His Promises Are True!

Greetings, Dear Friends and Visitors!

As most of you know, I post every Wednesday and my goal is to nourish and bless you along your way...

Though we are surrounded by trouble, God is our fortress. Though these are turbulent times, God is our peace and He will lead us to quiet waters. Though people are weak in their convictions and morals seem scarce, God is the strength of our hearts.

Here is a powerful, paraphrased declaration from Psalm 112: 1-10...

Read it out loud today and go on in the strength of the Lord!

We are full of joy because we walk in the fear of the Lord!

We delight in obeying His commands!

Our children will be successful wherever they go. An entire generation of godly people will be blessed. We will propser in all ways and our good deeds will last forever.

God's precious and guiding light shines in the darkness for us and we are not afraid.

We are generous, compassionate, and righteous.

Much good comes our way because we lend money generously and conduct business fairly.

We will never be overcome by evil.

Because God has made us righteous we have a godly heritage which will be long remembered.

We do not fear bad news because we confidently trust the Lord to care for us.

We are confident and fearless and can face our foes triumphantly.

We share freely and give generously to those in need.

Our good deeds will be remembered forever and God will bless us with influence and honor.

The wicked will see this and be infuriated. They will grind their teeth in anger and they will slink away with their hopes thwarted.

This is not an evenly matched battle. Overwhelming victory and strength are in the Lord.

Blessed is everyone who puts there hope in the Living God!

Until next week, friend...

Put your hope in Him.

Give Courage...

Happy Wednesday Everyone!



To those visiting I say welcome. I post every Wednesday and my purpose is to bless you in your day as you go along your way.

Have you ever found yourself going about your day when suddenly you realize that your joy and peace have been replaced by a nauseating sense of self doubt?

I used to be plagued with self-doubt but God has done such a deep and refining work in me that I rarely trip up in that area anymore. I did say, rarely, which means I sometimes still do.

In fact, just yesterday I walked away from a conversation that left me looking down and not up.

It only took me a few minutes (or was it hours) to reaffirm to myself the fact that I have followed as Jesus has led me. My walk might look a little different than yours, and your walk no doubt looks different than your neighbors, but it's the path that counts. As long as we press on, press in, and keep moving toward the Promised Land, we don't have to split hairs over pigeon toes, duck feet, knocked knees, or short steps.

We're all different - and that was God's design - but we have this in common - we were made to bring Him glory.

So what does that little anecdote have to do with "giving courage"?

Everything. Just this morning I spoke with two of my golden girls (mentors) who gave me courage by encouraging me. They knew nothing about my inner struggle yesterday but they walk in step with the Holy Spirit and He informed them that I needed an arm around my shoulder.

One of my golden girls went to bat for my seventeen year old son who is dealing with a herniated disc. She asked God to intervene on His behalf. She waited in His presence and she listened to His voice through His Word. Then she called me to remind me once again that God is very much engaged in this process with Jordan and that many people are praying for him. My heart was strengthened by that call.

Shortly thereafter, I received another call from another golden girl (every one should have a mentor!) who blessed me beyond words. She went to prayer this morning and boldly asked this question, "Lord, Susie is on my heart today. What can you tell me that I can share with her?" She waited, and listened, and read the Word of God.

The things she shared with me were specific answers to questions I'd been asking God last night and this morning. Her call filled me with courage along with the reminder that we serve a loving, living, intimately involved God. How sweet it is to be loved by Him!

No matter how you're feeling today - give some courage away. Go to the Lord on behalf of someone. Or go with no agenda at all and just ask God who needs a fresh dose of courage. Spend some time waiting, listening, and reading the Word. Trust that God loves to answer prayers such as this.

And remember, what we sow is what we grow.

When you give some courage, you'll also receive it at just the right time.

Be blessed today - and be a blessing today.

Until next week...

Persistence...

Greetings, Dear Friends!

To those visiting for the first time I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my goal is to bless you and nourish your soul.

