A New Place in Grace...

 

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. In the month of March I will give away a gift card and a couple of copies of my new book, "Growing Grateful Kids."  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!

Some of you may have noticed I was AWOL last week. So sorry about that. My husband ended up in the hospital last week and I was at his bedside with him. I didn't have a minute to think about my blog. But I'm back at it this week!

It's time to announce February's winner of the $10.00 Starbucks gift card. Drum roll, please...Helen Martin, congratulations! Please email me with your address and I will get your card in the mail within the next week or so. 

A Quick Note:

I am thrilled to announce the 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), 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...

In my last post, "Grace and Power" I wrote about a new level of grace so to speak. Grace is what saves us, and what a gift that is! But grace also fuels us to walk out the above-and-beyond call God has for us! Read that post if you haven't yet. 

Years ago while at a family camp, someone convinced me to do the Pamper Pull (not sure why it's called that). Ever done one of those? Yikes, I don't think I'll be doing it again any time soon. The Pamper Pull is a very tall telephone pole with spikes on each side for climbing up the (very) tall pole. You are harnessed in but it's a long ways up there. 

That part wasn't so bad. But once you get to the top they want you to stand on the pole. But picture this with me. Once you get to the top, there's nothing for you to grab hold of to hoist yourself to the top of the pole. You have to keep your hands in place and put your body up over the pole and somehow lift your feet under you and place them on the pole. Are you nauseous yet?

Once you get your balance on the top of the pole, you have to jump a long ways out to grab hold of a trapeze bar. That part didn't scare me nearly as much as trying to finagle my body to the top of that wretched pole. :) 

When I talk about a new place of grace, I'm not talking about a featherbed where you lay back and do nothing. I am talking about attempting things with God that take you out of your comfort zone and beyond your ability to manage in the ways you always have.

The Pamper Pull wasn't exactly my cup of tea, but I refused to be a land lover. I climbed the pole, and though that took me away from the comfortable, stable ground, at least I had those spikes to grab hold of to make the climb easier.

But when I got to the top where there was really nothing to grab hold of, I simply had to go for it and rely on the harness. Nothing about that feat was comfortable. But I did it!

As I explore this place of grace in my own life, it's not comfortable, but so essential if I want to grow and experience the exponential results that God offers when more rests on Him than on me. 

This past weekend, I went into an important speaking event with very little preparation because of my husband's hospital stay, but I had God's assurance in my heart. Now don't misunderstand me; preparation is SO important. I've heard of speakers who don't prep at all. They walk out the door and think about what they are going to say on the way to their event. I would never do that.

But somewhere along the line, our routines and comfortable ways have to be challenged so that we don't end up trusting our efforts more than the living-breathing power, provision, and promises of God. 

And can I just tell you this? We had a power-full weekend! God showed up in intimate and profound ways. And, though I've spoken to larger crowds in the past, we had record sales this weekend, by a lot. Record sales. Powerful God-encounters. Women saved and restored. He took my efforts out of the equation and showed me a new place of grace.

Are you there, possibly? Is God challenging the status quo in your life? Is He asking you to reach for something and you don't even know where to put your hands to get there? You don't need to have all of the answers. You don't even need to understand.

Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart (trust not in the things that make you feel comfortable and secure), and lean not on your own understanding (lean not on your love for a predictable routine or the need for everything to make sense), in ALL YOUR WAYS acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

I do pray that you'll attempt the crazy-impossible if God asks you to. As you lay down your affection for the comfortable and the predictable, you will step into a place of adventure with Him, a new place of Grace.

~Until Next Week...

Grace and Power...

 

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 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...

I am excited about what I have to share with you today! I hope I can convey in words what I have in my heart, because it feels like an important message for us all (namely me). 

If you are a Christ-follower, you know that grace and grace alone has saved you. You no doubt know or may have memorized this verse:

For by GRACE we are saved - through faith - not of ourselves, but is a gift of God, not by any works, so that NO ONE can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

Grace, grace, where would we be without grace? We would be lost. We'd still be orphans. We would not have the identity and inheritance we do now. We get to feast at His table because He invited us, not because we were worthy guests. Thank you, Lord.

But unfortunately, far too many Believers think that's where grace stops. As if to say that grace gets us in the race, but then we take it from there. Saving grace is precious and priceless but there is more to grace, far more, in fact. 

Here is another verse to ponder:

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 (2 Corinthinans 9:8). 

Can I just say, that verse is bursting with the promise of provision! He gives us grace and more grace.

Around this time every year, I start to feel weary from my travels and in deep need of some rest and relaxation. But for me, those days do not come until about late May. The other morning during a powerful prayer time with my husband, I asked God for grace and more grace to carry me through - and not just to get through - I asked for abounding grace to propel me into a place of abundance during my spring speaking tour. 

As I boldly asked God to fulfill the promise of 2 Corinthians 9:8, He gave me a picture in my mind of something that surprised me at first. Let me explain. And stay with me, because this is important. 

In my mind's eye I saw a picture of the main level of a house, but as I began to boldly pray, my perspective rose above the main level to a hidden upper room so to speak. In this upper level every thing was bigger, more bountiful, and oversized. In comparison, the lower level looked like a Barbie-doll house. The lower level furniture was tiny, like little toys. The 'upper level' was in every way, superior. 

