Persistence Pays...

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 encourage you along the way.

Many of you know that prayer is a significant part of my life. Some of the most profound blessings in my life are a result of tenacious, unrelenting prayer.

I often think of the example Jesus gave us when teaching on how we should pray. In Luke 18 we learn about a widow and an unrighteous judge. The woman pleaded with the judge for justice against her adversaries. The judge neither feared God nor cared about the woman, but because she wore him out from her asking, he granted that which she requested.

Isn't it interesting that Jesus used such an example for us as His children?

He is not an unrighteous judge; He is our Beloved One.

In Luke 11 Jesus gives us another example of how to lay hold of the things we need from Him. Jesus paints the picture of a friend who knocks on the door of another friend at midnight. The friend standing outside needed some bread but the friend on the inside had already gone to bed and tucked his kids in for the night. Jesus explains that the friend-in-need, got his needs met, not because the "inside friend" was a friend, but because of the boldness of his request.

While evil prevails in our day, we must learn the secret Jesus is trying to teach us here.

We must not think for a minute that Jesus wants us to get good at begging. On the contrary. When we are in Christ, we are no longer beggars; we are His Beloved.

We are no longer orphans, we are royalty.

Jesus wants us to learn courage, boldness, and persistence because when we move into laying hold of the things God has promised us, we will encounter opposition.

The enemy of our souls will not simply back up and let us take hold of the abundant life God has promised us.

John 10:10 says, "The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I have come that you might have life; and life more abundantly."

Make no mistake about it. The devil knows your name and he wants to take you out. He knows about your hopes and dreams and especially your weaknesses.

He is camping on the assumption that you won't know and believe all you possess in Christ. Because if you are unaware of who you are and what you possess, you'll be easy to steal from; easy to destroy.

An important and essential component to persistent prayer is the understanding of your "rights" as a child of God. You can't really persist in believing for things that you don't know have been offered you. But once you get God's Word into the core of your belief system, you can weather the storms because you know what's on the other side for you.

I think we are going to get to Heaven and see how many times we gave up just before the breakthrough. With one foot in front of the other, we must persist in the things God has promised us.

His Word is true and He is good all the time.

What "next breakthrough" are you believing God for? To what are you applying your faith?

Jesus asks us this question, "When I return, will I find faith on the earth?" (See Luke 18:8).

Will He?

Without faith, it's impossible to please Him.

We can approach His throne room with boldness and confidence.

He smiles when we believe.

We live in a day when passivity must be put under our feet and a holy grit must take its place.

Like my pastor says, "Satan is just a dog on a leash. When we turn away from his bark to listen to the voice of God, we will have victory every time."

Have a blessed week.

Precious Jesus...

Hello, Everyone...

Susie Larson here...

I pray this note finds you well.

I'm writing today's post from my hotel room. As I reflect back over the past several days, I am once again reminded of how sweet and sincere and kind our God really is.

Last weekend I spoke a retreat in Murietta Hot Springs. God showed up and we were blessed. These women showed up with expectancy to encounter the living God and I'll tell you, He did not disappoint.

In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 8, we read about the time when Jesus delivered a man from a legion of demons. When the townspeople rushed to see this man sitting calmly in his right mind, they begged Jesus to leave. After this miracle, they begged Him to leave.

On the other side of the lake, the Bible says they received Jesus with open arms because they had been waiting for him.

The same Jesus, two different responses.

Even today people perceive Jesus in different ways.

But for those of us who love Him, we know Him to be kind, and wonderful, and true...

Proverbs 9:10 tell us that "knowing the Holy One results in understanding."

The more we get to know Him, the more we understand (and love) Him.

God is good and His promises are true.

One of the things I love most about Jesus is the way He surprises us with unexpected blessings.

I received one such blessing just the other day.

Even though I love speaking at retreats and spending three days getting know 100 new sisters in Christ, I usually come off of those events absolutely exhausted.

After last weekend's retreat, a friend arranged for me to stay with her friend until my husband arrived in town.

My new friend Barb invited me to stay in her guest cottage. A totally unexpected blessing.

My heart did a little pitter patter when I walked in the door of the cottage which looked out to mountains, and flowers, and hummingbirds.

