Hidden in Christ...

Greetings, 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. Leave an insight or share a story, bless lots of people and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and friend. And now it's time to announce the winner for the month of July.

And the winner is...Cherie Wilson! Congratulations! (Please email me at: info@susielarson.com and give me your mailing address. You must claim your prize before I announce next month's winner. Blessings!)

Now on to my topic...

At the outset, first let me say that the following post is for the earnest follower of Christ who is not currently living with hidden, willful sin, or embracing an attitude contrary to God's call for us as Believers. As you know, grace isn't a license to sin but rather a net to catch us when we fall. If you walk closely with God and take seriously His refining work in your life (but you're sometimes aware of how far you have to go...), this post is for you...

Last week I posted about what it means to be ONE with Christ. When the enemy tries to single us out, we must stay in rank. When he comes against one of us, he comes against the armies of the living God! He means to pick us off one by one but he won't get away with it unless we step out from the fold, wander it alone, or allow him to make us self-aware.

This week I want to explore what it means to be hidden in Christ. I hear from quite a number of you and I know this for myself as well, it's easy to hang on to past mistakes or to get under condemnation about our yet-to-be-redeemed areas. We are works in progress and yet, God loves us perfectly every step of the way. 

In the meantime, we're going to bump up against people who don't think we're the greatest thing since sliced cheese. They may not like us for the very reason we dislike ourselves at times. Yes, we are not the people we used to be - we grow more like Christ every day - but what about those things in us that still bear the resemblance of a selfish human with feet of clay?

Jesus told His disciples not to worry if someone rejects them, because it means they are rejecting Him. I don't have any problem if someone rejects me or rolls their eyes at me because I have a deep abiding relationship with God. As if I would walk away from a Love that never fails so that a mere human would have a more favorable opinion of me.

But what I have struggled with in the past is the idea that people may still reject me on the basis of ME. Again, not that rejection is the worst thing in the world (although it's not fun), but the thought that my carnal nature would turn someone away, seems quite depressing and tempts me to come under a certain measure of self-condemnation. But as we know, there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 

Galatians 2:20 states something VERY important: I've been crucified with Christ and it's no longer I who lives but CHRIST WHO LIVES IN ME, and the life I now live in the flesh, I LIVE BY FAITH in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me. 

Read a couple more important verses:

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

For you died and your life is NOW HIDDEN with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).

When we say YES to Christ, we become benefactors of all that He is and all that He did to defeat sin and death. He makes us privy to the inner workings of the Kingdom (the Bible says He confides in those who fear Him), He gives us access to His presences and assigns angels to our protection.  When we are in Christ, we are NEW all the way through! And we are surrounded by the armies of the Living God. It's like going from being a civilian to an enlisted soldier - only on a far grander scale. 

Jesus doesn't divide who we are into little sections and only defend the areas of our lives that have been 'perfected' in Him. We are whole and complete in Him right now! We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. So, when people reject, dismiss, or even bump up against the stuff in us that still needs to be refined, He is still our Defender. And if those people are careless with their words, cruel in their judgements, or simply carnal in their response, God will deal with them. We can rest secure in the promise of God's protection, defense, and love. We can be a peace with the pace of His redeeming work in our lives.

Does that mean we don't have to look at the yuck in our lives? Of course we do! But when we walk closely with the Lord, He corrects us within the embrace of His love. He leads us with grace. He refines us with gentleness and patience. And as we block out all the other voices and listen only to Him, we'll not only get where we're going, we'll be more like HIM when we get there. 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. We are never out of His care or His reach. And He is our great Defender. Thank you, Lord.

Have a great week!

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More to the Story...

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 the gift card is from Target. So leave a post, share a story or insight, bless lots of people, and maybe you'll win a few bucks to treat yourself at Target (no buying toilet bowl cleaner or anything like that. It has to be a FUN treat).

Now on to my topic...

Do you have someone in your world that has made a decision about you, has you judged, and won't let you off the hook? Or maybe you have your mind made up about a certain person because of some of the things they've done. You have them pegged in your mind and you refuse to believe anything different about them.

What's a person to do? 

Let's look at Jesus.

In the Gospel of John, chapter one, we read about when Jesus went to Galilee and called Philip to come be His disciple. Philip went off to find Nathanael and told him, "We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth!" 

Nathanael's response? 

"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" 

But Nathanael went with Philip, and as the two men approached Jesus, here's what Jesus said about Nathanael:

"Here comes an honest man. A true son of Israel."

If Jesus was petty, He could have taken an offense with Nathanael. But Jesus always looks at people redemptively. Rather than getting tripped up by our humanity, He sees the destiny written over our lives. He knows we are works in progress and uses us in profound ways though we still have such a long ways to go. 

