Raise Your Shield!

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 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!

Now on to my topic...

I was talking with one of my mentors this morning and she expressed something quite profound to me. She said, "Susie, I don't think we have any idea of our impact as ones who belong to God. Take the touch, for instance. Since my husband has become a Believer, our embrace has taken on a whole new meaning. When we wrap our arms around each other, just for the sake of a hug, there's more power in that embrace than I've ever known before."

I tried to imagine in the spiritual realm, what that means for us as Believers. Since it's true that God has assigned angels to our care, things change when we walk into a room. And to the extent that we walk in the knowledge of who we are, will there be an impact on the things we touch.

This morning during my prayer time, I considered the gift God gave us when fastened each of us with a shield.

Do you know how to use your shield?

The book of Ephesians tells us that our shield can extinguish ALL of the flaming arrows of the enemy.

Think about that.

What are some of the flaming arrows aimed at you?

Are you being attacked in your finances, your health, your relationships, or your perspective?

Remember, John 10:10 says, "The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy."

His aim is to take you out along with all of the promises budding around you.

But the rest of the verse is our promise, "But I come, that you might have life; life to the fullest (life abundantly).

Abundance means: teeming in plenty, rich, lavish, copious amounts, large, huge, overflowing, great, ample

Are you living a large life? How about an overflowing life? Do you consider yourself rich in every way? Because the Bible says that you are.

Most of us spend our time ducking and running from the arrows.

But the shield, when properly lifted and aimed, will extinguish ALL of the arrows aimed at us.

What is that shield? It's your shield of FAITH!

By FAITH you stand, you raise your shield and you say NO to the schemes and attacks of the enemy against you.

Psalm 91:4 says that His faithful promises are your armor and protection. You can stand against those fiery darts by believing in FAITH that His promises are true for you!

Your shield is your protection, but not just that. His shield is your victory.

Psalm 18:35 says, "You give me YOUR shield of victory. You stoop down to make me great."

When we stay in step with Him, He only leads us into battles we can win. He carries us in His arms, He raises His shield and we see - with our own eyes - the victory of God on our behalf.

We'll never see that victory though, if we cut and run. If we hide anywhere but in His shelter.

His shield is our protection and our victory.

Wait, there's more!

God's shield gives us access; helps us gain ground; makes a way for us when there seems to be no way.

Psalm 5:12 says, "For surely, O, Lord, You bless the righteous. You surround them with Your favor as with a shield.

I once heard a powerful message by Rex Somebody (Friends, if you know Rex's last name, please post it for me). Rex's message is by far, my son Luke's favorite sermon ever.

Rex's whole message revolved around the favor of the Lord. In a nutshell, he said that the favor of the Lord speaks of three things...

1.) God's indulgence

2.) God's endorsement

3.) Having the unfair advantage (because our lives are impacted by the favor of well, uh, God!)

Believers who don't believe God's promises are true for them, never think of raising their shield of faith or expect God to be big in their midst.

One of my favorite verses is Psalm 77:14 and it says, "You are the God who performs miracles! You display Your power among the people."

What are you battling today?

Raise your shield and proclaim loud enough for the neighbors to hear, "My God is mighty to save and He will protect me! He will deliver me! And He will establish me!"

Have a blessed and wonderful week.

My April Ezine comes out next Tuesday.

Be sure to subscribe on my website if you haven't already.

Peace and victory to you all!

Wisdom...

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.

It's time to announce the winner for March's giveaway. And the winner is...Gina Wills! Congratulations! Gina, email me at: info@susielarson.com Send me your address and let me know which gift card you would like (Target or Caribou).

Since spring is upon us (well, only in theory for some of us), I want to add one more gift card to the mix.

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!

Now on to my topic.

Every once in a while my husband and I like to put our sons on the spot.

Sometimes when we are all together sitting around the table we will throw a question out there and ask for a quick answer - just to test their instincts and see if they're becoming the critical thinkers we've tried to train them to be.

Here's an example:

"Okay, boys, give us your gut-instinct answer on this one. If you had to choose, what's more important? Loyalty or integrity?"

I love to watch them look out the window or up at the ceiling as they play through a few scenarios in their mind.

In no time at all, Luke spouted out the answer, "Integrity!"

"Why?" I asked.

He replied, "Because if you're loyal to someone blindly, you may end up abandoning integrity to stay by their side."

Bingo.

There are many noble virtues that we should embrace as a part of our walk of faith.

But if we embrace certain virtues at the expense of others, we may put ourselves at risk of wandering way off track. With the exception that is, of Love. Christ-like Love will always keep us on the Christ-like path.

