The Great Adventure...

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.

Before I get into my topic, I have a little business to take care of. As most of you know, each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts a comment on this blog.

And in celebration of my new release, "The Uncommon Woman"

I'm giving away a $50.00 VISA gift card to someone who posts a comment during the month of August! I'll announce the winner next week.

Another way to win a $50.00 VISA gift card is to post a review of 'The Uncommon Woman' on Amazon. You have to be subscribed to my mailing list to win. Once you post a review, email me and your name will go into a drawing. I'll announce the winner in the October issue of my E-zine.

Okay, now on to my topic...

I'm reading a great book right now, written by one of my modern-day heroes, Gary Haugen. His new book, "Just Courage" is of course speaking my language, challenging my faith, and confronting my own need for self-preservation. 

I love it.

The opening pages tell of a time when Gary was back in college, staying up late, sitting in the dorm laundry room, waiting for his clothes to dry. While he waited, he read an essay written by John Stuart Mills titled, "On Liberty". In the essay, written in 1859, Mills described the process by which words lose their meaning. To quote from Gary's book, "He casually offered that the best example of this phenomenon was Christians. Christians, he observed seen to have the amazing ability to say the most wonderful things, without actually believing them." (p.9)

Gary goes on to describe a time when his father took his three sons (Gary being the youngest) on a mountain climb. At one point up the mountain, Gary decided he'd had enough and would rather wait it out in the visitor's center. There, he was comfortable and safe. He read about other mountain climbers and saw pictures of the beautiful flowers that roamed the mountainside. 

Eventually, though, the visitor's center seemed small and stuffy. Gary envied those who had the courage to actually climb the mountain. He realized there was vast difference between those who actually see the flowers and climb the mountains, and those who simply read about such things. When his brothers returned from their adventure, their faces were flush with excitement; their bodies scraped from the climb; and they had stories to tell about their adventure with their dad.

Here's a powerful excerpt from the book:

"In different times and different ways, our heavenly Father offers us a simple proposition: Follow me beyond what you can control, beyond where your own strength and competencies can take you, and beyond what is affirmed or risked by the crowd - and you will experience me and my power and my wisdom and my love...

"...Does this mean I need to abandon the things I do well? Do I have to let go of my source of strength - my gifts, my passions, my training, my expertise? No, I don't think so. Those are good things from God. I think he simply wants us to take them on a more demanding climb, where we will actually need his help, and where he delights to grant it." (pp. 17-18).

A complete side note: Many years ago, I sat on a laundromat bench, waiting for my clothes to dry. With my Bible open to John 13, I pondered these words in a fresh, new way:

"Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist."

Because Jesus knew His identity was not up for grabs or changeable with popular opinion, He could get up from the table and do what the lowliest servant would have done. Jesus climbed mountains and moved mountains. He healed the sick and comforted the poor. And He rubbed the grime off of the feet of friends who would abandon Him that very night. Jesus did things great and small with a consistent dignity because He embraced His identity and was clear about His purpose.

Likewise, when we hold fast to the idea that we came from God, are returning to God, we will be compelled to consider - on a deeper level - what we do with our time here on earth.

Recently I pondered passages from Scripture that reminded me once again, that my work, my life, my efforts will be put through the fire. And only those things done for Christ will last. The Bible says that clearly, some will only get through with their Salvation because their works will not survive the fire (See 1 Corinthians 3 & 4).

The Bible also says that "anything done apart from faith is sin."

These are sobering words for sobering times. 

Works fueled by self promotion, self-preservation, selfish ambition, will not survive the fire. 

Feats attempted with holy confidence and humble dependence will. 

You've heard it a thousand times, we're not called to be successful, only faithful. Although, God loves to grant success to those whose hearts are set on Him. He is thrilled to meet us on a journey we could never make on our own.

You and I are called to faith; to adventure with God to unknown places; to right some of the wrongs in our day; to help the helpless; to take risks with both love and mountains. 