If Jesus can extend us such grace, how is it that we can be so un-forgiving with one another?

2 Corinthians 5:16 reminds us, "So from now on, we regard no one from a worldly point of view." 

We have to fight sometimes to get that eternal perspective on certain people, that's our cross to bear. As Believers, we must guard our hearts and minds from forming judgmental attitudes and wrong perceptions. We may even be quite convinced that our perception is spot on, but we're wrong. 

There's always more to the story. And God always has a bigger picture.

Jesus is the One who knows things fully - and with all of our dirty information at His disposal, He still loves us. No one can gossip enough to Jesus to make Him change His mind about us! And we aren't afforded the luxury of holding on to past offenses because we think someone owes us. And we are nobody when it comes to judging others. In the whole scheme of things, our judgments hold no weight with God. In fact, it's just the opposite. He distances Himself from the proud, but draws near, and gives grace to the humble. 

When we judge others, we come to a conclusion about them. The very word conclusion is synonymous with: finish, close, and verdict. This is important: There's nothing redemptive about a wrong or limiting conclusion. We do great damage when we assume a conclusion when God is still busy, active, and changing lives every minute of every day.

Jesus is still working in and through all of us! He knows what it's like to be on the receiving end of wrong assessments and judgments. Even today many think He's nothing more than a figment of our imagination. Even so, He is God and He's coming back in all of His glory!

When Jesus died on the Cross, many thought the enemy had won. But there was more to the story.

When we judge others based on what we think we know, we are sinning, and Jesus knows there's more to the story.

When others judge us, we can hide in the shadow of His wing. We can embrace the refining work of the Lord in that safe and precious place. And we can trust Him - the One who has all of the information - to defend us. 

If someone has a snapshot of you when...and they've come to a conclusion about you based on a chapter of your life, refuse to let it weigh you down. They are accountable to God! Rise up and say, "The Lord isn't finished with me yet! He renews! He restores! And I am a work in progress. I'm not who I was. I'm not what I do. I am someone He enjoys!"

Be joyful in the fact that God knows you fully and loves you deeply.

Humbly embrace your own call to love others in the very same, deep and wonderful way.

Lord, forgive me for the countless times I've summed up others because of how they've affected me. Forgive me for forming judgements with only partial information. Forgive me for not pushing past my human tendency to judge when Your spirit inside me calls me to love and to intercede, and to forgive. I want to be a clean vessel used for Your holy work. I want to live with a pure heart that I might see You in every person I meet, because, in one way or another, they were made in the image of God. Make me more like You, Lord. Amen.

"Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Have a blessed Easter and wrap your arms around the power of the risen Lord!

PS ~ If you haven't signed up for my quarterly E-zine yet, you might want to. I'm doing a great book giveaway again. I write some devotional insights, great book recommendations, great quotes, and a prayer to send you on your way. The next issue releases on April 15th; here's the link:

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High Places For You and Me...

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 giveaway a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So leave a post, share an insight or story, bless lots of people, and who knows, maybe you'll win a treat for you and a friend.

This month's gift card is from Starbucks and it's time to announce the winner for March. Drum roll please...Cathy Messecar! Congratulations! Here's the catch: you have to email me to claim your prize (I'm so sorry, I don't have time to track you down!). Email me at: info@susielarson.com and leave me your address. Thank you, Cathy for your wonderful insights.

Now on to today's topic...

During my prayer time this morning, I meditated on this wonderful passage:

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to walk on high places. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me YOUR shield of victory. YOUR right hand sustains me. YOU stoop down to make me great. YOU broaden the path beneath my feet so that my ankles do not turn (Psalm 18: 33-36).

God has high places for you and me. We're going to look at three of those high places:

• The High Place of Humility 


• The High Place of Influence 


• The High Place of Your Heart's Desire 

Just yesterday my husband and I returned from Washington D.C. where we had the privilege of attending the Global Prayer Gathering for the International Justice Mission. My friend Sara once said, "Everyone should experience these two things in their lifetime: Disney World and the Global Prayer Gathering."

It's been years since I visited Disney World and I honestly don't remember much, but I heartily agree that everyone should experience IJM's Global Prayer Gathering! Referring to the Psalm 18 passage above, God used the GPG to lead us to the high places, to train our hands for intercessory battle, to assure us that He is on our side, and that we can thus count on HIS shield of victory and HIS hand to sustain us. Everyone felt the power and strength in numbers and yet such a personal sense of responsibility for the poor, the oppressed, the widow, the orphan, the slave and the human trafficking victim. 

Somehow the folks at IJM managed to make a gathering of nine hundred people feel like an intimate, personal, and profoundly important time.  

