our lives. Not just obeying the commandments; of course do those. But obey in the personal, every day ways. The ways that others may not notice and only you and God know about. Obey when it suits you and when it doesn't. Obey when it costs you and trust Him through it all. 

Let's look at the second part of the verse above:

Rebellion is as bad as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols.

That's a tough verse to swallow and one most people like to brush aside. Just as obedience to the Lord opens the door for Him to work more powerfully in our lives, rebellion opens the door for the devil to work more powerfully in our lives. 

We may think it's cute to be mad at God and to tout an adolescent attitude towards Him when things don't go our way. But these are serious times requiring a serious look at our faith walk. The very fact that rebellion and stubbornness towards God opens us up to untold evil, should put the fear of God in us. Jesus is out for our best. The devil is out to deliver his worst. 

Father in Heaven, 

Raise up a new standard within me! Help me to be more sensitive to Your voice and more apt to obey. Give me the faith and humility to follow You even when it doesn't suit me. Ultimately I know You are writing a beautiful story with my life and You know the best way for me. I love You and trust You. Help me to love and trust You more. Amen. 

Have a blessed and wonderful week!

PS ~ If you haven't signed up for my quarterly E-zine, you may want to! The next issue comes out mid-July. My author friends give away a number of their books. I write a devotional and offer some great book recommendations and wonderful quotes. And I send you on your way with a prayer of blessing. Click on the link below to sign up:

Sign up for Susie's Free Quarterly E-zine!

What's New?

Greetings, Dear Friends!

Susie Larson here...

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way.

Each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So leave a comment, share a story or insight, bless lots of people, and maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and a friend. 

Now on to my topic. 

What is God doing in your life these days? 

That's a question we often asked our boys during their growing up years. In fact, we still pose the question from time to time. 

One of the things I love about God is that He is always working. He is always up to something. The Bible says that daily the heavens pour forth speech and there is no language where His voice is not heard (See Psalm 19). God is always after an increase in our lives. He wants to bring us from strength to strength, from glory to glory. He's moving and He wants us to move with Him. 

When I consider my own life, I see movement all around me. As you can see from the picture above, my youngest son Jordan just graduated from high school. 

And in a couple of weeks, my middle son Luke will marry the love of his life. Our house is quieter than it has ever been. I just finished writing a book that'll release in October, and I just started another book which will release next March (kind of like having a baby, but not really). Amidst all of this change, I'm going through the painful letting go syndrome common to moms of boys. You've heard it said, "A daughter is one that you'll have for life, but a son is only a son until he takes a wife." 

A fellow author friend of mine (also a mom of three boys) once shared these wise words with me: Prepare yourself for the day when your boys get married. It's a drastic adjustment. You go from having the starring role in their lives, to having a bit part. You go from being their number one to being number five, just behind the family pet. For those of us who have been super involved in our son's lives, it's a tough adjustment but one every healthy mother of boys needs to make.

I'm telling you, with one son living in Nashville, one son about to get married, and another very busy with life and quite taken with his girlfriend, I'm feeling that surprising ache in my heart. 

On one hand, I'm so happy for all of them. This is the stuff of life. But their absence reveals another place in my heart for God to fill. And I'm expectant for Him to do just that. 

What I do love about this next stage of life, is the extra time I get to spend with Jesus. I take my time praying, reading, and journaling. My heart is at rest because I have the time and the space to cultivate such a thing. I also love the extra time with my husband, Kevin. 

Even so, as I move into this next season of life, I know I have to let go of the 'mom who takes care of her sons' role, and move into the 'mom who intercedes, loves, and supports' her sons and their future wives. 

In this transitional stage of life, I'm reminded afresh of how steady and sturdy and faithful God really is. He is moving and I want to move with Him to the next places of promise He has for me.

So what about you?

What new thing is God doing in you, around you, and through you? How are you handling it? 

Let's do this together!