After a good night's sleep, I found my favorite chair, hugged my morning cup of coffee, and held my journal and my Bible in my lap.

Outside in the distance I surveyed the beautiful landscape of mountains. Up close, just on the other side of my window, I gazed at an array of perennials - different shapes, colors, and sizes. The hummingbirds loved the flowers closest to the window. They fluttered in the air, kissed the flowers, and then flew away again.

In a very short amount of time, my cup was replenished again.

As we go about our day, we must remind ourselves that Jesus is kind and sweet and faithful. And when the stresses of our day seem bigger than His love, we must, we must, take the time to remember that He knows our needs and plants flowers in our path at just the right time.

Trust Him to be good because He is.

Blessings, friend.

I Shall Not Want...

Greetings, Dear Friends!

Susie Larson here...

Though we live in a day when it's normal to race from one thing to the next, we just have to slow down and remember that...

The Lord is my Shepherd...

God in heaven, help us slow down enough to be led. May we not get moving so fast that we miss our appointed way. Help us to stop, take a deep breath, and exhale. Help us to look up and behold the new sky You painted today. And may we pause long enough to remember that we have plenty of time today to accomplish all You've given us to do...

Though at times our to-do list exceeds our capacity to get it done, we have all we need in Christ. We need to declare for our own ears t hear...

The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want...

Precious, Lord, Help me to remember that You are the Source of everything I need. Forgive me for all of the ways I strive to get my needs met when You so willingly have offered to meet my needs. You call me to a life of faith and rest amidst the busy and frantic culture in which I live. You are my Shepherd, so I have everything I need. You will lead me to places of rest and places of provision...at just the right time.

Repentance...

Good Day, Friends!

And a warm welcome to my visitors. I post every Wednesday and my goal is to bless and nourish you along the way.

I've realized something about myself - actually, I already knew it - but now I am more sure of it.

I am a terrible gardener.

Maybe I just don't care enough.

When it was time to plant the seeds, I half-heartedly turned over the soil. Then I planted the seeds. And now I watch from my deck as our underground sprinkler waters the garden.

Every once in a while I walk over there to see how things are growing. I planted so many tomato plants that they don't need wire racks to hold them up. My pepper plants look pitiful but the weeds around them are thriving. Kevin was intent on having a few cornstalks in the garden which embarrasses me completely. I think that's why I am keeping a healthy distance from the garden. The stalks are now taller than I am and they look out of place in our suburban back yard. Ugh.

This morning as I spent time on my deck, praying and watching the sun rise, it occured to me how important it is to regularly and intentionally, dig deeper.

I want to talk about something that will greatly improve the quality of our lives - and the quality of the fruit that comes from us.

This morning I whispered a prayer to the Lord..."Lord, forgive me for the ways I worry when I should be trusting You. Forgive me for getting so focused on my destination that I completely miss the beauty of the journey. So talk to me, Lord. Are there any other weeds I've allowed to grow in me? Any attitudes or wrong beliefs?"

I sipped my coffee, read through a few passages of Scripture, and then looked up at the sun rays peeking through the tree branches. And I waited.

In a matter of moments I was made aware of a subtle shift in attitude toward someone who hurt my son. I suddenly realized how - under the surface, where no one can see - I possessed a lack of grace for someone who was difficult for me to love.

One by one, the Lord brought to mind thoughts, attitudes, and postures I had taken that were less than His best for me.

One by one, I acknowledged my sin, I confessed my wrong thinking and the unbelief that accompanied my thoughts, and I thanked God for the fresh mercies waiting for me when I was through.

Maybe you're a savvy gardener. Then you get this. But if you're like me, maybe you need a little reminder to stop, and dig deep on a regular basis. Get rid of the seeds and the weeds that will choke out the good stuff trying to grow in you.

After my very cleansing time of repentance, I looked around and just smiled.

I took in a deep breath and I let it out again.

Suddenly I could see clearer. My body didn't ache as much. And in my heart I felt more eager to love others.

We cannot underestimate how easy it is for weeds to spring up in our lives. We may feel justified in leaving them there, much like I feel justified in letting my garden fend for itself. But when you think of it that way, doesn't it just sound silly?

You're worth more than that. And so am I.

I just stumbled upon this marvelous verse:

(The Holy One says...) "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).