For instance, I care deeply about social justice issues. I care what's going on in the world and as a Christian, I feel a personal responsibility to right some of the wrongs in our day.

But as a mother to two college kids, and as one who loves young people, I've met my share of young adults whose religion has become their stance on social justice issues. As if that's enough.

Jesus calls us to stand in the gap for the weak and the marginalized, but He also called us to die daily and grow abundantly in faith, humility, kindness and love. He exhorted us to keep His Word in us - to hold on to it- that we might easily discern departures from truth.

Especially in this day, when there are so many spin-offs of the faith, we must know the truth and walk in love.

I suppose that's why Psalm 26:3 is one of my favorite verses: For Your Love is ever before me, and I walk continually in Your Truth.

If my sons weren't challenged on a regular basis to think a little deeper, they might consider loyalty such a lost virtue, that it's one worth dying for.'

Well, in a sense, that's true. Loyalty is a lost virtue and our loyalty to Christ is worth dying for.

But if we transfer that loyalty to a person, as if to say, at all costs, I'll follow you and go with you, forever, wherever...then we've thrown out our need to be watchful and discerning in these turbulent times.

I've told my boys over and over again, "You know the promise of wisdom is one of the best kept secrets in the Bible. God promises to give an abundance of wisdom to those who ask for it. Wisdom is worth more than money, but imagine if you found someone who gave you money every time you asked for it. Wouldn't you ask, and keep on asking? Keep asking for wisdom, and you'll receive it more and more. Wisdom will protect you from being easily led astray."

Proverbs 4:6 says, "Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her and she will watch over you.

Proverbs 24:14 says, "Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul, if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off."

Ecclesiastes 7:19 says, "Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city."

I'm very concerned that we live in a day where "Group Think" reigns supreme. People are so spent, so busy, so over-committed, that they don't want to think. They just want to look up to someone they trust or feel good about, and follow them.

Oh, Lord, have mercy!

May we all be provoked to lay hold of the wisdom God has offered us!

May we be so savvy to the truths of God that we are not easily led astray!

And may the Power of the Risen Lord, compel us to live focused and purposeful lives.

In Jesus' Name, I pray.

Have a blessed week~

The Time Between...

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.

Last month I mentioned that if you post on my blog you would be eligible for a $10.00 Caribou gift card. Well, that was so much fun, I've decided to give away two gift cards for the month of January!

Drum roll please...

Kathy Peterson and Rebecca Marshaw - you are the proud winners of a $10.00 gift card from Caribou; sure to keep you warm during this blustery winter season.

Please email me at: info@susielarson.com and let me know where I should send your card.

For February let's give away either a $10.00 Caribou card or a $10.00 Target card - your choice.

It blesses my heart to no end to hear from you. This journey can be a lonesome road and it always encourages me to know you're out there.

Now on to my topic.

The other morning, I was reading the 32nd chapter of Exodus. Moses was up on the mountain having a face to face encounter with God. His followers hadn't heard from him in a while and they got bored waiting for him.

Let's look in at their response:

When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. "Come on," they said, "make us some gods who can lead us. We don't know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt."

This fellow?

Moses risked his life to secure their freedom. God used Moses to preform mighty miracles on their behalf. Moses wasn't just a fellow, he was the one God used to save them.

Moses' journey with the Israelites very much parallels Christ's journey with us.

And with that in mind, I noticed three things about the Israelites' reaction to Moses' delay:

Impatience with God's plan.

Minimizing God's place in their lives.

A willingness to default to idol worship.

And we do the very same thing.

We just have to look back over our shoulder to see some of the mighty ways God has moved on our behalf. We don't have to think too far back to recall the times He has met us and spoke directly to our hearts. Our faith is encouraged when we remember the ways God has come through for us when we needed Him most.

And yet, when we are asked to wait longer than we want for the thing He has promised, we get impatient, and we wonder about plan B. We are very quick to make a back up plan when God takes too long to come through for us.

Wouldn't God appreciate a little help on our part to, you know, hurry the plan along?

I mean He has the whole galaxy to manage, and well, this is just a little itty bitty thing to Him. Right?

Wrong.

Nothing is too hard for God, but that doesn't mean little things mean nothing to Him. He is the God of detail! Look at the butterfly, or the hummingbird, or the pedals of a flower. Try to wrap your brain around the human body! He loves detail and He is madly in love with us.

God is big. He is near. And He is intimately engaged in this journey with us. Even when He seems silent, He has a divinely wise purpose for being so.

His part in our journey is of ultimate importance to us. He hasn't forgotten us. He doesn't ever accidentally look away when we take our leaps of faith. He catches us when we jump. He lifts us up when we stumble. And when He makes us wait, it's because He's making us ready.

