Nothing and Everything...

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 and challenge your faith along the way.

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

Anna J! ~ Please email me to claim your prize and tell me where I should mail your gift card (info@susielarson.com) Congratulations!

In celebration of my new release, 'The Uncommon Woman', this month I'm giving away a $50.00 VISA gift card to someone who posts on this blog. 

Each week I'll post on what it means to be uncommon, and I want to hear from you! Share with us your own divine insights and perspectives. Lots of people visit this blog each week and even if they don't post, they're reading what you have to say.

Now, on to my topic...

At the opening of my book - the first section in fact - I make this statement, "The Uncommon Woman understands that paradox that she is nothing and everything."

In order for us to rise above the petty fray and to live up to our privilege as ones who belong to the Creator of Heaven and Earth, we must see ourselves in the proper light.

We are nothing without God. 

We can do nothing of substance - nothing of lasting value - apart from Him. We need His influence and His life-giving power operating in us and through us every moment of the day. 

If left to ourselves, we quickly become self-aware. We become strivers instead of 'resters.' We become 'grabbers' instead of 'releasers.' We become motivated by fear instead of by faith. Even on our good days, our good deeds amount to a pile of grimy rags (because that's what the Word says). 

To live up to the high calling that's ours in Christ Jesus, we must have a clear and sober view of ourselves. We love people, we love ourselves, but we put our hope in God. He stoops down to make us great (See Psalm 18:35).

But here's some really GREAT news: We may be nothing without Him, but we're everything to Him.

He's written our name on His hand. He thinks about us every day. And though the enemy accuses us day and night, Jesus intercedes for us every minute of every day.

He's pulling for us, cheering for us, rejoicing over us, singing songs of love for us, He's leading us, guiding us, providing for us, and correcting us when we need it. He forgives, restores, and replenishes us because we need it. He sends new mercies our way every morning and declares His faithfulness during the dark nights of the soul. He is strong and mighty. He is faithful and true. 

He has His eye on you and me and He delights in using us for His grand purposes. 

With God at our side, nothing will be impossible for us. In our weakness He is strong. When we have faith - even mustard seed sized faith - He will move mountains on our behalf. 

What a privilege and honor it is to belong to the One who knows each star by name.

How is it that we stray from His majesty and dare to think we are more than we are? Even so, He knows us intimately and loves us deeply. He knows we are dust and yet He cherishes us just the same. 

Amazing love. 

Read this great quote from Brennan Manning:

"Uncontaminated trust in the revelation of Jesus allows us to breathe more freely, to dance more joyfully, and to sing more gratefully about the gift of salvation."

Isn't that just grand?

And the following is a quote from my own book (PS ~ the term 'accepts acceptance' is borrowed from Brennan Manning and referenced in my book):

"Accepting acceptance means having the courage to face your foibles without it diminishing your value. Accepting acceptance means refusing to let others define you, because God already has. Accepting acceptance means cherishing the fact that you've been bought with a price, and thus embracing the call to become more and more like Christ every day." P.23

The idea that we are 'nothing and everything'  to me, makes the narrow road a bit more narrow. It's the place of humility and power, of holy confidence and humble dependence. It's the place where miracles happen.

May we embrace this beautiful truth today.

Blessings to you all~

Shaken...

Greetings, Dear Friends!

And to those visiting, I say welcome!

Susie Larson here...

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 gift card to give away. And the winner is...Rebecca Marshaw! Congratulations and thank you for stopping by week after week. Please email me at info@susielarson.com to claim your gift card.

Each month I give away a $10.00 gift Caribou Coffee gift card to someone who has posted on my blog. Leave a comment; you may win a nice treat!

I'm excited to announce the release of my new book, "The Uncommon Woman"

We have lots of exciting things going on as a result. Visit my website for more information. One thing I'll share is especially for you. In August instead of giving away a $10.00 gift card, we're giving away a $50.00 VISA card as well as several copies of my new book. Each week I will post on what it means to be uncommon and I want to hear from you! If you post, your name will go into the drawing. Drop me a line and say hi!