For my final post this month on what it means to be uncommon, please allow me to share one last excerpt from the book:

"May the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, bless you and make you a blessing. May His face shine upon you as you determine to live a life that is pleasing to Him. May you never settle for halfhearted living since you've been offered continual abundance. May you never be content to shuffle on the low road when our Savior has called you to the higher way. May you always be filled to the fullness of God until you reach the other side. May you now, with all of the faith can muster, receive and appropriate the gifts God has given you. I pray you will speak and live with holy confidence and humble dependence. May you determine to live a life of radical love and powerful servanthood. May your life reflect the true meaning of living as an uncommon woman." (p. 194)

Until next week~

Tenacious Faith...

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.

Before I get into my topic, I have a little business to take care of. As most of you know, each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts on my blog.

Well, in celebration of my new release, "The Uncommon Woman"

each week in the month of August my posts will be on the uncommon life. And one of you who posts will win a $50.00 VISA gift card! 

Lots of people visit this site and many people will glean from your insights and perspective. I've LOVED reading your posts. Thanks so much for stopping by.

Now on to my topic...

I just love reading about some of the spiritual giants who have gone before us. Recently I read about the life of Charles Finney and it absolutely knocked my socks off. Currently I'm reading about William and Catherine Booth (the founders of The Salvation Army). I'm telling you, I've added them to my list of heroes. Can't wait to meet them in Heaven.

Catherine was frail of health and spent a good portion of her childhood in bed. Lying on her back and holding her Bible before her eyes, she read it cover to cover and then did it again. If I remember right, Catherine read her Bible through, out loud - 8 times - by the time she was 12 years old!

Catherine and William both had a deep love for Jesus, a tenacity of faith, and an abundance of conviction. What they accomplished by sheer obedience and trust, was impossible by the world's standards, but indisputable nonetheless. Millions of people were saved, fed, rescued, and impacted because two simple people decided to take God at His Word. 

I just have to share this excerpt written by William Booth (taken from Roberts Liardon's amazing book "God's Generals"). Now this is tenacity...

"You must pray with all your might...It means fervent, effectual untiring wrestling with God. It means grappling with Omnipotence, clinging to Him, following Him about, so to speak, day and night, as the widow did to the unjust judge...until the answer comes and the end is gained. This kind of prayer, be sure the devil and the world and your own indolent, unbelieving nature will oppose. They will pour water on this flame...They will talk about impossibilities and predict failures; but if you mean to succeed, you must shut your ears and eyes to all but what God has said, and hold Him to His own word...You must pray with all your might." (p.420)

Beloved Friend, oh, that we'd all be so earnest in prayer and tenacious in faith!

God's promises are true for us!

Here's an excerpt from my book, "The Uncommon Woman":

"What we do with the promises of God is the tipping point in every area of our lives. Whether or not we decide to believe that we have access to the very power that raised Christ from the dead will determine just how uncommon our lives turn out to be. Though we have trials, His promises are true. Though we may not feel Him at times, He's still there. And though the enemy would love for us to settle for less, God gets absolutely giddy when we reach for more." (p. 166)

No doubt you have some significant needs before you. And if you're in a time of favor, you don't have to look too far to find others who are in desperate need of a miracle. 

Jesus calls us to a vested, active, walk of faith. The Bible says that if we stay in step with Him, and confess the sins He brings to mind, and if we do what He says, and if we live by faith, our lives will be conduits to His Kingdom work on earth. This is the stuff of miracles. 

The Bible says that if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him (1 John 3:21-22). This is a huge responsibility linked with an even bigger promise.

Our world needs the miracle working power God has made available to His people. 

Grab hold of His promises and don't let go!

I'll close with a couple of great quotes...

One from A.W. Tozer,

"God is looking for those with whom He can do the impossible. What a pity that we plan only the things we can do by ourselves!"

And this one from Catherine Booth,

"We are made for larger ends than Earth can encompass. Oh, let us be true to our exalted destiny."

Until next week~

Receiving What We Ask For...

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.

Drop me a note and post your thoughts. At the end of this month, one of you will win a $10.00 gift card to Caribou.