Have a blessed week~

PS ~ If you haven't signed up for my (free) quarterly E-zine, you might want to. A number of my author friends give away copies of their books, you'll get a devotional from me, some great book recommendations from me, a couple of great quotes, and a prayer to send you on your way. The next issue comes out mid-July. Click on the link below to sign up:

Sign up for Susie's E-zine... 

Focused and Purposeful...

Greetings, Dear Friends!

Susie Larson here...

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. 

Each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So leave a comment, share an insight or story, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a fun treat!

Since it's the first week of June, it's time to announce May's winner of the $10.00 Starbucks card. Drumroll please...

Kristen (sorry, I don't have your last name, but I do have record of the dates you posted)! Congratulations! Here's the deal: you need to claim your prize by contacting me at: info@susielarson.com (sometime before I award next month's winner). Give me the address where you want me to send the gift card and enjoy a nice jolt of java. Thanks for your recent posts!

Now on to my topic...

During a recent prayer time, I marveled at Jesus' steadfast purpose and focus on His mission. He clearly understood His identity in spite of countless people who completely missed what He was about, or who were so threatened by Him that they plotted His death. He held to His value, kept to His mission, and would not be derailed; not for one second. 

Let's look at a few instances of Jesus' resolute focus on His mission:

After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:2-4)

The enemy tempted Jesus to grab prematurely for Himself, that which God already promised Him (protection, provision, the kingdom).Though weak and exhausted from fasting, Jesus refused to give in to temptation and stayed true to His mission.

Here's another example...

A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" (Matthew 21:8-9)

The crowd that was so quick to praise Him was the very crowd that later shouted, "Crucify Him!" Jesus rode into town on a donkey while the crowds cheered. In the face of shallow praise, He didn't get full of Himself; He didn't hop off the donkey and change His plans; He stayed true to His mission.

Here's one more...

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." (1 Corinthians 11:23)

On the night He was betrayed - while evil men schemed behind His back - Jesus looked into the eyes of His beloved disciples and taught them about communion, about intimacy with God, and about resurrection power. He didn't rally His own allies to combat the gossip and betrayal. He didn't say, "We're going to fight this! Nobody treats me this way!" He willingly laid down His life. And He made sure His disciples had some important time with Him. 

In the face of betrayal, backstabbing, and horrific assault,  Jesus stayed true to His mission. 

Is it possible that we get derailed far too easily?

When we have to wait - we get mad. 

If we have to endure an insult or someone disrespects us - we shake our fists.

If we show up to pray but don't 'feel' anything, we wonder if it pays to pray.

If we give and don't receive a 'thank you' - we pull back and look for a more deserving recipient.

We need deeper roots.

We need more clarity on who we are and why we're here. 

We need more tenacity to hang on to the promises of God - because they are true whether they feel true or not! 

How do we remain focused and purposeful?

We measure every encounter against our God-given mission. We embrace in our core, that we are something special to God and that He has given us authority over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). We earnestly seek after Him to find out His highest and best will for us so we don't waste our time on lesser things.

When we encounter tough times, instead of shrinking back, we're quick to ask this question:

Is this temptation, a trial, or training? 

We remind ourselves every day, that in order to stand in these latter days, we must be gritty in faith, full of love, and abounding in mercy - just as Jesus is with us. 

Dear Father, show us how to be more like You. Make us into ambassadors for Your name. Help us to be focused and purposeful in all we say and do. In trials, storms, and temptations, may we stand strong. In the face of praise, honor, and success, may be remain humble and flexible in Your hand. When others miss us, disregard us, or disrespect us, may we humbly honor You and entrust our reputation to You. Our time on this earth is important; help us to live in a manner worthy of our calling. We are just passing through. We're made to live forever with You. Lord, make us ready! Amen.

Have a blessed week!

Oh, and if you haven't signed up for my quarterly E-zine, you might want to! Four times a year I'll email you an E-magazine with some great book giveaways from my fellow authors, a devotional, some great book recommendations, and a prayer to send you on your way. You can subscribe by clicking on the link below:

Susie's E-zine...

Conviction versus Condemnation...

Greetings, Dear Friends!

Susie Larson here...

