Strengthen Yourself in Him...

 

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. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So leave a comment, share a story or insight, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and a friend! 

Two quick announcements:

In celebration of my newest release, Growing Grateful Kids, I'm giving away a 4G-I-pod Shuffle to someone who posts a book review on Amazon (only one month left on this promotion!). Go to my Facebook page, click on the Free I-pod! tab for more information. 

My new radio show, Live the Promise with Susie Larson launched last Saturday (Noon to 1:00 CST)! My guest this Saturday is author and evangelist Matt Brown. We'll be talking about people, in every generation, who have advanced the Kingdom of God. We had a powerful conversation. Be sure to listen in! For more information, go to: www.Faith900.com 

Now, on to my topic...

First of all, thanks so much to all of you that prayed for my family. Bless you, bless you! 

Our pastor recently asked us to read Revelations 2 and 3 and to ask ourselves, "What is the Spirit saying to our church?" I loved this assignment and I think it's a wise thing to do. I need a few more days with these two chapters before I'll really have a sense of where we are at as a Body of Believers.

However, something struck me during my reading time this morning. I was reading about the Church in Sardis. They had a reputation for being alive, but they were dead. 

Reputation: A widespread belief or perception

How many churches, ministries, and people have a look of being successful but at their core (to borrow a phrase from 'The Princess Bride') are mostly dead?

What a scary thought!

Verse 2 reads: Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

My NIV Study Notes offered this insight: Outwardly the (Church of Sardis) appeared spiritually alive and active and had a reputation of success. But Jesus saw the absence of the inner reality of Himself in the hearts of the people; he saw religion, not spiritual life.

What a wake up call for us! 

Is there any area in your spiritual life that you've allowed to go on auto pilot or that has become a rote practice, void of life? 

The passage above advises us to strengthen what remains, to remember what we have received, to obey what God has asked us to do, and to repent of our sins.

How easy it is to go through the motions, to look good, but to bear little fruit! And yet, there's an answer for us. We are to strengthen what life we have in us.

When the Psalmist David was in one of the battles of his life, the Bible says that he 'strengthened himself in the Lord.' (See 1 Samuel 30:6) 

I believe that David simply reminded himself of God's greatness, His faithfulness, His promises, and His presence. I think David probably nourished his soul by telling himself that he was not alone and that he mattered to God. 

While we still have today, may we abide in the Vine, and receive the fresh life flowing from Him! May we refuse to live a 'religious' life; one that is absent of a fresh, thriving, and fruitful life. May everything we do be motivated by our love for God and our response to His love.

When God looks upon His people, when He looks upon you and me, what does He find? 

Does He find us striving in our strength? Deeply motivated by our own selfish ambitions?

Or does He find our delight in Him? Humbly waiting for His lead in our lives? 

May everything we do, be in response to His love. 

Author John Ortburg's mentor once said to him, "The devil drives. The Shepherd leads."

No matter what you look like to the world, successfully huge, or obscurely small, let Him lead, and humbly follow. You'll find your strength in Him.

Until next week~

Preparing for Promotion...

 

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. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So share a story or an insight, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and friend!

A Quick Note:

I am thrilled to announce the upcoming release of my next book, "Growing Grateful Kids: Teaching Them to Appreciate an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Places." Let me tell you, I am excited about the message in this book. If you have children at home (or grandchildren you want to influence spiritually), pre-order a copy today. I do believe this book will equip you to parent from a spiritual perspective (but it's loaded with lots of practical application). You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll be inspired and encouraged (that was my goal, anyway). :) 

Now on to my topic...

As I prayed about what to share this week, one idea kept surfacing in my thoughts. I think a number of you may be walking a rough road right now, but that road may be leading you to your next place of promise. God is getting you ready for a promotion!

As I've mentioned before, the Old Testament story of Joseph is one of my favorite stories in the Bible. And since I've referenced his story several times on this blog, I won't spend too much time on the details of his story. But I would like to highlight a few of the bumps in his road; places on his journey that both softened and strengthened him, and made him ready to do great things.

The obvious bumps in Joseph's road were the betrayal of his brothers and subsequent slavery, his refusal to dishonor his boss's wife and the false accusation and prison that followed. But I would like to highlight a few of the not so obvious challenges; ones that you and I face every day; and ones that may qualify or disqualify us for promotion: 

Stewardship: Joseph had a dream of leadership and management on a large scale. And yet, first he was given the task of managing households and prisons. Scripture reminds us not to despise the days of small beginnings. Are you serving in a place that feels too small for your giftings? God is with you! Embrace contentment and thanksgiving. Don't grumble there. Don't let that place define you. Keep your eye on the horizon because one day, God will open up new doors of opportunity. But faithfulness in-this-place is crucial if you wish to be fruitful in the next place God has for you.