Once the GPG ended, a few of us stayed on and went to Capitol Hill to lobby for a bill designated to the rescue of children from human trafficking and slavery. Walking the halls of power was a surreal experience. Advocating for the voiceless was humbling beyond measure. Asking the government to pay attention to this issue reminded me that we all have God-given spheres of influence that seem out of our reach. 

So, just what are those high places God has for us? Here are a few:

The High Place of Humility...

The high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, the Holy One, says this: "I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts (Isaiah 57:15 NLT).

The Lord distances Himself from the proud, but draws near and gives grace to the humble. As we walk closely with Him, we're repeatedly reminded of our need for Him. We get too big for our britches when we go too long without regarding the greatness of our God. When we forget how big He is, we forget how small we are. We're never more powerful for the Kingdom than when we're painfully aware of our desperate moment-by-moment need for the Lord. He considers our humble heart and high and privileged place to reside. Imagine.

The High Place of Influence...

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to walk on high places. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me YOUR shield of victory. YOUR right hand sustains me. YOU stoop down to make me great. YOU broaden the path beneath my feet so that my ankles do not turn (Psalm 18: 33-36).

Here's that passage again. When we dare to take God at His Word, He takes us to high places - places we're not qualified to be, but as far as He is concerned, we're equipped for. He wills that we have influence but not for ego's sake (absolutely not!). He gives us influence that we might help others. We're made strong to strengthen the weak. We're comforted that we might be comforters. We're set free that we might help the captive. He puts gifts in us, and then makes a way for us. His gifts bring us before Kings and people of even greater influence. What a mighty God we serve!

The High Place of Your Heart's Desire...

Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires (Psalm 37:4). 

I once did a word study on this passage and what I found amazed me. While I don't have time to delve into it today, I will say that the essence of this verse is beautiful. The word 'delight' means to be in deep relationship with - to remember and dream together - to enjoy life together - to pamper yourselves together. Sort of reminds me of a healthy, thriving marriage. All too often we come to God and list our needs. But to pamper ourselves in the Lord is to say, "I just want to be with You because You're You. I love who You are." When we dream with God, and recall the ways He's come through for us; when we enjoy sunny days with Him in mind; and when we make the time for restful, intimate moments, we are truly delighting in God. And when we delight in God, He uses all kinds of creative methods to get His gifts to us. He knows where we live. He knows what we love. And He loves giving good gifts to His children.

It's a pleasure and and an honor to walk the high places with God. To which high place is He calling you right now? 

I'd love to hear from you!

Have a blessed week.

PS ~ If you haven't signed up for my quarterly E-zine, you might want to! Each quarter I do a great book giveaway, offer some devotional insights, great book recommendations, and a few other things. Here's the link in case you're interested:

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How Jesus Sees Us...

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 stop by, leave a comment, bless lots of people, and maybe you'll win a gift card to Starbucks!

Also, just for fun, I'm going to do a little giveaway this week. If you've read one of my books and haven't posted a review on Amazon yet, would you do me a favor and post a review? Then email me letting me know you're review is posted and I'll send you a free copy of one of my books (you choose). If I get an onslaught of takers, I'll have to limit it to about five, but let's see what happens. My publisher loves to see new reviews pop up every once in a while. Here's my email address: info@susielarson.com

Now on to my topic...

This morning during my prayer time I was absolutely struck by the way God sees us. In the Gospel of John, Jesus called Himself the Vine and and referred to us as the branches. 

Vine branches aren't strong and sturdy, they are pliable and bendable. And when they're severed from the Vine, they become brittle and, well, dead. Read this great excerpt from my "Believer's Bible Commentary":

A vine branch has one great purpose - to bear fruit. It is useless for making furniture or for building homes. It does not even make good firewood. But, it IS good for fruit-bearing as long as it abides in the Vine!" (p. 1550).

We were made to bear fruit!

Jesus also called Himself the Shepherd and us, the sheep. 

Sheep are vulnerable, defenseless creatures - and not the smartest animals on the planet. They need the Shepherd to guide them and keep them safe. Jesus said, "My sheep know Me, and they know My voice." Proverbs 9:10 tells us, "Knowing the Holy One results in understanding." The more we know Jesus, the more we understand Him. The more we understand His love, the easier it is to follow Him. 

Just as in the Vine analogy where He cares for the branch, the Shepherd lovingly cares for His sheep. Here's an excerpt from my Bible study notes:

"God's knowledge and love for His children involves personal affection, faithfulness, and constant providential care. WE are engraved on His hands. We are never out of His mind, for God's eye continually watches out for our good." (Life in the Spirit Study Bible - p. 1623).

