Susie Larson

Tuesday

Dec082009

Embrace the Season...

Posted on

Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 2:01PM

Greetings, Dear Friends!

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!):

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...

6 Comments

Wednesday

Dec022009

A Greater Love...

Posted on

Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 5:42AM

Greetings, Dear Friends!

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."

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...

Can you think of a time recently when you didn't get your way? Maybe somebody promised you something and then they forgot about it. Or maybe you had every right to think a certain someone would come through for you only to be left high and dry. How did you respond to such a disappointment?

Recently I spent some time reflecting on the following passage:

"Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever" (1 John 2:15-17 NLT).

I like this version because it describes how the world offers 'only a craving' but not the answer for our souls, not the real and lasting satisfaction for which we were designed.

Read this excerpt from my, "Believer's Bible Commentary":

When a banks is breaking, smart people do not deposit in it. When the foundation is tottering, intelligent builders do not proceed. Concentrating on this world is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. So wise people do not live for a world that is passing away. But he who does the will of God abides forever." (p. 2314).

Just how does a 'love for the world' manifest in us? Well, in many ways, but here's one: Our want for credit and glory and recognition! Even when we are overlooked and have a seemingly legitimate reason to gripe - we must know that it is in those places where we have the opportunity to please God most. Can we serve and give just for Him and Him alone? Do we always have to receive our 'fair pay' and proper credit?

When an insatiable craving for recognition rises up within us, and we grab for ourselves something God would have eventually given us, the love of God through us, diminishes in those competitive moments. During those times when we love and crave what the world loves and craves, God's love ceases to operate within us. But when we humble ourselves, and trust God's timing and goodness, when we die to our imagined rights that we might live for Christ, the power of the Kingdom is released in those hidden and obscure places.

Consider Joseph in the Old Testament. He was falsely accused, horrifically betrayed, and then overlooked in prison after being used of God to help others. What was his response? In all things, Joseph humbly honored God, knowing that God would establish him in due time.

Will we be faithful in such a test? Faithful with the opportunity to love when an offense would be easier? Will we refuse to pick up a stone, and pick up our cross instead?

We die daily that we might grow deeper.

May we love and live and serve and give for an audience of One. He will establish and bless us in due time.

John 15:13 ~ Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

God bless you this week!
Until next week~

11 Comments

Wednesday

Nov252009

YES! and NO!

Posted on

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 7:11AM

Greetings, Dear Friends!

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."

It's time to give away this month's Starbucks gift card. Drum roll please...

Jami Kaeb, congratulations! Thanks for your great posts! Email me at: info@susielarson.com with your mailing address and I'll get the card in the mail to you. Bless you!

Now on to my topic...

Those of you who frequent my blog know that I've devoted the weeks in November to address some uncommon aspects of giving thanks (for our freedom for the unknown road ahead, for the first signs of answered prayer). Today we are going to look at the powerful gifts of our 'YES' and 'NO' when it comes to the spiritual realm. There is power in those words!

Ephesians 6:16 tells us to: take up the shield of faith with which we can extinguish ALL of the flaming arrows of the evil one.

When we walk in step with the Lord, there is NOTHING the enemy can send our way that we can't defend. We raise our shield and we block his attempts to bring us down, make us doubt, and move us into discouragement. I'm speaking to myself here. I've been in a bit of a funk these past couple of days. But this passage reminds me that the armor I possess in Christ is perfect for times such as these!

Author Rick Renner addressed the 'with which' in the verse above. He wrote that the Greek word for the phrase 'with which' is 'dunamis' which means explosive power.

When the enemy shoots his arrows at us, we MUST raise our shield in response to his attacks and say 'NO!' When we raise our shield and refuse his taunts, we actually activate and explosive power in the supernatural realm. Our shield isn't a plastic toy, it's a supernatural weapon to combat and overcome supernatural schemes devised against us! And that's something for which to be thankful!

Let's look at another verse:

(Jesus answers a man who said, "If you can...please help us"):

"'If you can?' said Jesus. 'Everything is possible for him who believes.' (See Mark 9:23).