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts on my blog. This month's card comes from Starbucks. So leave a comment, share an insight, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a treat for you and a friend!

Now on to my topic...

The other morning I woke up with a little knot in my stomach. I rolled over in bed, stared out the window and prayed, "What's this about, Lord?" Nothing came to me so I sat up in bed, walked over the window and waited for the sun to peek through the trees. I think sunrises and early mornings are one of God's best ideas. Even so, my heart was unsettled and I needed to figure out why.

I grabbed my cup of chai tea, my Bible, my journal, and a few other quiet time necessities and I headed outside to my deck swing. My happy place. I propped up my I-Phone, hit play on my devotional song play list, hugged my warm cup of chai tea, and inhaled the fresh morning air. 

As I listened to the words of a particular song, my thoughts roamed back to the day before. I had run into an old friend-acquaintance. We talked back and forth and caught up on our lives. I was about to share something about my life when the Holy Spirit whispered, "Not safe. Don't share that." I held my peace and listened to my friend's updates. But somewhere later on in the conversation, I went ahead and shared a part of my heart that God specifically had told me not to! She probably didn't notice, but I was instantly convicted that I blatantly disobeyed a very clear directive from the Lord. 

We wrapped up our conversation and I prayed the whole way home. Now this may sound a little thing to some of you, and big-fat-act-of disobedience to others, but either way, I know better. I asked forgiveness. I strongly sensed God's love and forgiveness. And more than anything, I knew He was just trying to protect me. 

So there I sat, hugging my chai tea, completely wowed by the sunrise when I realized that the fist in my gut was condemnation. The enemy had accused me all night long for being a disobedient putz. I woke up feeling pretty bogged down by it all. That's his MO - he seduces you, then accuses you for being such a dope for falling into his trap.

Condemnation throws us down, weighs us down, and intends to keep us down...as long as we are willing to entertain its wretched presence. 

But then there's God. 

His morning mercies are a priceless gift to us. He forgives us and restores and renews us in a moment's time. He uses us on Monday knowing we're going to blow it on Tuesday. His Holy Spirit comforts and corrects us. He directs us and helps us distinguish truth from the lie. He brings conviction when we stray and correction when we need it. 

Like the morning sunrise, the conviction of the Holy Spirit compels us to look up to Jesus; to stand up on His promises; and to rise up from the ash-heap of our self sins and be done with lesser things! 

Romans 8:1 is a blessed promise for us:

There is now therefore, NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! 

Read this wonderful passage from the Message paraphrase:

With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air..(Romans 8:1-2)

May the Lord give us great discernment to quickly distinguish between conviction and condemnation. One protects the freedom we enjoy in Christ, and the other throws us into prison. And it's FOR FREEDOM that Christ has set us free!

Have a great week.

Hey, and if you haven't already signed up for my quarterly E-zine, you might want to! Every few months I email out an E-magazine filled with great things (free book giveaways from some of my author friends; a devotional insight; great book recommendations, great quotes, and a prayer to send you on your way). Click on the link below to sign up...

Sign up for Susie's E-zine...

Do You Know Who You Are?

Greetings, Dear Friends!

Susie Larson here...

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. 

Each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts on my blog. This month's card comes from Starbucks. So leave a post, share an insight or story, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and a friend!

Now on to my topic...

The other day while reading 1 Samuel, chapter 15, I was intrigued and unsettled about King Saul's decline. He started out as a strapping, handsome, capable, unassuming young man with a respect for the things of God. But he evolved into a prideful, insecure, hasty, territorial leader who valued his opinion above God's direction, and this led to his demise. 

In one particular instance, God had commanded Saul to destroy a town because of its utter wickedness. Saul only partially obeyed. And when confronted by the prophet Samuel, Saul was full of excuses, and even threw his own people under the bus by telling Samuel it was their fault. 

Let's read Samuel's response to Saul (from 1 Samuel 15:17-19):

 And Samuel told him, "Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD has anointed you king of Israel. And the LORD sent you on a mission and told you, 'Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.' Why haven't you obeyed the LORD? Why did you rush for the plunder and do exactly what the LORD said not to do?"