Jesus also compared Himself to a man going on a journey, entrusting His possessions to His servants. We are those servants. We've been entrusted the priceless message of salvation, freedom, unique gifts and supernatural power to make a difference in our world, and Jesus - in no uncertain terms - makes it clear that He is after a return on His investment in us. He expects us to operate on a basis of increase, not decrease, of advance, not retreat.

So, in summary, we're branches - made for a very specific purpose. We're made to stay closely connected to Him. We're made to bear fruit. We're sheep - we're not always smart and pretty defenseless on our own. Yet, for those of us who follow Him, we're protected, provided for, and we have all of Heaven on our side! We're stewards - we are expected to give God a return on His investment in us. 

We have this priceless treasure in these earthen vessels that we might remember that all of the good things that come from us are because of the power of God within us.

We are utterly dependent on God and yet when we partner with Him, He uses us to change the world.

God sees us as fragile and yet significant beings. Though petty and distract-able at times, we are always priceless to Him. Though we are not built for some things, we are made to bear fruit - lots of it - fruit that will last long after we're gone. 

You and I - human as we can be at times - were made for great things.

Isn't that just simply amazing?

Be encouraged today to know that even on your weak and weary days, you are strong in Him. It's okay to remember your need, in fact, it's essential. You need Him. So do I. But wonder upon wonders, He has already made provision for our need!

Blessings to you this week!

PS ~ If you haven't already signed up for my quarterly E-zine, you might want to! Four times a year I email out a E-zine filled with fun book giveaways from my fellow author friends, devotional insights, great book recommendations, cool quotes, and a prayer to send you on your way. Here's the link to sign up:

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A Deeper Hunger...

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, and bless lots of people!

Well, it's time to announce the winner for February. Drum roll please...

Congratulations to Kimberlee (you posted on February 26th), you won a $10.00 gift card to Starbucks!!! Here's the catch. You have to email me to claim your prize. I wish I had time to chase you down but I don't. :) Here's my email: info@susielarson.com

Now on to my topic...

Last week I posted about the importance of being purposeful in the way we walk out this faith journey. Especially in these times. Please read it if you get the chance. This week's post sort of piggy-backs on last week's post. 

Recently Deuteronomy 8 has been swirling around in my heart and mind. Let's read a passage from that chapter: 

Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers.

Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 

Many people are going through a testing time right now. In different ways, many of us are 'going without' things we are used to having or things we have taken for granted. For me, it's food. I'm very limited with the kinds of food I'm able to digest. So, 'manna' for me is God's grace to eat the same few foods day in and day out.

Maybe you're used to having more money than you do now; or maybe you're used to having more time; less stress; better health; stronger relationships; a greater level of respectability; a title; a strong sense that people understand you; a job; a marriage; a best friend; a church; a strong sense of God's direction. The list is endless. 

We are in a testing time as a nation. And Believers are definitely feeling the sifting in their souls. 

What does this have to do with the passage in Deuteronomy 8? Here's the parallel: Right now (much like the Israelites), I believe the Lord is allowing His people to go without certain things to test what is in our hearts. If we're honest, we will admit that certain things surface in us when we don't get our way. 

God knows what's in our hearts. He's showing us what's in our hearts. Our maturity is revealed when we lose things we are used to having. Will we still obey the Lord? Will we continue to humble ourselves before Him? Our hearts are tested in this process, revealing what's inside of us. It's a humbling process but God's grace is sufficient for us.

He wants His people to stand strong during these turbulent times. And if our security is a false one, we will stumble and fall. Now is not the time to be grabbing for quick fixes to fill in the gaps of what's missing in our lives. Now is the time to shift every hope onto the Rock of our Salvation. 

What's the manna for you and me? It's the daily mercy and grace God offers us. Whatever we we are missing in our lives right now, God's grace is more than enough to see us through. In fact, His grace is better for us than getting our way. His presence surpasses the surface satisfaction we enjoy when we get what we want; His Word actually delivers us from our earthbound tendencies and transforms us into people who are free and not bound by the things of this world.

And why is this important? Because we must learn in the core of our beings, that we don't 'get life' from getting our way or from having what we want. We as Believers live by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God. 

We 'go without' so that we may learn to hunger more for Him. 

In whatever area we are going without - there's a promise available to us.

The Deuteronomy passage tells us that we live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. When our attitude flares or anxiety ruffles us, there's a WORD within God's 'every Word' that's specific to our situation. 

The solution then, is not to get our way, but to trust in the ll knowing ways of the Lord and to mine the Scriptures that we might find the inheritance verse that speaks to our situation. He tests us and refines us that we might, more and more, find our deepest needs met in the object of our deepest desire. Jesus Himself. 

He won't let us go. He's just teaching us to rely more on Him and less on the things of this world. He loves us so very much. 

Until next week.

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