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.

It's time to announce the winner for March's giveaway. And the winner is...Gina Wills! Congratulations! Gina, email me at: info@susielarson.com Send me your address and let me know which gift card you would like (Target or Caribou).

Since spring is upon us (well, only in theory for some of us), I want to add one more gift card to the mix.

If you take the time to post on my blog in April, you may win a $10.00 gift card to Caribou, Target, OR Dairy Queen! Your choice. So drop me a note and say hi!

Now on to my topic.

Every once in a while my husband and I like to put our sons on the spot.

Sometimes when we are all together sitting around the table we will throw a question out there and ask for a quick answer - just to test their instincts and see if they're becoming the critical thinkers we've tried to train them to be.

Here's an example:

"Okay, boys, give us your gut-instinct answer on this one. If you had to choose, what's more important? Loyalty or integrity?"

I love to watch them look out the window or up at the ceiling as they play through a few scenarios in their mind.

In no time at all, Luke spouted out the answer, "Integrity!"

"Why?" I asked.

He replied, "Because if you're loyal to someone blindly, you may end up abandoning integrity to stay by their side."

Bingo.

There are many noble virtues that we should embrace as a part of our walk of faith.

But if we embrace certain virtues at the expense of others, we may put ourselves at risk of wandering way off track. With the exception that is, of Love. Christ-like Love will always keep us on the Christ-like path.

For instance, I care deeply about social justice issues. I care what's going on in the world and as a Christian, I feel a personal responsibility to right some of the wrongs in our day.

But as a mother to two college kids, and as one who loves young people, I've met my share of young adults whose religion has become their stance on social justice issues. As if that's enough.

Jesus calls us to stand in the gap for the weak and the marginalized, but He also called us to die daily and grow abundantly in faith, humility, kindness and love. He exhorted us to keep His Word in us - to hold on to it- that we might easily discern departures from truth.

Especially in this day, when there are so many spin-offs of the faith, we must know the truth and walk in love.

I suppose that's why Psalm 26:3 is one of my favorite verses: For Your Love is ever before me, and I walk continually in Your Truth.

If my sons weren't challenged on a regular basis to think a little deeper, they might consider loyalty such a lost virtue, that it's one worth dying for.'

Well, in a sense, that's true. Loyalty is a lost virtue and our loyalty to Christ is worth dying for.

But if we transfer that loyalty to a person, as if to say, at all costs, I'll follow you and go with you, forever, wherever...then we've thrown out our need to be watchful and discerning in these turbulent times.

I've told my boys over and over again, "You know the promise of wisdom is one of the best kept secrets in the Bible. God promises to give an abundance of wisdom to those who ask for it. Wisdom is worth more than money, but imagine if you found someone who gave you money every time you asked for it. Wouldn't you ask, and keep on asking? Keep asking for wisdom, and you'll receive it more and more. Wisdom will protect you from being easily led astray."

Proverbs 4:6 says, "Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her and she will watch over you.

Proverbs 24:14 says, "Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul, if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off."

Ecclesiastes 7:19 says, "Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city."

I'm very concerned that we live in a day where "Group Think" reigns supreme. People are so spent, so busy, so over-committed, that they don't want to think. They just want to look up to someone they trust or feel good about, and follow them.

Oh, Lord, have mercy!

May we all be provoked to lay hold of the wisdom God has offered us!

May we be so savvy to the truths of God that we are not easily led astray!

And may the Power of the Risen Lord, compel us to live focused and purposeful lives.

In Jesus' Name, I pray.

Have a blessed week~