Ahhhh...And now on to my topic...

I've talked to a lot of people lately (myself included...yup, that's right; I do talk to myself on occasion) and you know, there's a whole lot of shakin' goin' on!

Many people have expressed an unsettling feeling; a sense that change is coming; and a profound awareness of their own frailties and weaknesses (myself included).

Whatever is not grounded in Christ, whatever is not nailed down in our character is being stirred up!

This past Sunday, before church, my husband and I sat out on the deck and talked about the countless ways God has been faithful to us. I turned to Kevin and said, "You know, five years ago, I sought hard after the Lord and asked Him for a vision for my next place of promise..."

If you've heard me speak, you know I firmly believe that we are called to go from strength to strength; from glory to glory; shining ever brighter until the full light of day (See Psalm 84:7 and Proverbs 4:18). The righteous shall live by faith. Without faith it's impossible to please Him. And there's a 'next place' of promise for all of us.

I continued with my husband, "Five years ago, God gave me a very clear sense of His plan for me and since then, all of those things have come to pass. But with all of the 'shaking' going on, I've not asked God for a fresh vision for my future. I've been more motivated by fear than by faith. I'm more aware of my weakness than I am His strength."

Together we came to the conclusion that the Lord deserves our highest and best. We bowed our heads, we confessed our own lack of faith, and we asked God for a fresh perspective and vision for our future. As soon as we said, "Amen" I was filled with faith and peace.

Within the past few days, some mighty opportunities have come our way. Not what I expected. Not something I feel qualified for. But instead of looking down, my faith compelled me to look up.

This morning during our prayer time on the deck I told Kevin, "You know, I'm glad God allowed that little sifting time because it forced me to reconcile every shred of unbelief in me. In so many ways it feels like our lives are about to change, but I can trust Him. I know it." 

Are you currently experiencing a time of sifting or shaking? Pay close attention to what God is putting His finger on in you! Maybe you're trusting more in your ability than His. Maybe you're more motivated by fear than faith. Just maybe, He wants to do a BIG thing, and you're expecting He'll do noth-ing. 

Put everything on the table, all of your hopes and dreams and fears, and then step back and say, "You get to decide how this goes, Lord. My times are in Your hands."

If He's shaking that which is unsettled in you, it's only because He wants you prepared to go to the next place He has for you. And be sure of this - He has a next place of promise for you.

Be blessed and full of faith this week.

He is faith-FULL.

Rest and Replenishment...

Greetings, Friends!

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. It feels like ages since I've connected with you although it's only been a short time. Two weeks ago I was in North Carolina attending a writers conference, and last week, I was in recovery mode after our hugely successful benefit dinner for the International Justice Mission.

You may notice this post looking different these days. Well TypePad has kindly imposed some "improvements" to this site that have left me pulling out my hair and wanting to jump and and down and scream. How's that for a peaceful picture? This morning I had my blog all ready to post and if can say this, I loved what I wrote about rest and replenishment. I pushed the "Save" button and my post completely disappeared. I worked all morning on that little ditty and then it was gone. I just returned from an appointment and sat down to re-write this blog and for the last hour, I've battled with the elements and barely won. So here I am with blue font, no ability to post links, and feeling completely beside myself with frustration. 

What a perfect time to stop, take a deep breath, and remember again what I wrote about this morning.

Before I get into my topic, I need to award May's winner of the $10.00 Caribou gift card. And the winner is...Lynda Bishop! Lynda, congratulations! Please email me at: info@susielarson.com to claim your prize. 

Like coffee? Post some on this blog in June and you may be a winner!

Now on to my topic...

If you've heard me speak before, you've no doubt heard me say this: With all my heart, I believe one of the enemy's ploys in our day is to get us so over-committed, so depleted, that we completely lose our sense of wonder, awe, and peace. He wants us running in so many directions, or simply running too fast in one direction, that we forget that life is more than our task list. 

