Now is the Time!

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 I'll give away a gift card from Starbucks. So leave a post, share a story or comment, and bless lots of people!

Now on to my topic...

Years ago I worked as an aerobic coordinator for a large health club system. The owners were meticulous when it came to excellence and customer service. We were drilled every which way about our mission, our customer, our goals, and how to implement those ideals into our specific departments. So, when we received some kind of recognition for excellent customer service, we weren't exactly surprised because it was something we worked hard at, something we had been aiming for. As you know, you don't just happen on upon excellence, you aim for it.

For those of you who've heard me speak or read this blog with some regularity, you've probably heard me say to 'get out your buckets!' About seven years ago the Lord spoke to my heart that in the future, He planned to release a great outpouring on the 'expectant' Church. His word to me: Get out your buckets! Prepare for rain! Prepare the soil. Remove the rocks of bitterness or the weeds of wasted time and cultivate an atmosphere for growth in your life. Plant lots of seeds of faith on behalf of your family, your nation, and the world. Be ready so that when the spring rain comes your planted seeds will spring up and produce a mighty harvest.

As I spend time with the Lord, I so strongly sense the urgency of the hour. While the world is running to and fro, completely freaked out by this economy (it is troublesome, that's for sure), a remnant of the Church will see its finest hour. 

In the Gospels we read about the virgins who had oil in their lamps (they were expecting their Groom to return), and the virgins who didn't have enough oil in their lamps (they got tided up in the affairs of life and were not prepared or expectant). Now is the time to fill our lamps with the oil of an intimate walk with God! Now is the time to plant seeds of faith by giving to those in need, fully believing that God supplies all of our needs. This is not a time to shrink back, it's a time to step up! 

Just as I worked very hard at excellent customer service and aimed for the target set by my employer, I work specifically to cultivate a listening lifestyle. I'm not surprised when God speaks to me because I order my whole day around giving Him room to communicate with me. Always, I try to keep an ear bent toward Heaven. Not that I do it perfectly, but I'm aiming at intimacy, I make choices to that end, and I know I have oil in my lamp. 

Things are going to get tougher before they get easier and we don't want the church running scared with the rest of the unbelievers. God's promises are true! He gave us plenty of warning and instruction not to get tangled up and bogged down by the cares of this earth. 

No matter your situation, stop for a moment today and set out your buckets of expectancy. Name them. Find Scripture to support your requests. Bring them before the Lord every morning. Give to the poor and to those who have less than you. Pray for your family and for the lost around you. Stand on the side of justice. Walk in faith, hope, and love. 

God is about to pour out a fresh and powerful time of refreshment for the Believer and I believe, to the extent that you prepare your soil now, will be the extent that you'll reap a harvest of righteousness later. 

God bless you, dear friend!

PS - If you haven't signed up for my quarterly Ezine, you might want to. A bunch of my author friends give away some of their books, I write a devotional thought, offer great book recommendations, and give you a prayer to send you on your way. Here's the link:

Sign up for Susie's Ezine...

Comments

[Stephenie]

Thanks for explaining the buckets. I love the idea of living in expectation. I would love to read another post about this.

[Laurie]

I love the comment, "you don't just happen on upon excellence, you aim for it." There are some specific areas I need to get my buckets out for. I have a son, not walking with the Lord, and its so easy to look at the circumstances and not have my buckets ready. It is easy for me to watch for him to do wrong instead of expecting his passion for Christ to be seen. Thanks for a word in due season! God uses you so often to speak to my heart. You are a vessel of honor.

[Connie]

Thank you for helping my understanding of readying my bucket. I am struggling on my walk with the Lord so need all the nformation and prayers I can get.

[liz]

Ohh Susie....I too was just in prayer and dwelling in some quiet time reading Daniel chapter 4. Some of those very same things God put in my heart; I too have stepped up in giving of the time, talents and resources God has generously provided. Over Christmas you talked of blessing someone(KTIS) I've been in prayer for our next door neighbor and inviting her to join us at Westwood Community Church for worship services since she moved here late last Fall. I asked God to give her (my neighbor) some of the light He (the Lord) has given me, as she (our neighbor) is experiencing very dark times. Long story short, she called Saturday to thank me for doing a few nice things for her that day and to share that she is reading the Bible we gave her. A few months back i was at Northwestern asking God "what could i get for our neighbor that would draw her to you? God prompted me to pick out a Bible, a Bible cover, a highlighter, a "nice" pen and a name card with her name and an explanation of her name. She (our neighbor) commented "I can understand this Bible" it was one by Charles Stanley. Oil in the lamp is a awesome thing ! That reminds me.. light in the darkness...this is a very intentional thing for our family, we have a few lights that we leave on all night,( in trees, draped over adirondack chairs and a spotlight on a rod iron cross) For our family, this is our small way of being light in the darkness. It shines beautifully in the darkness just like each of us when we are grounded, living, abiding, hidden in you Jesus, just like scripture says. Love ya Susie ! take care , eternal blessings. liz