Our part is vitally important as well.

We must not think for a minute that He won't come through for us.

During the waiting season, we'll be tempted to get bored and lose heart. We'll be tempted minimize God's involvement in our process. And we'll be tempted to build a counterfeit with our own hands.

The time in between the promise and the realization of it, matters. Infinitely so.

The time in between shows us what we're made of.

The time in between is like the tide that pulls back to sea and reveals the garbage on the beach.

The time in between reveals our motives, our intentions, and our character.

When you are waiting for a certain breakthrough, how do you spend the time in between?

Do you see it as a time to leave the Well and play in mud puddles instead?

Do you stay by the Well but just bide your time by chewing your nails and watching the grass grow?

Or do you consider your time of waiting an active season? A time to lean in and listen. A time to keep your ear bent towards heaven and your eyes fixed on Jesus?

Waiting is a true test of our hearts.

When we don't get what we want when we want it, our impatience surfaces. Our selfishness rears its ugly head. Our sense of entitlement makes us clench our fists and grit our teeth.

And that's why the time in between is so important.

It's a time to humble ourselves and admit our need for more of Christ's character in us.

It's a time to allow God to make us more fit for the blessing He so longs to give.

And it's a time to pursue a deeper relationship with God. More than the treasures we receive from His hand, may we treasure the gift of better knowing His heart.

Over and over again, we read stories from the Bible of people who mishandled the time in between.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is of Joseph from the Old Testament.

God gave him a mighty vision for his life, and then allowed him to endure one injustice after another. And what did Joseph do with his time in between?

He was faithful and patient and humble. And every time, he rose to the top of the pile.

His character proved him ready to handle the management of a mighty nation.

This morning I was reading from the book of Matthew where Jesus was warning the disciples not to be deceived. He said that many will be partying and getting drunk right up to the moment Christ returns to earth.

Here again, whether we like it or not, we are living in the "time in between" when Christ came and when He comes again.

Will we get bored of waiting and make our own idols?

Or will we use this time to deal with what our inconveniences bring up in us?

Jesus wonders this, "When I return will I find faith on the earth?"

May He find faith in our hearts and faithfulness in our footsteps!

No matter what breakthrough you're waiting for, be faithful in the waiting.

It's important time.

Have a blessed week~

Inseparable...

Hi, Everyone!

Susie Larson here...

Before I get into my topic, I want to mention that I will be giving away a $10.00 Caribou gift card to one of you in January. Like coffee, smoothies, green tea? Post a time or two this month and share what God is doing in your life! Your name might be drawn for a sweet treat!

For those who are visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way.

Many of you know that I've made it no secret that I'm no Martha Stewart. My friends say I don't give myself enough credit, but I say that I am a one-time wonder.

I can plant one kind of flower, maybe two, and it will thrive. I can make one kind of dinner, maybe three, and it will taste fairly good and nobody will get sick afterwards. I can decorate, to a degree, but I don't care about it enough to see my projects through to completion.

I remember a particular year when I was especially busy, and when spring approached, I was even too tired to plant flowers. One of my neighbors gave me the great idea of putting fake, plastic flowers in my hanging baskets outside!

What an idea!

Without further thought, I went to the store, purchased some bright, plastic flowers, and stuffed them into my hanging pots. Beautiful!

Beautiful that is, until the first spring showers. Rain is good for real flowers, but not so good for fake ones.

Though I thought I had saved time by not buying and planting real flowers, I really gained nothing. I spent time and money on a counterfeit and that's what I got.

Jesus calls Himself the Vine and He calls us the branches. We are to abide in Him and bear much fruit. He strongly stated, "Apart from Me, you-can-do-nothing."

When we strive on our own, we disconnect ourselves from the life-sap required to do His will.

When we get ahead of God, our branches thin out, our leaves wither, and our fruit ends up under-developed, and that's our fault.

When we take shortcuts because we're tired of waiting through the process, we plant fake flowers, and when the rain - that's meant to nourish - falls on us, our work is easily uprooted.

Our job is to stay connected to the Vine. Our job is to be the branch. Our job is to abide so closely with the Lord, that fruit super-naturally grows in every area of our lives.

Read on...

In the 1800's, Henry Drummond wrote, "A man may think he is doing God's work when he is not even doing God's will."

You may be doing lots of good things with your time, but are you sure they are "God-things?"

Dare to ask the Lord in prayer:

"In what areas of my life am I producing fake fruit?

In what areas of my life am I getting ahead of You?

In what areas of my life have I taken Your dream for me, into my own hands?"

I once did a word study on the word "abide" and I was blessed to find out that at its core, abide means "to be held."

What a beautiful thought!