My husband received a call the other day from our son Luke who is in college studying to be a worship pastor. He has no money, but some how, over time, he has managed to acquire the gear necessary to foster his interest in computers and nurture his love for music. He barters, he builds from scratch, he trades, he saves, and in the end he gets what he's after.

The recent phone call went like this: "Uh, Dad, how are you doing today? Well I just wanted to tell you that I have a friend who needed a computer so I took one of my old ones, rebuilt it, programmed it with the things he wanted and then sold it to him. Then I got a ride to the bank and deposited the money. Then I called the music store and asked them to set aside the speaker I've been eyeing for some time. Then I paid for it over the phone with my credit card. It's sitting there with my name on it. Would you mind picking it up for me?"

My husband looked at me and said, "How do ya say no to that?"

I was reading in Luke chapter 12 the other day and I pondered Jesus' words, "Fear not, it's the Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom!"

Think with me for a moment about all of the references to faith and persistence in the Bible. Over and over again Jesus stopped in His tracks and made an example of someone who dared to believe. And...over and over again, you could almost hear Him breathe a heavy sigh when just after a miracle, people wondered what He was going to do about lunch, or the odor, or whatever.

Jesus would basically stop and say, "Have you not been with me the whole time? Have you not seen the miracles I performed on your behalf? What will it take to get you to believe?" Jesus used the parable about the persistent widow so that we would always pray and never give up (see Luke 18:1).

He used her persistence as an example that we might follow suit.

My son Luke has a pretty narrow focus when it comes to his goals, dreams, and desires. Not that any of these are small - in fact - they are huge. But he is so clear on his gifts and interests that he has very little interest in much else. When he has a few extra dollars, he spends it on computers, music equipment, or his sweet girlfriend.

It's really something to watch a college kid with no money navigate his way through life with persistence, prayer, and a focused desire...and end up with the object of his pursuit.

Now I am not using Luke as an example to suggest that we should go after every material pursuit our heart desires. Rather, I want us to view it as sort of a word picture.

Matthew 7:7-12 says, Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. for everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? or if he asks for a fish, will you give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him?

(and here's a very important part of the verse...)

SO in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you...

Boldness blesses God. Faith pleases Him. Persistence pays off. We have access to the riches of Heaven and God has called us to pray and not give up - but not just for our own needs - for the needs of others too.

I find it interesting that after we are told that the Father loves to give good gifts to those who ask for them, by telling us to do for others, He is reminding us, "Since you have access to boundless provision and power, use these to make the world a better place. Bless yourself. Bless others. Improve the human condition. Put a demand on the resources of Heaven."

I've never been sorry for persisting in prayer. I've always walked away with far more than I invested.

Ask Him for the nations - ask that His Kingdom would come and invade your community - ask Him to do a mighty work in your midst - because it is Your Father's great pleasure to give you the Kingdom.

Until next week...

Rest...

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

And to those visiting for the first time I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my purpose is to bless and encourage you along your way.

I can't believe it is spring time once again!

I remember last spring like it was yesterday. I was coming off of an intense speaking season which included international travel. I was exhuasted and in deep need of a vacation. I was facing a busy summer getting the house ready for my son's graduation open house along with writing my next book.

I wanted to cry, I was so tired. I just wanted to curl up with a good novel and rest for a month or two, or three. There didn't seem to be enough hours in the day to fill my cup back up.

I dragged myself through my tasks lists while repeatedly uttering, "I need a vacation."

Apparently I had said it one too many times because I was stopped in my tracks by the voice of the Lord and He strongly corrected me. He said, "You will stop saying, 'I need a vacation.' I chart the course ahead of you and I tell you where to stop and rest (Psalm 139:3)!"

I stood corrected and humbled.

I asked for forgiveness and then declared once again, "My nourishment is to do Your work. If it's not time for me to take a vacation just yet, I trust that You will give me what I need to get things done."

I stopped complaining and got to work. Little by little my spirit was revived. We got the work done for Luke's open house and I wrote a book that I am excited about.