Being overlooked: God used Joseph to interpret the dreams of two prisoners. In fact, Joseph was completely accurate in his interpretation; everything happened as he suggested it would. To the one prisoner who was about to be released, Joseph said, "Please mention me to Pharaoh! For I am innocent and did nothing to deserve this place!" (my paraphrase). But, once the man was released from prison, he forgot all about Joseph. I know this happens in the refining process: God uses us in a powerful way, but the person who could help us, make a connection for us, or open a door for us, is either looking the other way, or simply forgets all about us. What will we do during such times? This is a perfect test of the heart; it exposes our ambition and impatience. This is a great opportunity to humbly embrace God's timing and to trust that He'll deliver us when we are good and ready. And an important note: we must NOT put our hope in mere men. God-alone has the power to open doors for us and He knows how to get to us; He knows our address.

Walking out his dream: Okay, just so I don't make Joseph sound perfect, I'll address something he could have done a little differently. When you consider that Joseph's brothers didn't like him all that much to begin with, it wasn't all that wise for Joseph to flap his dream in their faces; especially since his dream involved them bowing before him. This is very tempting when we have a dream taking shape in our souls. Of course we should humbly share our dreams with safe people who will call our gifts out of us. But as we grow into our calling, it's much better to walk it out, then to spend time talking about it. 

Once Joseph got past the bragging, he walked out his dream beautifully. He surrendered to God; he submitted to the Lord's refining work in his life; and he embraced his lot, each and every time. And when it was his time, he stepped from the prison to the palace like it was no big deal. He was ready. May we be as ready.

What's God doing in your life? I'd love to know.

Have a great week~

Fear Masquerading As 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. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So share a story or an insight, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and friend!

It's time to announce this month's winner...

Joy Ballard, congratulations! Email me at: info@susielarson.com with your mailing address and I'll get your gift card out to you within the next week or so. Blessings to you all and thanks for your posts!

Now on to my topic...

I like Wednesday mornings. I wake up extra early to do my Watchman Prayer (an hour designated to pray for the families and ministries at my church), I get to talk to one of my mentors when I call to hand the prayer baton to her. Those few minutes of deep spiritual dialogue give me food for thought the rest of the day. And, another great thing about Wednesdays is that I get to connect with YOU!

This morning, my mentor and I talked about what it means to venture out in faith to the unknown zone. God is moving in our midst. Are we willing to go where He leads? 

My mentor said something struck a cord with me. Here's what she said: "All too often, we don't want to look foolish or take certain risks, so we stay safe and miss God. Which is really just fear masqueraded as wisdom." 

Just what kinds of fears are we talking about here? Fear of man, fear of the unknown, fear of discomfort, and fear of looking foolish; these are the ones that come to my mind. What will people think if I fail or look foolish? What if God asks me to do something that really costs me? Do I really want to take the risk of being uncomfortable? 

But let's look at Jesus' life. Is there anything about His time on earth that catered to other's opinions, looking foolish, or personal comforts? At some point we have to get free from such things if we want to live Kingdom lives here on earth!

God is on the move! And He wants us to move with Him! 

Are you clinging to safety and comfort and calling it wisdom?

Sometimes it is wise to stay put when everyone else is running. But sometimes it's just safe, and not wise at all. 

Here's an excerpt from my book, "Embracing Your Freedom":

"Being a believer involves faith. And faith involves risk - calculated yet heroic steps that lead us out of places of self-protecting and into places of God-provision. Embracing our freedom means we are willing to press past our fears because freedom is better...When God says, 'Go!' it's more dangerous to stay behind. There is less risk in moving into the unknown than in lagging behind in disobedience and unbelief" (p.210).

Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along HIS path. He will honor you, giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed (Psalm 37:34).

Here's another verse that I love:

Do not fear ANYTHING except the Lord Almighty. He ALONE is the Holy One. If you FEAR HIM, you need fear nothing else. HE will keep you safe (Isaiah 8:13-14).

May we embrace faith and be truly wise. 

~Until next week

Embrace the Season...

 

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. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So share a story or an insight, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and friend!

NEW RELEASE!!!

I am very excited to announce the release of my newest book, "Embracing Your Freedom: A Personal Experience in God's Heart for Justice." 

Bless my socks off and pick up a copy today! I believe the message of this book is an important word for women in our day. Follow the Amazon link below to get a look at my book. Please post a review if you've had the chance to read 'Embracing Your Freedom' (thank you so much!):

Embracing Your Freedom on Amazon...

Last month, in light of the Thanksgiving holiday, we explored some uncommon aspects of giving thanks. 

This month, in light of our Savior's birth, we'll spend the next few weeks exploring different ideas around giving and receiving 'gifts.' 

Now on to my topic...

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I've been walking through a spiritual battle of sorts. I'm thankful to say that I'm now on the other side of the battle and thrilled to be! Not that any circumstances changed, at all, but Christ made Himself at home in my life in a new and deeper way (Gal. 2:20). My resolve to follow Him was strengthened and my understanding of the importance of humility and surrender increased exponentially. 

Looking back over the past few weeks, it occurred to me that we as followers of Christ are often in one of two seasons: A season of reaping or a season of refining. Sometimes we experience both of these seasons at the same time, but in different areas of life. 

Many people today are walking through a refining season of life. Times are difficult. Plans fail. People let us down. The enemy presses in hard. Resources are scarce and it's tempting to wonder, where is God?