[Helen]

Hey Susie,

Thank you for the email "heads up" and feel free to inundate my inbox any time!

I hope you are well.

So you're saying I have to be brave and bold, and expectant, too?

Oh, all right!

:-) Helen

[Kristi Butler]

I love your analogy of "buckets of expectancy"! I'm thinking, "Lord, Bring on the rain!!!"Thank you for your words and your insight!Blessings!

[Jamie]

Thank you for your emails. They seem to come at the times when I need them most - and I don't realize I needed them until I read your emails! =) Thank you!

[Linda Apple]

Hi Sweet Sis.

I will meditate on this word and hear what the Holy Spirit has to say to me about rocks and weeds because he knows my heart much more than my soul wants or allows me to know.

The word I am hearing from the Lord is "it's not about me" and how important it is to obey even if I'd rather not in order to save face.

It isn't about me if obedience is necessary to heal others. So it isn't surprising for your exhortation to bring about the need for me to examine myself.

I love you lots,Linda

[Lydia Smith]

Thank you for your encouraging words. A few months ago the Lord drew me to some scriptures in Isaiah 43 and 44 in which He says he will do something new, bring rivers in the desert(43:19), pour out water on thirsty land and streams on dry ground. And that our descendants will spring up among the grass like poplars by springs of water(44:3)First however, He says "Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past"So your words are a great reminder to remove the rocks of bitterness, prepare the soil, and get ready for a soaking rain! A great reminder to not become stagnant and let our ground lay fallow!

[Sue K.]

Thank you so much. What a wonderful blessing. After feeling like I'lve really been living a lazy walk with the Lord I just started getting up earlier to spend some time with Him. This reminds me how important it is for me not to neglect that time and to keep it up. Thank you Susie.

[Lynn F.]

Susie,When I saw the word "expectancy" I got so excited. Just today I was talking with my sister, Cathy, and she asked me "What is up with you? You are so wound up!" I answered that today I am focusing on having expectancy for good from the Lord, even though the world is being shaken right now. We are to have hopeful expectancy, as well as a watchful eye to the sky! Love it. You bless me. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives. I believe with all of my heart that God will watch over and keep His own through very hard times. Amen!Lynn

[Kathy S]

As we labor in prayer, and it seems so...quiet, I remain aware that one day the sky will pour forth the quenching rain we are anticipating and we will see transformation around us. This is confirmation of what the Lord keeps reminding me of...Wait, I say, wait on the Lord!

Thanks Susie! I am really enjoying The Uncommon Woman. Looking forward to the Set Apart confrence!

[Shell D]

As we did our study using your book Uncommon Woman last night, our special ladies continue to be blessed as you 'nurture' us through times in our lives and help us to grow deeper by, with and through Him. While this book wasn't meant for group study, and we don't use the questions so much at the end since they are personal, we have been so blessed. We've just finished the 'Promises' chapter. What joy I felt as I prepared to lead last night and how more in tune I realized we should not be static in waiting for His promises to come but to GO FOR IT; Claim them, rejoice in them and give Him the glory for them. We look forward to the next 2 weeks when we will be finishing this study...but it will not be the end but only a new step in becoming an Uncommon Woman!