By the way, I'm still learning my way around the new changes to TypePad, and for the life of me, I can't figure out how to get rid of the picture boxes above without deleting my whole post. So let's just pretend they're not there. :)

Now on to my topic...

How are things going in your prayer life? Do you feel like you're talking at God more than talking to Him?

And what is the outcome of your prayers? Do you come away more peaceful, more assured of God's presence in your life? Are you seeing answers?

Well, believe it or not, receiving what we ask for in prayer is directly linked to whether or not we know how to rest in God's presence (see last week's post).

Many of you know that I've recently finished up a very busy speaking season. Feeling tired and somewhat worn out, I looked around at all of the things that have been waiting for my attention: my always elusive pile of laundry; my paper work; my bursting-at-the seams email inbox; and my frustrating struggles with health issues. Sigh.

Without even realizing my error, I fell into a prayer mode of begging, pleading, wishing, and whining. I'm almost embarrassed to admit it because I know better, but I believe there's something here for some of you today.

One day amidst one of my not-so-effective prayer sessions, I suddenly saw a picture of myself in the middle of a lake, drowning. Someone was trying to help me but my arms were flailing every which way, and I was in such a panic that my rescuer was having a tough time getting to me.

I was instantly confronted.

My prayers weren't really prayers at all, they were a panic stream of words spewed out to whoever and whatever. There was no focus in what I was saying, no object of my trust, and no faith in my heart.

The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. And sometimes our prayers will be cries of desperation. It won't always be pretty. This is not about our "prayer form" but rather, where we're "praying from."

It bears noting that the "fruit" of my flailing and spewing and angst was anxiousness, frustration, and loss of perspective. Instead of feeling energized and grounded (like I usually do after concentrated times of prayer), I felt that opposite, which proved to me, that I wasn't really praying at all.

John 15: 7-8 says this, "If you abide in Me and My Words abide in you, you can ask what you wish, and it will be given you. This is to My Father's, glory, that you bear MUCH fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples."

I once did a study on that verse and I was surprised to find out that to abide means this: to be held.

If we want to see answers to our prayers, we must learn what it means to rest in Him, to dwell with Him, and to be assured that He hears us when we call.

As soon as I realized my error, I stopped in my tracks and I switched gears. And I did two things. I stood and then I rested. First I stood on the promises of God and on my position of authority in Him. My prayers changed from frantic spewings to prayers like this, "God in Heaven, I belong to You! I will not allow fear or frustration to cloud my view! I am kept and being kept by You. I am rich and being enriched because of You. You will supply all of my needs and I trust You fully. My heart rests secure in You and I am helped."

Then I went out on my deck, put on some music, and watched the wind blow through the trees. I reminded myself that the skies declare the glory of God and the Creator of the ends of the earth never grows tired or weary, even when I do. I rested because I could.

And do you know what happened? Peace came. I completed my tasks with a heart at rest. And I enjoyed myself along the way.

Psalm 91:1 says, "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High God (the God who is HIGH above our circumstances), will REST in the shadow of the Almighty." That chapter goes on to promise provision, protection, and honor for the one who has learned to dwell - to camp - in the presence of God.

Why is abiding and resting in God's presence so closely linked with answers to prayer?

Well, because.

As we stay in step with the Lord, our heart beats in rhythm with His. We begin to desire the things He does. We see things the way He does. And when we pray,we say what He is saying.

God wants to answer our prayers! He wants to fill the earth with His glory. He wants us to bear much fruit so the world will see and say, "There is power in the life of that Believer. Lives are blessed because she walks with God."

If your arms are failing today, take a deep breath, and let yourself float on the water. Look up at the sky and allow the Lord to lead you to a place of peace and provision.

Read this great quote from the 1800's by Pere Hyacinthe Besson:

"Jesus our Lord loves to dwell within a quiet heart, and to come to those who are at peace with themselves; restlessness and anxiety hinder our seeing Him, even when He is beside us and speaking to us."

Be at rest once more O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you, and He'll be good to you again.

Have a blessed, restful week, abiding in Him.