Saul had a wrong view of himself and of his importance. And so often, we commit the same sin. When we underestimate the call on our lives, we begin to value our opinion more than God's. We then elevate our emotions, our territory, our wants, and our desires way above our mission and our eternal significance on this earth. 

And what was Saul's response?

He initially denied his disobedience (ever do that?), made excuses (how about this one?), and blamed his fellow comrades (yup, I'm guilty). 

But when Samuel refused to let Saul get away with his side-stepping, Saul finally came clean. Let's read his response because it exposes his wrong thinking:

Then Saul finally admitted, "Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the LORD's command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded...

When a person loses sight of their value and their call, here are some of the side effects:

• Low level of obedience
• Pride and insecurity 
• Fear of other's opinions 
• Loss of eternal perspective 
• Loss of the fear of the Lord   

We must understand how VALUABLE we are to God and that we are DIVINELY CALLED to listen to His voice, to obey Him moment by moment, to change the world for His Name's sake, and to bear fruit that lasts long after we are gone. 

We are treasured in God's sight. We are equipped with all we could ever need to do great things. We are covered by His promises and guided by His precious Holy Spirit. We know His voice and we follow Him.

When we see ourselves as God sees us, we will:

• Walk in a holy confidence (a knowledge that we are something special to God)
• Walk in a holy dependence (a knowledge that apart from God we can do no good thing) 
• Embrace a Kingdom passion (a heart to build God's Kingdom and not our own) 
• Embrace a Calvary love (a heart that grows in its capacity to love others)

May you remember once again how important you are - because you were designed and called by God. May you hold loosely your emotions, your opinions, your territory, and your imagined rights, that you may cling tightly to God's promises and His place in your life. True humility is simply having a right view of ourselves in light of eternity. We are small; we are nothing without Him, but everything to Him.

Have a blessed week!

Oh, and if you haven't signed up for my quarterly E-zine yet, you might want to! Every few months I email out an E-magazine that offers some great book giveaways from my fellow author friends, a devotional, book recommendations, great quotes, and a prayer to send you on your way. Sign up by clicking the link below:

Sign up for Susie's E-zine...

Know...

Greetings, Dear Friends!

Susie Larson here...

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. 

Each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts on my blog, so leave a post, share a story, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a little treat for yourself. This month's gift card comes from Starbucks. 

Now on to my topic...

How do you respond to stress? 

I clench my jaw at night which makes for a powerful headache in the morning. For the longest time I considered jaw-clenching an involuntary reaction to my level of stress. I now realize that when my thinking defaults to stress, my jaw-clenching kicks into gear. 

How about you? What is your default response when things feel unmanageable?  Do you get anxious, mad, overly busy? Or is yours an opposite response? Do you sometimes get so overwhelmed that you camp in front of the TV and eat more than your body requires?

Lately I've been meditating on the wonderful Scripture, "Cease striving and KNOW that I am God." (Psalm 46:10).

Picture two rivers. One with a strong current pushing the waters south, the other, with a steady, powerful current flowing north. God is our True-North. We can either jump in the southbound-river of striving and straining and continually battle the currents of self, or we can hop on an inner-tube and ride the northbound-river of God's power and provision. 

To cease striving is to know - with utter assurance - that God is who He says He is. He is in control, profoundly good, enormously huge, divinely capable, and more-than-enough for us. 

When we step back, take inventory, and thus glean our perspective from our feelings, our understanding, and our own resources, we will undoubtedly find ourselves in the wrong river. We waste  a lot of energy battling our wrong perspectives. When we allow ourselves to get into a tizzy, it's because we've put too much weight on our own abilities and resources. We've become strivers. 

But God says to us: "Stop that. Don't do that. Cease. Cease striving. Cease striving and KNOW. Cease striving and KNOW THAT I AM GOD. I am God. Do you know that? Do you really believe that I spoke the world into being and that I delight in every detail of your life? Your job is to trust and obey. To live by faith. To walk in love. I've got the details. Refuse stress. When you're tempted towards striving and straining, turn away from such thoughts. Hop in My river and let My current take you where you need to go. Peace. I speak peace to you, My precious one."

