Free to Thank Him...

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 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So share a story or an insight, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and friend!

NEW RELEASE!!!

I am very excited to announce the release of my newest book, "Embracing Your Freedom: A Personal Experience in God's Heart for Justice." 

Bless my socks off and pick up a copy today! I believe the message of this book is an important word for women in our day. Follow the Amazon link below to get a look at my book. Please post a review if you've had the chance to read 'Embracing Your Freedom' (thank you so much!):

Embracing Your Freedom on Amazon...

Now on to my topic...

In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday (blessings to my Canadian friends, I know you already celebrated your Thanksgiving holiday), I would like to take the next four weeks to explore what it means to embrace a heart of gratitude. And this week, in celebration of my new release, let's wrap our arms around the idea of being thankful for the freedoms we enjoy. 

The holidays are before us. And it's about this time every year that our motors get running on overdrive and we keep that pedal to the metal until the morning of January 1st. We wake up with an empty tank, iron eyelids and heavy feet, and we wonder how the last month and a half sped by us in such a blur.

Well, not this year! 

Let's decide together to pull over to the side of the road on occasion and enjoy a sunset or watch the trees blow in the breeze. Let's take a few extra minutes to chat with a friend or enjoy a cup of coffee. Let's make it our practice (for the next couple of months especially), to pause, give thanks, and enjoy the incredible gifts that surround us.

Why? Because we can. 

Here's an excerpt from 'Embracing Your Freedom':

"What an exorbitant privilege to hop into the car and drive to a coffeehouse for a $4 cup of coffee. What a treasured freedom to decide whether or not to go to bed early. Taking our kids to the park, enjoying a day at the beach, devouring Christian books, praying in broad daylight, watching back-to-back movies on a cold, rainy day; all of these priceless gems make us rich indeed.

Has your holy tenacity waned a bit? Begin by thanking God for the blessings you enjoy and the land you currently possess. Walk the boundaries of your home and count every square inch a treasure. Look at the pictures on your wall. They're yours. Trace the outline of the windows that allow you to look out where the birds sing and the sun shines. If you have children, place your hand on their heads and whisper a prayer of thanks. Next time you go to church, look around. Be amazed that you are free to come and go as you please. Notice your portion of land; be thankful for it. Simply by expressing your gratitude to God out loud, you'll bring courage to your heart and strength to your soul. When you start counting your blessings, you'll feel the wind in your sails once again." (pp. 25, 31). 

This week, make it your practice to notice all of the freedoms you enjoy. You can go to Bible study, or to the health club, or to the coffee shop, or even to church, without fear for your life. You are not bound in chains or owned by a vicious slave driver who pushes you relentlessly day in and day out. You have a life. A beautiful, free life. Yes, there are flaws in the fabric, sure there are trials to overcome, but step back - as often as you think of it this week - and marvel at your freedom. Give thanks to God. He's so very good.

And as you do it, you'll say, "Give thanks to God. Call out his name. Ask him anything! Shout to the nations, tell them what he's done, spread the news of his great reputation! (Isaiah 12:4 MSG).

~Until next week...

Comments

[Susie Larson]

Dear Kari,

I loved, loved your post! Oh, I'm so thankful you encountered the living God last weekend! It was a powerful retreat but that's only because there was so much prayer surrounding that event and so many women showed up with expectant hearts. May you continue to walk in the fullness to which your soul is heir. Bless you!

[Susie Larson]

Dear Kimberlee,

I think your post applies to all of us! How different life would be if we continually and consistently embraced gratitude. It's always God's will for us in every situation. Gratitude helps us with perspective and reminds us that God is always good. Thanks for showing up each week, Kimberlee. You are a real blessing.

[Susie Larson]

Dear Kim,

You are so right! "So much of our culture focuses on using our fears to coerce us." So true. Look at movies, books, commercials, advertisements,etc. It's time to build our homes upon the ROCK and to shift all of our hopes, dreams and aspirations to the Kingdom life. When earthly fears are upstaged by Kingdom faith, we will walk triumphantly through this life! PS~ I'm so honored you put one of my books on your Christmas list. Hope you get it. :)

[Susie Larson]

Kathy,

Poetry? I'm so blessed!
Thanks, dear!

[Susie Larson]

Dear Jamie,

You can post about your heart for the hurting, any day of the week! I love hearing testimonies like yours. I tried to visit your blog but the URL didn't work for some reason. Thanks so much for stopping by. Bless you~

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1413474158]

Susie, I had the pleasure of hearing you speak yesterday and Friday at the Grace Church Women's Retreat. I want to THANK YOU for awaking the Holy calling we have as daughters of the Lord, to just lives lives 100% sold out for Jesus. My husband is not yet surrendered to the Lord, and a lot of times it's really scary for me to step out on that limb and just follow hard after God, when I know my husband is not going to join me on that journey. But you have given me the courage to press on in faith. My encounter this weekend with the Living God, the Restorer of my soul and Redeemer, has reminded me how much He loves me, that He hasn't forgotten and He has a plan! You have impacted me, and I WILL impact others for the glory of God. Thank you!

[kimberlee]

I'm so excited that you will be writing about gratitude over the next few weeks!
If I could thoroughly express my gratitude I feel in its entirety to who I am grateful towards (God, family, friends, strangers), then I will feel that I have truly lived. If my gratitude could bless others they way I have been blessed, I would be at peace.
Thank you, Susie, for your weekly convicting blog posts, sharing bits of your life story, for encouraging women with scripture.

[Kim]

Thank you Susie for your inspiration -- so much of our culture focuses on using our fears to coerce us. I appreciate the reminders to trust God and remember our blessings with thankfulness. I love your books and can't wait to read the next one(asked for it for Christmas!)

[Kathy S]

Ah...what more can be said, but AMEN!! I love the excerpt, it has a feel of poetry. Your passion radiates, Susie! Glory to God!

[Jamie E]

I am learning more everyday about His grace being sufficient for the day. The message you and Sara gave about entering into the suffering of others is latching itself onto my heart and God is showing me how He wants this done. I know it isn't exactly relevant to this post, but I wrote recently about an experience I had a few years ago....God Bless.
http://why-not-one-more.blogspot.com/2009/10/i-remember.html