Take Time to Marvel...
Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 12:33PM 
Greetings, Dear Friends! Susie Larson here! And to those visiting, I say welcome!
I post most every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way.
Each month I giveaway a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So leave a post, share a story, and maybe you'll win a treat for you and your friends.
Time to announce November’s winner: Melinda Taylor, congratulations! Email me at: Susie@FaithRadioNet.com with your mailing address and I’ll get your card in the mail!
Now on to my topic...
Today...this week in fact, I ask you to pause and do a little marveling. Ponder right now, who God is and what He has done for you. Read this great excerpt from my 'Believer's Commentary':
"The converted person boasts in the Lord - not in his own character or achievements. When we understand the gospel of grace we realize that we did all the sinning and He did all the saving. So our boast must be in Him alone." (p.596)
We did all the sinning. He did all the saving. He is good to us every single day. Even when we don't notice it.
What does it mean to marvel?
To marvel means to: be amazed, be surprised, be astonished, be awed, stand in awe, wonder, stare, gape, be dumbfounded, be flabbergasted.
Let's look at scene right out of the Word of God:
Jacob left Beersheba and went to Haran. He came to a certain place and camped for the night since the sun had set. He took one of the stones there, set it under his head and lay down to sleep. And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground and it reached all the way to the sky; angels of God were going up and going down on it. Then God was right before him, saying, "I am God, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. I'm giving the ground on which you are sleeping to you and to your descendants. Your descendants will be as the dust of the Earth; they'll stretch from west to east and from north to south. All the families of the Earth will bless themselves in you and your descendants. Yes. I'll stay with you, I'll protect you wherever you go, and I'll bring you back to this very ground. I'll stick with you until I've done everything I promised you."
Jacob woke up from his sleep. He said, "God is in this place - truly. And I didn't even know it!" He was terrified. He whispered in awe, "Incredible. Wonderful. Holy. This is God's House. This is the Gate of Heaven." (Genesis 28:10-17 NLT).
It's so easy get sucked into the rat race of life and completely miss the idea that there are angels all around us; encamping around those who fear the Lord; serving and assisting us; going with us on our journey through life.
We are not alone. Not even a little bit. Far greater are those who are for us than those who are against us. May the eyes of our hearts open up this holiday season; may we be more keenly aware of God's divine presence all around us. May we understand on a deeper level the resources and assistance to which we have access. Imagine. God, there for you, pulling for you. The Son, interceding for you day and night! The Holy Spirit nudging you, correcting you, convicting you, assuring you - all for your benefit. The angels, assisting you, cheering for you, protecting you. You are someone important!
Last year around this time I had a number of heavy things weighing on my heart, when all of the sudden Selah's Christmas song, "Joy!" came on the radio. Instantly my perspective lifted and my heart swelled with joy. I hopped out of my sink (oh, um, that's where I sit to do my makeup), and I started dancing around my bedroom. I was doing a happy dance. The Marvel Dance.
Try it today. Put on a great song. Look up. Make yourself smile (I don't know why, but this does something for the soul), and do the Marvel dance.
In quieter moments, marvel with your heart's perspective. Be amazed; be astonished; wonder and stare at the story of the Christ-child and be in awe that He would hand Himself over in such a vulnerable way. For you.
Regardless of the state of things around you - marvel today because you are surrounded by a host of heavenly angels cheering you on; hear the noise in Heaven; they're all talking at the same time! But there's harmony because they all want the same thing for you: To live in the light of God's presence, and to walk out the divine, world-changing call on your life. Marvel at that thought of it.
Smile today. Keep Smiling. Dance today. Keep Dancing. Marvel today. Keep Marveling.
Until next week~
PS - If you haven't signed up for my quarterly E-zine yet, you might want to. My next issue comes out on January 5th and I have a stack of fun books to give away! Here's the link: www.susielarson.com
Reader Comments (9)
I marvel that God of all heaven and earth would choose to fellowship with us and bring his beautiful glory to share with us on earth! I am speechless and undone. I'll play Jesus Culture music or Jeremy Riddle and feel his presence! He loves us beyond our comprehension! I feel the more i stopped leaning on my understanding and completely trust Him, he guides my feet! It is a peaceful easy feeling! I love your blog! Thank you for taking the time to share it! I hope you enjoy the Christmas season!
Wow! This was the same passage in my morning devotional. I really believe I needed to hear this, take it in, believe and trust it is true for me and for all.Tears are filling my eyes as I write.My heart has been heavy but my God is so much more than I could hope or dream of. Thank You Jesus! Thank you Susie your words have helped me many times. God Bless!
loved todays blog very much, especially the quote,, we did all the sinning he did all the saving.. amen
What a great post! With some recent unfoldings divinely orchestrated, I did my very own Happy Dance! a few evenings ago.. God is up to something good, very good in each of our lives. 'Tis the Season I believe where many women of faith and favor will be fine-tuning their
God-given giftings, listening deeper, standing taller and proclaiming 'let's go!' -- I've got some things to do, words to say and Father's business to attend to! I am blessed, inspired, encouraged, comforted and strenghtened by your 'being about the Father's business Susie Larson through ALL of your outpourings. Merry Christmas and many more Happy Dance! Days Susie and women of faith!
I love this post!! My mom's name was Marvel. She passed away in 2002 from breast cancer. She was a wonderful woman, who loved to dance and enjoyed life. I marvel at the impact she had on other people. She was generous to everyone. She is definitely my angel. Do you know where that "Marvel" ornament came from? I'd love to have one.
Thank you for inspiring us every day with your blessings!
Oh Susie, thank you! My Mom was diagnosed with stage four cancer last week. It's been a hard fought marvel this Christmas season! The word God has given my heart to focus on this Christmas season is present, he is present with me, Jehovah Shammah, the Lord who is near. The word he's given my Mom is goodness. I marvel that even in the midst of pain and sorrow God has drawn near to show his goodness! I have no doubt of it, he is good and will do all things to bless his children with his goodness and presence.
....."But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."
So much to marvel about dearest Susie!! Merry Christmas Sister in Christ! XOXO
I love to marvel...Great blog post. Thanks for leading me back to those verses in genesis. May you have a very merry and joy- filled Christmas!
Dear Susie,
Thank you for such a wonderful blessed message, what an awesome God we serve, thank you so much for this inspiring message, May I read it in church on Sunday.
Hope to hear from you, God is doing a wonderful thing in our lives, God bless you and Much love in the lord.
Thanks very much
GLENDA GITTINGS