The more we prayed, the more I sensed that the upper room represented that place were grace and power fuels us; the place where we function closest to Jesus and where we draw on His strength. When we go at it in our own strength, or we take a God-given assignment and turn it in to striving, we end up on the lower level, where the fruit, the furniture, the sense of perspective are like little toys compared to what we produce when we are in step with Jesus and totally connected to the Vine.

Our Pastor friend Mark Spencer used a candle as an analogy for operating in the grace and power of God. He said, "When a candle burns the wax as it should, you see a constant and steady flame. But when the candle starts to flicker, you know the flame is burning into the wick - which you don't want to happen."

Are you experiencing a steady flame in your life right now? Or are you burning the wick and is your flame starting to flicker? Are you where God wants you to be right now? Or are you running your own race? Maybe you started out with a God-given assignment but now you're grinding it out on your own strength.

It may be time to pull back and seek the Lord. Ask Him for grace and power. Ask Him to redirect your steps so you can find that sweet spot of service in step with Him. Take some time to rest in Him that He might strengthen you and refresh you. Most of all, get a vision of what that upper room, of what that higher level is supposed to look like for you.

How would your life look different with an abundance of grace and power flowing through the work of your hands? What kind of results would seem supernatural to you? I tell you what, that's what God wants for us and from us - a supernatural, exponential return on His investment! Ask God to fulfill this promise in your life. Ask Him to speak to you about life-adjustments necessary in order to function from that place of abundant grace. 

As we draw on the Lord's strength for the Lord's specific call on our lives, we will find our greatest joy, our greatest strength, and our greatest results. His highest will for us is our best-case-scenario and the place where we most love to serve. May we all live and function from such a sweet spot. 

So sorry for the extra long post. Have a blessed, grace and power-filled week!

~Until next week...

With Him, You Can...

 

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...

This week my friend Melinda Schmidt (WMBI) and I had a conversation about how so often our God-sized call is somehow connected to our past painful experiences or even our missteps. I have a friend who was a battered wife, and eventually opened up a women's shelter. My sister was relentlessly teased as a young girl and now serves as an amazing youth pastor (she is intentional about building honor into the lives of her teens). I know of a Bible scholar who, when she was a teen, was especially tempted to do drugs (and she did). Later on she recognized that the devil saw her potential and worked to sabotage her call before she ever realized she had a gift. Well, she ended up a college professor and works to teach her students how to steward the gift of their minds. 

It's far too easy to become so introspective about our past pains and missteps, that we miss the greater opportunity before us. What if? What if we dared to turn the tables on the enemy by making something of our suffering? What if we dared give God the broken pieces of our lives and asked Him to do something great with our offering? You know what? That's what He does best. 

Whatever gaps there are from our past, whatever potholes we tripped over, God can fill them in and bring restoration. He not only wants to heal what's broken, He wants to pour in wisdom where there once was brokenness that we might be of service to others. 

It's time to think BIG! What God-sized thing is God asking of you at this stage of your journey? When our boys were growing up, we constantly challenged them, "We cannot please God without faith. So, what are you believing God for these days?"

Also, woven into our spiritual DNA is evidence of our calling. If you have children, look for it in them. Notice how they respond to some of life's inequalities. Take Moses, for instance. One day while walking among the Jewish slaves, he saw an Egyptian beating on of his fellow Hebrews. Moses stepped in (but he mis-stepped by killing the man and covering it up). Another time, during his journey to the land of Midian, Moses stepped in and stood up to a few shepherds who were bullying the daughters of a priest. Moses was a stand-in-the-gap sort of man.

But, when the moment came and God called Moses to step up, what was his response? 

"But I can't speak. I'm a clumsy speaker! They'll never listen to me! I can't do this!!!" Moses argued with God.

Here's the deal. When God calls us to step up, it'll never seem like an opportune moment. He calls us for 'such a time as THIS." Though we would prefer more margin in our schedule, more money in our bank account, and more spring in our step, God prefers to find His people willing and ready when He calls. Those moments never seem like the right moment for us, but as far as God is concerned, they are precisely the right moments to serve His Kingdom purposes. 

May we give God the whole of who we are. May we ask Him to heal and restore us and make us new again. May we dare to ask Him to use us in mind-boggling ways. He loves such requests!

But know this, when He calls us, we WILL be tempted to look down, to take a 'natural inventory' and to measure it against the task at hand. When we do this, we will come up short every time. We may protest because of our limited inventory. But, during such times, God simply asks us, "What's that in your hand? Let's use that." 

Read God's response after Moses expressed his doubts and insecurities:

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Pay close attention to this. I will make you seem like God to Pharaoh." 

That verse about knocked my socks off. 

When God is for us, who can stand against us? When He calls us to it, He'll bring us through it. When He leads us to a need, He'll provide every step of the way. For the Christ-follower, God is in us, works through us, and surrounds us like a shield. We are called to make a God-sized-impact on this earth! And with Him, we can!

Right now, He's searching the earth, looking for those whose hearts are devoted to Him; those who will step out in faith, like David with Goliath, like Moses with the Pharaoh, like Peter with the religious leaders, and like Esther on behalf of her people. 

For whom has He called you to advocate, speak up, or stand in the gap?

This is our watch. This is our chance to change the world. And with Him we can. And we must.

Blessings to you.

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