Proverbs 9:10 is a great verse: Knowing the Holy One results in understanding. When we know Him, we understand why He allows us to walk through hard times (because there's something in it for us). When we know Him, we trust Him. When we know Him, we consider the treasure of His heart more blessed than the gifts from His hand. When we stop striving and hold on to our 'knowing' life - even amidst great difficulty- becomes peaceful, powerful, and completely doable.

Take a deep breath in. And exhale. Know Him more today. Trust Him with your whole heart. He is good. His God. And He is far greater than our minds can comprehend. 

Walk in His presence. Embrace His promises. Count in His provision. 

He is faithful!

Until next week~

PS ~ if you haven't already signed up for my quarterly E-zine, you may want to! Four times a year I email out an E-zine filled with great book giveaways from fellow authors, a devotional thought, great book recommendations, and a prayer to send you on your way. Women love it! Sign up here...

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Blessings!

Just Like That...

Greetings, Everyone!

Susie Larson here!

To those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. 

Each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So leave a post, share a story or insight, bless lots of people, and just maybe, you'll win a little treat! 

It's time to announce April's winner. Drum roll please...

Helen Martin, you are the proud winner of a $10.00 gift card from Target! You have to claim your gift card (before I award next month's winner) by emailing me at: info@susielarson.com

And remember, no using your gift card on nasal spray or toilet bowl cleaner. You have to buy something fun just for YOU! Congrats!

Now on to my topic...

If you read this blog with any regularity, you know that I've been walking through some kind of spiritual battle. Oppression, weariness, and wretched, age-old Lyme symptoms pressed me on all sides. And yet, every time I brought this battle before the Lord, He simply told me to stay focused, keep walking, keep my eyes fixed straight ahead, and put one foot in front of the other. So that's what I did. 

 A pastor/counselor friend of mine once told me about a prayer he often prays during his counseling sessions. After listening to a person's story of struggles and trials, he whispers a prayer, "Lord, show me what's going on in this person's life. Is it a sin or a test?" I love that.

Since I keep a close watch on my life, my heart, my attitudes, and my choices, I knew this particular battle wasn't about sin. I knew the enemy was pressing hard and I knew that in due time, I'd get on the other side of this trial. 

Last weekend I had a speaking event in Maine. On Friday morning I enjoyed a great time of prayer in my hotel room. Just-like-that, all at once, the oppression lifted and joy came flooding back in. I don't understand it, I can't explain it, I just know that I loved it! In a moment, I was my-happy-self again. 

Here's a verse that really spoke to me:

Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on His God (Isaiah 50:10).

Sometimes our angst stems from disobedience or procrastination. The fact is, we are going to be miserable until we do the very thing we know God wants us to do. Are you side-stepping something God wants you to do? Are you procrastinating on a difficult task? I have something to say to you: Do your thing! :) It's more difficult and takes more energy to avoid the task than it does to stop in your tracks and do what you know you should do. The great thing about this scenario is this: there is forgiveness for all of God's children. His mercy rains over us when we bring our putzy ways before Him. We wraps His arms around us, loves on us, and fills us with His grace. Just like that. 

Isn't it great to belong to God?

If your heaviness is from oppression or spiritual resistance, hang on and hang in there. God is developing perseverance, patience, and gritty character in you. Keep your eyes on Him; keep your feet moving on the path He has for you, and don't make any big decisions during this time. No quitting your church, your job, your marriage, or your friendships. Stay the course, resist the devil, submit to God, and in due time, you're breakthrough will come (along with great blessing and clarity about what God has next for you).

I love this quote from my study Bible:

"Patience is not a passive resignation to adverse circumstances, but a positive steadfastness that bravely endures." (p.1751).

Are you in need of a breakthrough? 

Stay close to the heartbeat of God and your breakthrough will come. Just like that.

Have a blessed week!