According to author Rick Renner, the word 'possible' in this verse is the Greek word, 'dunata' which comes from the word 'dunatos.' It expresses the idea of ability, power, and one who is able. It shares the same root word as 'dunamis.'

Rick Renner writes: "You see, faith is the spark that ignites the impossible causes to become possible. When a person's faith is activated, it sets in motion supernatural power that enables that person to do what he normally would never be able to do!" (See Sparkling Gems, pg. 780).

So you see, when you say NO! to the enemy, you active explosive power against the forces that stand opposed to you. And when you say YES! to God, you active explosive power in the heavenly realms where God has assigned warring angels to assist and help you.

Our 'NO' and 'YES' mean something to God and they mean something to the devil. Let's not minimize the gift of what God had made available to us in this life. We are equipped to be MORE THAN CONQUERORS in Christ Jesus. God has given us authority over ALL of the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19), and ANYTHING is possible for us who walk in faith (Mark 9:23).

Thank you, Lord.

~Until next week.

9 Comments

Tuesday

Nov172009

First a Trickle...

Posted on

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 3:16PM

Greetings, Dear Friends!

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."

Now on to my topic...

If you're new to my blog, I'm dedicating the weeks in November to some uncommon aspects of gratitude. The first week we remembered afresh our gift of freedom and thanked God for it. The call was to pull over to the side of the road and take in the beautiful sunset, because you can. Slow down and enjoy that conversation with your friend, because you can!

Last week we considered the unknown path ahead of us a beautiful thing. Why? Because Jesus is already there. He goes before us and He is behind us. He's even right beside us. And though the ground feels unsteady beneath our feet, Jesus is holds us steady and makes us strong. We as Believers have the glad assurance of God's precious and personal presence and for that, we are grateful.

This week we're going to look at the precious gift of answered prayer. Every one of us is either wearing, living in, or in some other way, enjoying full-fledged answers to past prayers. In fact, we've prayed countless prayers and then forgot about them only to enjoy the answer later with no thought of God's faithfulness. God forgive us. But there's still today. Let's thank Him today for every blessing we enjoy.

So where's the uncommon in all of this? Let's thank Him too for the prayers that remain unanswered - at least as far as our eyes can see. We must know that our God is fully engaged with us on this journey, an ever present help in times of trouble (see Psalm 46:1).

The Lord wants us to ask and keep asking. Seek and keep seeking. Knock and keep knocking. He loves our tenacity and our faith. He is always moving. Always intervening in response to our prayers. The thing is, many of those answers and life-changes are invisible at first.

When we bring our requests before God and when we hold on to the promises from His Word, things change. In the spiritual realm first. Just because we cannot see Him work in our kids, our spouses, our workplace, or our own lives, it doesn't mean He isn't working. He is. And He moves in beautiful and divine ways.

Isaiah 43:18-19 is a great reminder for us:

Forget the former things. Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a NEW THING!

Now it springs up; do you know PERCEIVE it?

I am MAKING A WAY in the desert and STREAMS in the wasteland.

We pray. We trust. We thank God for His faithfulness. And we continue to walk on in faith, knowing He'll come through for us.

And suddenly one day - sometimes when we least expect it - we notice a stream in the wasteland, a trickle of water finding it's way through the dry and weary places of our lives.

We get discouraged when we pray because too often, we look for the BIG answer, the finished product, and the final solution, all the while missing the trickle of life making its way into our lives.

As we acknowledge God's faithfulness in our lives, as we hold on to faith, walk in obedience, and trust in God's Word, that trickle in due time becomes a rushing river. May we never minimize those small beginnings and those little glimpses of change. We can find God in every nook and cranny of our lives.

Lean in and listen to what God has to say to you today. A new thing springs up. Can you perceive it? Do you trust Him enough to thank Him for the answers that are on their way? Answers are on their way you know, just for you.

If you see a trickle of water flow through your dry and weary land, celebrate! If you see a small, fist-sized cloud in the sky, jump up and down and praise Him! (See 1 Kings 18). God is moving in ways we cannot see. And He loves, loves, loves it when we wholeheartedly embrace that truth.

Bless Him today with your faith. Thank Him ahead of time for the ways He is moving on your behalf.

~Until next week.

10 Comments