This is not to say that I didn't take sabbath days and sabbath moments to rest, reflect, and replenish my soul.

But I realized how much my complaining was weighing me down and making me lose focus.

I was literally revived while I went about my work.

Eventually He provided a getaway for me. I write this post from a hotel room in Orlando, Florida. I've been enjoying my morning prayer times on a deck that overlooks the water. I've had days to rest, work out, and read my novels (my dream vacation).

The best thing about it all is that I approached this vacation with joy and anticipation (rather than desperation).

The Holy Spirit's stern voice to me that day was a loving reminder that my days and my times are in His hands.

He leads us beside still waters and He tells us where to stop and rest.

Sometimes He calls us to run when we would rather rest. Other times He calls us to rest when it seems to make better sense to run.

But He knows best.

Don't race by the sacred moments He provides. Rest in the Lord.

Don't complain that He's not giving you the break you need. Trust Him and boldly call on Him to sustain and strengthen you as you go about your day.

Expect Him to provide a break for you at just the right time, and then take the opportunity when He brings it your way.

He knows your frame and He knows you.

He cares deeply about your spiritual health and He will lead you safely to your next place of promise.

Be blessed, my friends.

Until next week...

Be Strong in the Lord!

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

And for those of you visiting for the first time I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my purpose is to nourish your soul that you may live a powerful life on earth.

Over and over again we are taught in the Word to be strong in the Lord. We are told: do not fear, do not be discouraged (in other words, don't let courage get away from you!), do not despair, do not look down.

How do we strengthen ourselves in the Lord?

Let's look at its physical parallel: We strengthen our bodies by putting a demand on them. If we want to increase muscle mass, we lift heavier weights than we are used to. If we want to run faster, we pick up the speed until our lungs are screaming back at us. If we want stronger bones, we do weight-bearing exercises that push us beyond what's comfortable.

To strengthen ourselves in the Lord is to build ourselves up in faith. And to build ourselves up in faith, is to exercise our spiritual muscle, one step at a time; it's to put a demand on our belief system (a Bill Johnson phrase) by stepping out and expecting God to be true.

We cannot sit down on our faith and be strengthen in the Lord at the same time.

Some have dreams and hopes that have fallen by the wayside. For others, a fresh passion for a powerful life seems an impossibility. And for many, expectancy in what God will do each day has decreased instead of increased.

So how do we build ourselves up to a most holy and powerful faith?

SPEAK OUT!

The Bible says that faith comes from hearing, and hearing the Word of God! You have to hear yourself say what Heaven says is true about you! How often do our own words bear testimony against the promises of God! Too often our words gravitate toward insufficiency, imperfection, and being overwhelmed.

Here's a spiritual warm-up for you to begin your day:

Through me, the Word of the Lord spreads widely and increases in power (Acts 19:20).

God has given me all things that pertain to life and godliness and I am well able to possess all that God has provided for me (Numbers 13:30, 2 Peter 1:3-4).

Your law is on my heart and my feet do not slip (Psalm 37:31).

Thank you, God, for promising to guide me along the best pathway for my life. You have promised to bless me and watch over me. I will be quick to listen and quick to respond (Psalm 32:8)!

Through each day, You pour Your unfailing Love upon me, and each night I sing Your Song, praying to You because You give me a full and beautiful Life (Psalm 42:8).

STEP OUT!

What are you believing God for right now? I submit that you should always be exercising your faith; believing God for the next place of promise or a breakthrough for someone in need. Without faith it is impossible to please Him.

This is how we gain spiritual strength, we put a demand on the Promises of God. We shift our hopes and choose a perspective consistent with Heaven's voice over us.

Walk it out! Believe His Word is true! Turn your back on worry, fear, and anxiety.

Decide instead to trust in the Name of the Lord. Speak out His promises so your ears hear them and your heart embraces them. Step out as if you believe them.

Be strong in the Lord because He is strong in you.

Until next week...