[Linda D. McMaster]

Thanks Susie, for the email which I received today from you,and possibly others who may have felt your prayers,as I did. God has been my closest friend in times like these, I can thank him for this. Yet I do know that God's Holy Spirit is there all the time, and as in Ps. 139 his presence is with us always even unto death no matter where we are, and that his Love will be revealed someday and we will be like him, those who look for his coming. I found your devotion to day to be very inspiring, and heartfelt. Preparation has been something that I was just last night discussing with a neighbor, and as she and I were talking she brought up the idea of the negative in the world today, and what we were going to do, and I went to bed with not this necessarily on my mind, but I did pray, and have the knowing feeling that no matter what ever happens in our life that we are reminded to be about God's business, and I also know that in II Tim. 1:7 we are not to have a spirit of fear, nor timidity, but of love, and power of a sound mind, and self-discipline. Now,this is a lesson that as we trust our heavenly father we do Fear respectfully, yet we have no fear as Christians (believers in Jesus) and Peace that does pass all understanding. Thanks again, and as you go through the end of another month soon, it is my Prayer for you in your Ministry as you do God's work. Bye for now, God Bless, Lind D.

[Renee V.]

Thank you Susie for this timely encouragement! I have started back on the path to healthy living and it is a trial for me at times. I know that I need to be physically prepared for life as well as spiritually. I appreciate your prayers and your example!I'm getting my buckets out, aiming for excellence!

[Terri Sanderlin]

Dear Susie,Thank you for the encouragement today. I do need to remember to pray expectantly!Terri

[kimberlee]

I am so excited! I think that an uncertain time gives opportunity for revival. And we are seeing God in the move in our church. There have been about 10 baptisms in our church the past couple months. (And we're not Baptist).The urgency has been nagging me to pray for my father-in-law's salvation. We love him so! A couple years ago he expressed to us that he "got" mercy and what Jesus did for us. But that's as far as it went. I am praying the Holy Spirit will enable him to accept Christ now. Please pray with me for his salvation!

[Karen Musser]

Thnk you for the prayers. I need to be reminded of the fact my lamp needs to be full. The Lord is in charge and to trust Him with all my heart. I pray we all hear Jesus in his sweet voice to continue in his way. To know the word of the Lord and to follow in it. No matter what is happening in my life it does not change who He is. Hang on to him and He will direct your path.

God Bless

Karen

[Rebecca]

This is so good Susie!I'm so thankful that the Lord can use the internet and emails to share His message through faithful followers like you.God bless you and protect you as you continue to surrender to Him.Jeremiah 29:13 says,"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."I also LOVE the verse you quoted in your email, Mark 4:24-25"Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given - and you'll receive even more. To those who listen to My teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them."This reminds me how very important it is to journal, and even if I think it's time consuming, I'm going to keep doing it.

Love & peace,Rebecca~

[Jami]

Susie - I love this post! This whole concept of living in expectation of Him has become my montra (sp?) of sorts. I believe so strongly that He wants to show Himself to us and He does it daily - more than daily really!!

I've read your book The Uncommon Women and it truly has changed my life. Recently I gave away a copy of it on my blog because I want others to read it too.

God has put a burning fire in my belly to share His truth with the next generation especially! Without REAL VIBRANT and OBEDIENT relationship with Jesus - it is not possible to experience abundant life. I am incredibly thankful for the Lord!!

Your book has really convicted me about how WRONG gossip is. I used to just call it "venting" to my husband but I've realized how damaging it is to my relationship with the person I'm "venting" about. I've been committing daily - with God's help - to not gossip and truly my life is being changed!!

I am so thankful for you Susie!! God bless!

[Susie Larson]

Dear Stephanie,

Thanks for your comment! I will write more about expectancy in the future (it's a big part of my own faith journey). If you look in the archives, you'll notice a number of posts on it as well. Bless you!

[Susie Larson]

Dear Laurie,

Thanks for your comment! I am excited that God is raising your level of expectancy! I think we all get caught up in the daily-ness of life and before we know it, our focus is on what's NOT instead of WHO HE IS, don't you think?Blessings to you!

[Susie Larson]

Dear Connie,I'm so sorry to read that you are struggling in your walk with the Lord. I'm going to pray for you right now...Dear Father in Heaven, please wrap Your loving arms around Connie and allow her to sense Your presence. Please strengthen her frame and renew her perspective. Draw her to Your Word and remind her of the inheritance she possesses because she belongs to You. Fill her up again with a fresh and holy fire. Bring springtime to her soul. In Jesus' Name, I pray, Amen.

[Susie Larson]

Dear Liz,

I LOVE this story! What a shining light you are! These kinds of stories encourage and challenge the rest of us. I also love the idea of keeping a light on. Bless you for your shining example.

[Susie Larson]

Dear Helen,

Your post made me laugh. I think you are probably already all of those things. God bless you!