I'm reading a wonderful book on the Sabbath by Wayne Muller. And though I don't agree with everything he writes, I'm learning again how to rest, not just on Sundays, but - to a certain degree - every day. There's something to be said about unstrapping the harness or setting down the load of cares, and resting for a moment. 

We need Sabbath moments every single day. 

Right now, I have all of my boys at home. And though two of them are preparing for their next phase of life, I have them with me now. I'm struck by how quickly their childhood came and went. My sons are now men. And so, for this short time, I relish their nearness. When we sit down together for dinner, I light a candle and sit down to enjoy my family. We take longer to eat; we linger at the table and laugh about trivial things. Dinners with my family have been Sabbath moments for me.

Another sacred time for me is the morning. Even on the brisk mornings my husband and I head out to the deck swing. Wrapped in a blanket and hugging our morning we coffee, we pray for our boys, our country, and for the safety of our friends at International Justice Mission. Mornings replenish me.

Since I am a doer, I must constantly watch over my schedule and make sure I'm not squandering my time on things God has not called me to do. I think a lot of us struggle doing a lot of good things at the expense of the highest and best thing.

So why do we go on overdrive and neglect our soul and body's need for rest? I submit that we do this for one of two reasons. 1 - We have a bloated view of self (we think we are the only ones who can save the world, or do our job, or whatever). 2 - We have a shriveled view of God (we lose sight of the fact that He holds it all; He provides it all; and He commands us to rest). 

Read this excerpt from Muller's book on the Sabbath:

"Sabbath requires surrender. If we only stop when we are finished with all our work, we will never stop - because our work is never completely done. With every accomplishment there arises a new responsibility. Every swept floor invites another sweeping, every child bathed invites another bathing. When all life moves in such cycles, what is ever finished? The sun goes round, the moon goes round, the tides and seasons go round, people are born and die, and when are we finished? If we refuse rest until we are finished, we will never rest until we die. Sabbath dissolves the artificial urgency of our days, because it liberates us from the need to be finished."

I love that. 

Sabbath moments are the exhale to our inhale. They are the ebb of the flowing tide. They are the down beat in the rhythm of life. Just as it's impossible to be healthy by only eating on the weekends, it's impossible to enjoy a peaceful, rhythmic life without responding to your body's and soul's regular need for a little down time. 

Sit in your car in the parking lot, put your head back, and soak in the words to a profound song. Pull into a park, and sit on a bench. Watch the trees sway in the breeze and ask God for that kind of flexibility. Get up early, or stay up late, and take a few moments to ponder the idea that you are someone God loves. 

Refuse the staleness of a hurried life. 

Work hard, yes. Do what yo do with excellence. But don't think for a moment that your tasks are more important than the condition of your soul. 

In his book, "Celtic Devotions", Dr. Calvin Miller penned this profound little prayer, "Lord, Help me to remember that I can make more bricks in six days than I can in seven." 

I love that too. :)

Be fully present with your family around the table tonight. Take hold of those promised Sabbath moments God offers you each day. And when you feel that inner nudge to spend a little more time with Him, consider yourself honored to do so.

Have a blessed week~

Rest...

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.

If feels like ages though its only been two weeks. Two weeks ago, I was away at my writer's conference. Last week, I was in recovery mode after our hugely successful benefit dinner for the International Justice Mission. 

I am excited to share a few insights on the issue of rest and replenishment - something I'm seeing in a whole new light.

But, first things first. Each month I give away a gift card to one of my blog posters and the winner for the month of May is...

"I'm Here For You..."

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.

First things first. 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! Next week I'll announce April's gift card winner.

A week ago today, I was in Michigan for a speaking event. My hosts picked me up from the airport, got me something to eat, and then dropped me off at my hotel for a little down time before the big event.

I put on some music, set my alarm, and dozed in and out of sleep. Curled up in a ball and hugging my pillow, I prayed for the women for whom I had come to serve. I asked God to meet them in a profound way and to provide for their needs.