Refining seasons are not fun at all but they are essential to our spiritual maturity and growth. What do we do during such times? 

We embrace the season with all of the faith we can muster. We trust that God is up to something good. We stand strong against the threats of the enemy. We keep our shield raised high, and we determine through it all, that God is always good. And then, we keep walking.

The following verse got me through some of the worst times in my life:

Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest (Psalm 126: 5-6).

When everything in our lives feels out of control and out of our hands, what do we do? We kneel down, we plant our seeds of faith, we water them with our tears, and then we cry out to God and declare Him faithful. Those who dare to do such a radical thing, will come out the other side carrying a harvest in their arms. What a payoff. Plant a few seeds. Carry a harvest in our arms. God's Word is true.

*This past Monday I was a guest on Along the Way and talked about this very thing. Check it out if you're interested. It was a good interview: Susie on Along the Way...

Now let's address the season of reaping...

Over and over again in the Bible we read about the idea of sowing and reaping. Of planting seeds and of gathering a harvest. For every serious follower of Christ, it's a given that we regularly plant seeds. We plant seeds of faith when we seed a need. We plant seeds of life and encouragement into those we meet. We plant seeds of God's Word in the barren places of our lives, knowing, that one day, life will spring forth and a harvest will grow. Furthermore, seeds are planted in us. Again, for the earnest Christian, when the soil of our hearts is prepared and healthy, a bountiful crop will result (See Mark 4). 

When we enter a seasons of reaping and of favor, it's wonderful! We begin to see the fruit of our hard work. We see evidences of our faith become actual substance. We eat from the fruit of our labor. But a caution here: When the wind is at our back and we see breakthroughs all around, it's tempting to loosen our grip on the Vine; to think that life is good because, perhaps, we are good. 

Anytime life is good, it's because God is good. And when life is bad, is God still good? You know the answer. Absolutely. Yes. All of the time.

Stewardship is important during seasons of reaping. Every good gift comes from the Father. We can do nothing apart from Him. We are blessed to be a blessing. God allows us to partner with Him in this Kingdom work, but it's His work. He gives to us, trusting that we'll give some away. We are flow-through accounts to a world in need. 

Read this powerful passage:

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for foodwill also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God (2 Corinthians 9:6-11).

Are you in a season of refining? It's painful, I know. Embrace the season and trust that God is good. Plant seeds of faith. Believe that this painful season will change. Bow your knee to your Maker. Hang on to your identity. Envision the harvest. No seeds are more precious to God than those planted in difficult times and watered with tears of desperate faith. Envision the harvest because that kind of sowing is a big deal to God.

Are you in a season of reaping? It's wonderful, I know. Embrace the season and steward it well because every good gift comes from above. Sow more seeds. Give more away. Believe for greater things, knowing that another season of harvest will be yours in due time. 

Seasons come and seasons go for this is the walk of faith!

Press on in His name.

~Until next week...

How Far...

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. 

Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So share an insight or story, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and a friend! It's time to announce the winner for August. Drum roll please...

Liz (don't have a last name but you comment on 8/10/09)! Congratulations! To claim your prize, just email me at: info@susielarson.com with your mailing address. A little side note: you have to claim your prize before I announce next month's winner! Be blessed.

Now on to my topic...

I've been working especially hard in the past several months. I've been stretched and strained and strengthened, all at the same time. Even here, God has been especially present.

I want to take just a few minutes to explore three things:

1.) How far Jesus went to save us

2.) How far He has removed our transgressions from us

3.) And how far we will follow Him, especially when parts of us have to die in the process

I think we all know how far Jesus went to save us. But let's pause for a moment today and ponder this priceless gift. Before we knew the depth of our offense, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Whenever I take communion, I can't help but think about Jesus at the last supper. Was He trembling on the inside at the thought of the road ahead? Was He most concerned about the pain and disillusionment His disciples would endure when they saw Him on the cross? While He walked this earth, He felt our feelings, and endured our struggles. When the time came, when He fell to the ground, a bloody mess, He could have said one word and the angels would have rescued Him, which would have changed everything for us. But He was silent. He would not allow Himself to be rescued. He didn't draw all kinds of personal boundaries because of past offenses. He took it all. All for love. He went the distance for you and me. We were on His mind. Amazing love.

Regarding our sins, the Bible says that He has removed our transgressions from us. As far as the East is form the West, so far has He removed our sins from us! Is it possible to travel so far East that when you get there, you're actually in the West? Doesn't matter. East will always be East of West. Never the two shall meet. For every redeemed person, that's how far your sin is away from you. You're in one place, your sin in another. Pause today, and consider this: you are not the sum of your flaws. You are not your track record. You are someone God loves. Fresh start. New day. Wonderful Mercies. All offered to you this day. Walk in the fullness of God today. Let's never take such a gift for granted!

In light of this great love, can I ask you a question? How far will you go for Him? Is He calling you to take a road less traveled? To revisit an old painful memory? To humble yourself and forgive? To walk away from anger and bitterness? Will you follow Him? I pray that you will.

He will never lead us astray. He's always good. He is the Redeemer, after all.

Have a blessed week.

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