There's no striving to bear fruit; fruit is born out of a place of rest and assurance that the Vine will supply everything the branch needs to fulfill its calling.

The branch doesn't need to remind the Vine of its job. On the contrary, the branch needs to remember its very specific calling to abide, and thus to bear fruit.

Just as any vineyard keeper will cut off useless branches from the vine, so will the Divine Vineyard Keeper cut away any branch that does not bear fruit.

As first that seems cruel, but it isn't. In order for a fruit-less branch to remain on the vine, it needs to continually take nourishment away from the other branches, causing them to bear less fruit.

God is protective of His investment because we are dear to Him and because He wants "our fruit" to feed a world in need.

Read this powerful passage from John 15:1-8, 16-17...

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever 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. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other."

Remember, being cut away and being pruned may look like similar actions, but they are for very different purposes.

You may be in a season where God is "cutting you back" from lesser priorities and worthless affections, but don't despair because He is getting you ready to bear much fruit.

Notice in the passage above, the powerful promise made to us who remain in Him:

(v.16)"...then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name."

When we cultivate the abiding life, His desires become our desires, His convictions become our convictions, and His prayers become our prayers.

When you abide in Him and you ask for His Kingdom to come to bear in your situation, His answer will always be yes.

Here are two declarations that I make on a regular basis. These statements of faith help keep me rooted and grounded in Him:

I thank You by faith, dear Lord, that there's no striving in me because I know that You are God. (See Psalm 46:10)

I will abide in You, and I know that You will establish me. (See John 15)

Don't settle for fake fruit, for under-developed fruit, or for a less-than harvest.

God wants your life so fruitful that your fruit keeps bearing fruit long after you're gone! Imagine that! Imagine making such an impact in your lifetime that others continue to be blessed and nourished even after you've left this earth.

Be blessed as you rest in Him this week!

Determine that you - the branch, and Jesus - the Vine will be absolutely inseparable.

Rest in Him - He will establish you.

Cleaning Out Closets

Hello! My name is Eva Marie Everson. I am a writer and speaker but most especially, I am a friend of Susie's who just happened to "drop by" her blog.  Susie has graciously allowed me a moment to chat with you. I'd like to tell you about something God is doing in my life...a most amazing thing.....

Every year, just before Christmas, I force my daughter, now age 10, to go through her closet and sort the "gotta keep its" from the "never play with its." This way, I tell her, when Santa comes and brings MORE "stuff," she will have room for it.

There are moments during our exercise in "stuff weeding" that are more difficult than others. I watch her hold a particular item in her hand. I see the look on her face. "Hmmmm..." it reads. "I don't actualy play with this any more but I do like it." Other items are easy. "Don't play with it...don't like it...don't need it." Then, of course, there are the "would never, ever part with it" items.

By the time we're done, a large box of items is ready for Goodwill or Salvation Army; most of them having rarely--if ever--been touched. My little one feels GOOD! She is ready now to see what Santa will bring to fill the empty spaces of her closet.

Well, guess what. GOD is doing the same with me right now. He has come to me, just before Christmas as it happens, and has said to my heart, "It is time to take stock in you life. What don't you need? What would you never, ever throw away."

Some of this "closet-weeding" has been easy.  "Don't want it...don't need it..." and we're done. Other parts of this have been difficult. I sit, like my daughter, "holding the item in my hand" and think, "I need to let go of this...but how?"

For example, God has been bringing people to mind. People in my life. People who drag me down, hurt me, and use me.  People who continuously step over my boundaries. People who I allow to step over my boundaries. God has impressed upon me that while I am not to EVER stop praying and loving these people, I am to put them in a box and send them on their way.

Amazingly, as I have done these things--even the most painful--God has begun to open doors I could not have imagined. Mainly, with less time focused on the ones who drag me down, I have more time to focus on the ONE who lifts me up. God, himself. I find myself less encumbered by "stuff" and therefore more "centered" on God.

What about you? Is God speaking to you right now? Is His Holy Spirit saying, "She's got your number on this one? She's hearing exactly what you are hearing, but she's acting on it...." (Remember, tho...I am speaking of staying in line with God's Word. I'm not talking about tossing a spouse because you just don't "feel it" any more.)

If God is doing this in your life, act! Prayerfully consider the items --the people, the activities, the commitments you should have never made--in your life, asking God, "Keep it or put it in the box?" It won't always be easy, but in the end, you are making room for the surprises God has planned to fill those empty spaces in your "closet."

First and foremost: Himself.

Blessing to you this Christmas Season!

Blessings all year through!

Eva Marie Everson

"Life is Just Fodder for Writers...."

EvaMarieEverson@aol.com