Instantly He led me to the first few verses in the 23rd Psalm. Over and over again, I prayed those verses and pondered them on behalf of my Michigan group of women.

Suddenly I realized that four specific needs are addressed in just the first two verses; in fact six needs are addressed in the first three verses:

Guidance, provision, rest, renewal, strength, and honor.

Let's take a closer look...

The Lord is my Shepherd...

Do you need direction and protection in your life? The Lord is your Shepherd! He has committed Himself to your care. But unlike a typical shepherd, He won't make you follow Him. He lovingly leads and protects all who lovingly follow and trust Him. He has your best interest at heart and He will faithfully lead you.

I shall not want...

Do you need a breakthrough in one way or another? Maybe you have current financial needs or maybe your health isn't what it should be. Maybe you need a breakthrough in your job or in the dreams of your heart. Maybe your current need is simply for peace and joy. Everything and anything you could ever want or need is found in Him. Wait on the Lord, my friend. He blesses those who wait for Him. He works for those who wait for Him. He rewards those who earnestly pursue Him. The Heavens are pregnant with provision and God has charged Himself to take care of His own. He will provide. Look up, believe, and wait for Him.

He lets me rest in green meadows...

Are you exhausted? Do you need a break? God not only calls us to rest, He makes a way for us! It's an act of obedience to slow down and rest - on a regular basis. He allows it, He provides pastures green, and He points you off the beaten path that you may stretch out and behold the bright blue sky. The problem with most of us is that we're moving so fast that we race right past the patches of grass that Jesus has prepared for us! May you be so aware of your Shepherd's leading and so in tuned with His voice, that you are quick to take advantage of those green pasture moments provided for you. Breathe in, breathe out, and rest for a while in His presence. He will renew your strength.

He leads me beside peaceful streams...

I love this one. Are you feeling dry and dull? Have you been trudging along for so long that you've lost your sense of life and joy? Do your words stick to the roof of your mouth and does your soul feel like an over-dried raisin? Then you need some time in the water! Your Shepherd knows your frame and He knows your need! And if you follow His lead, He will take you to the end of the dock and toss you in the water for some fun, replenishing water time! He'll let you dip your toe in and sit by the streams, or He'll jump in with you and just let you play. Either way, He's with you on this journey. He's an ever present help; totally engaged; totally there for you. He'll pour fresh life into you. Follow His lead.

He renews my strength...

Even the young grow tired and weary, but when we hope and rest and wait on the Lord, He WILL renew our strength. We'll run again and not get weary. We'll walk and not grow faint. If you're running on empty, or burning up your muscle on overdrive, it's time to slow down long enough to be re-fueled. Jesus has promised to renew your strength. Just as you have to stop your car in order to fill it with gas, you have to stop your wild mind and focus on God's promises. What's amazing is that you can be moving physically and still be renewed. You can be on a plane, in a car, going to the bathroom, or washing dishes. God can renew you while you are moving as long as your soul is at rest. If your mind is racing ahead of schedule, there'll be no rest for you. But if you will quiet your soul like a still, small child, and look up to your Father who knows every need, you will find your strength renewed. Meditating on His promises - more than your pace - will bring peace and strength to your soul.

He guides me along right paths bringing honor to His name...

Oswald Chambers once wrote, "The greatest enemy of the best, is the good." How easy it is to take the good path and miss the best one. And yet our good Shepherd has promised to lead us to the highest and best path for us. His will for us is our best case scenario. He leads us along right paths bringing honor to His name. We were created for Him. When our lives honor Him, we become a trophy of His grace; an evidence of His victory. When we stay in step with Him, our lives bear much fruit and become the stuff of miracles.

What do you need today?

Whatever it is, Jesus wants you to know, "I am here for you!"

Follow His lead, He'll lead you to the place of your promise.

He's good in every sense of the word.

God bless you, my friend.

Have a great and peaceful week!