Oh, and if you haven't signed up for my quarterly E-zine yet, you might want to! A number of my author friends give away their great books. I write a devotional thought, offer some great book recommendations, and leave you with a prayer to send you on your way. Here's the link in case you're interested:

Subscribe to Susie's E-zine... 

Perspectives Far and Near...

Greetings, Dear Friends!

Susie Larson here...

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. 

Each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So leave a comment, share an insight or story and bless lots of people. Maybe you'll win!

Next week I'll announce the winner for April, so be sure to stop back and look for your name!

One more little piece of business. As many of you know, my husband and I co-chair the International Justice Mission benefit banquet in Minnesota, which is coming up on Tuesday, May 12th, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. Kevin and I are sponsoring a couple of tables and would like to extend this special offer to you, my friends in blogosphere. 

We are giving away four free tickets to the IJM benefit (that's a $200.00 value!). You can claim one or all four tickets, IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE MAY 12TH AND CAN MAKE IT TO THE BANQUET, please email me privately at: info@susielarson.com

Now on to my topic...

This morning during my prayer time I spent some time pondering the loaves and fishes miracle described in the gospel of Mark, 6th chapter. 

I don't know, maybe it's because I'm a bit weary and overloaded with work that I looked at this story differently this morning, but I couldn't help but picture the disciples staring out at the sea of people after a long, long day of ministry and wondering if they would ever feel 'caught up'. I imagined Peter running his fingers through his curly hair wondering if he should speak up or not. I pictured the other disciples with sweaty, gritty skin, growling stomaches, and a strong sense of their own inadequacies (maybe I'm projecting too much here). Still, indulge me for a moment.

Let's read a bit of the passage:

By this time it was late in the day, so Jesus' disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late.  Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."  But Jesus answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?" (Mark 6:35-37).

The disciples faced an enormous task. Impossible, actually. 

Jesus looked at the thousands of hungry people and then at his empty-handed disciples and said, "You feed them." 

I don't know about you, but much of my own angst comes from looking at the 'multitudes' of needs and demands on my time and feeling painfully insufficient to tend to them all (which I am - and which the disciples were). 

I love how Jesus brought the disciples' focus back to Him and to what they did have available to them. It's so tempting to stare at the endless task list or the gaping area of insufficiency and despair over its big-ness and our smallness. But we must listen to Jesus say to us, "Look here. Look at me. Open your hand. What do you have to work with? Let's start there." 

Imagine if the young boy in the story would have given his lunch to one other person. That would have been nice of him, but his lunch would have only fed one person. Instead, he gave it to the disciples who gave it to Jesus. Thousands and thousands were fed with baskets left over - from one faithful offering.

Why are we so quick to forget the majesty and the power of our God? 

Even so, we do forget, and that's why we need reminders to adjust our perspective from time to time. 

I think it's good to scan the horizon on occasion, just to get the bigger picture. When discouragement plagues us, it's good to look over our shoulder and consider just how far we've come. When the daily grind begins to feel incidental and inconsequential, it's great to look up, pray, and be reminded once again to press on because there is a promised land up ahead. 

But in the day to day living, I hear Jesus saying, "Look here. Look at Me. Don't try to carry all of your tomorrows today. Open your hand. What do you have? Let's start there. A small seed is all we need."

Someone once said that it's best to 'glance at our circumstances and gaze at Jesus.' 

What do you need today?

Is it time for you to step back and consider how far you've come? Is it time to refresh the vision for your life? Do you have a sense of where is God taking you? Or are you walking around the same mountain again and again? 

May God give you a fresh insight into the landscape He has designed for you.

Or maybe you're feeling a little like I am; a tad weighed down by the demands of life;  you have more tasks than energy and time. But in spite of how we feel, we know that God is God and that He is with us on this journey!

Even so, it's time to scoot in a little closer to Him; it's time to open our hand and show Him our little offering. And it's time to cease striving and know that He is God. More is on His shoulders than on ours. Even when our arms get tired, He's still got us. 