Do you see the profound impact of getting low? It's actually a high and holy place. A place of refreshment.

I pray you'll find some time this week to sit in a quiet place and offer your life up to the Lord. Give Him full permission and access to search your heart and point out anything that may offend Him (See Psalm 139).

Don't come under condemnation because there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. But come under the light with your thoughts and attitudes and then look up and receive His mercy and grace.

You'll lighten your load and renew your perspective.

Have a blessed week.

PS ~ My new release, "Alone in Marriage: Encouragement for the Times When it's all up to You" just hit the shelves. Make my day and pick it up at your local Christian bookstore.

Peace to you all~

Loving the Weak

Greetings, Dear Friends!

And to those visiting I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my purpose is to encourage you and to nourish your soul.

The other day my son Jordan came home with a stray pet. He found this dog jutting in and out of traffic, almost getting hit over and over again.

The scraggly dog had no collar, no identification. Jordan took the dog to the Humane Society only to find a "Closed" sign on the door.

He walked in the door with Scruffy in his arms and tenderness in his eyes. "Can we take care of her tonight, mom? I'll bring her to the Humane Society tomorrow."

Of course I said yes but I must admit something to you.

I'm not really an animal person. I wish I was though because it seems like such a nice thing to be. Unfortunately my over-developed sense of smell and my selfish desire for personal comfort are not conducive to having pets around - not to mention smelly, old, scraggly pets like the one Jordan brought home.

Within twenty-four hours of having this visitor invade my home, God invaded my heart once more with a fresh revelation of Himself.

Scruffy, or "Bubs" as Jordan called her seemed to be a victim of abuse. Every time I reached out to pet her, she jerked back and hovered lower to the ground appearing very afraid or ashamed. She rarely barked because she didn't seem to have the energy for it.

When she climbed the stairs her legs shook. I think she has arthritis.

When I pet her I felt sorry for her because she has coarse hair and smelly breath.

I found myself falling in love with this weak, old, smelly, sweet dog.

Yesterday morning I sat out on my deck with my Bible, my journal, and Bubs at my feet. I read about my Jesus and His radical love for the messy and the wounded. I looked down at the messy wounded animal sitting at my feet and I was instantly convicted and humbled. Ole' Bubs confronted and exposed the smallness of my heart and my low capacity for love.

I reached down to scratch her behind her ear and she scooted a little closer to me. But just a little. Trust comes slowly, I know. As silly as it sounds, I saw myself in my newfound friend. I'm more aware of my needs because of her.

I need more of Christ's love for the least of these, the marginalized, the weak, the smelly, the shakey, and the abandoned. I need to be less protective of my comforts and more protective of those whom Jesus came to save.

I understand on a deeper level that it's not enough for me to go on the occasional mission trip and to send regular money to ministries that tend to the poor and the needy.

Reaching outside of my comfort zone to the least-of-these must be a way of life for me; just as it was (and is) for Jesus.

As I stared down at this lonely old dog, I realized how selective I am with my personal space. God forgive me!

Scruffy made me aware of something else about myself...

I also need more of Christ's love in me, for me. I have areas in my own life where I shrink back in fear, where I'm slow to trust, and I have low places in my character that release more of an odor than the fragrance of Christ. I need to love me like He loves me.

We all have those hurt places in our lives. But since we're addicted to the approval and acceptance of others, we cover up our weak areas with great clothes, good jobs, and influential associations.

We need Jesus' eyes and His ears and His hands if we are going to be His messengers. We need to know and rely on His love for us if we have any hopes of giving it away.

Jesus confronts our humanity so that He might make us more divine. When we respond to His love rather than react to our own weakness, we will be transformed.

We love because He first loved us. And as our capacity for love increases, so does the Kingdom in our midst. We will become more like Him.

Instead of trying hard to love the weak, we will see the treasure of God's Kingdom in their midst and we will love out of instinct rather than duty.

Lord, God, make me more like You! Burden my heart with what burdens Yours! Forgive me for all of the times I have missed the opportunity to be Your hands and feet. Help me not be afraid to admit my need for You. Fill me with a profound love for the hungry, the weak, and the sick. May I follow in humility Your humble example of love and kindness and mercy. Make me more like You, Lord. I need You every hour. Amen.