Today I embrace a 'near perspective' - I draw near to the heart of God and leave my list at His feet. I show Him what I have in my hand, not because He doesn't know, but because I need to be reminded that He is perfectly fine with small, insufficient offerings; that's when His glory shines through and His power to multiply is revealed. Then, with His strength and under His direction, I tend to the task He has assigned me today. It's a perfectly simple plan. :) 

I said this at a conference last weekend and I'll mention it here again. Jesus said, "My Father is always working, and I too am working." God is always good and since He's always working, He's always up to something good. May we open our eyes and clearly see what He's up to in our lives!

"Faith expects from God what is beyond all expectation." --Andrew Murray

Be blessed this week! I'd love to hear from you.

Susie

PS - If you haven't signed up for my quarterly E-zine, you might want to! We have great fun. Four times a year you'll receive an email 'magazine' with a devotional, some great book giveaways from my fellow authors, some great book recommendations, and a prayer to send you on your way. Here's the link in case you're interested: 

Sign up for Susie's E-zine...

Keep Walking...

Greetings, Everyone!

Susie Larson here...

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts on my blog. This month's card comes from Target. But you have to promise not to buy any cleaning stuff or dental floss or toilet paper. You have to treat yourself! So share a story or an insight, bless lots of people, and maybe, just maybe you'll win a little trip to Target.

Now on to my topic...

In my new book (releases this October), I tell a story of an Englishman who was a prisoner in a concentration camp in WWII. One day while reading Psalm 91 (the part about people dying all around you, but death not coming near you), and he cried out to God, "Lord, people are dying all around me. Will I die here too? I am young and still want to serve Your Kingdom while on this earth!" 

At that moment the Lord spoke to his heart and said, "Rely on what you've just heard, and walk to your freedom." The Englishman walked to the first gate. The German soldiers aimed their guns at him and said, "Where do you think you're going?" He looked up at them and said, "I'm under the protection of the Most High." The soldiers instantly straightened up, saluted, and let the man pass through the gate. The Englishman then came to the outer gate and the same thing happened again. The soldiers aimed at him and asked him where he thought he was going. When he explained that he was under the protection of the Most High, they too, straightened up, saluted and let him leave the prison camp. 

That young man traveled the countryside and made his way back to England. He later found out that the soldiers secretly referred to Hitler as 'the most high.' Although, the Englishman was truly under the protection of the Most High God. He was the only prisoner to come out of that camp alive. 

Lately I've been feeling like I'm walking through enemy territory with guns aimed at me by the enemy of my soul. I feel the electricity in the air and yet I hear the Lord telling me, "Just keep walking."

I share that with you in case some of you are going through the same thing. 

Psalm 15:2 says this:

Walk straight. Act right. Tell the truth. 

I love the Message version of this verse because it reminds us to keep our head about us. Instead of being distracted by the sense of harassment all around us, we keep our focus, we behave as ones who belong to God, we remember the truth and walk in the truth, and when we apply God's principals to our lives, we know that will come out the other side with our freedom in tact. 

In the 1800's, George Hodges wrote, "Undertake the duty, and step by step, God will provide the disposition." 

I love that. 

Some seasons of life call for sheer focus and obedience. The 'skip to my loo' moments seem far and few between but we know God is on our side. These are the seasons that form character and forge a deeper faith. These are the times when we reach up and grab hold of the promises of God because they're ours for the taking. In due time, the Lord will provide the joyful disposition of belonging to Him, obeying Him, and simply trusting Him. It's amazing to think about, but we are a sheer delight to His heart. And He is watching us every moment, especially when the enemy presses in and makes his threats. 

If you're walking through a time that feels heavier than it should, wait on the Lord, He will renew your strength. See if this isn't one of those times when to obey is to simply keep walking with your eyes fixed straight ahead, on the One who went before you and made a way for you. God is the strength of your heart and your portion forever!

Have a blessed week!

PS ~ If you haven't signed up for my quarterly E-zine, you might want to. I'm telling you, we had a blast with the Amazing Book Giveaway this time. About nine of my author friends donated free books and there was a flurry of emails from women trying to claim them! Also, I write a devotional thought and offer some great book recommendations. Here's the link if you want to sign up:

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