Love Jesus...

Greetings, Dear Friends!

And to those visiting, I say welcome!

Susie Larson here...

I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way.

Before I get into my topic, I have a little business to take care of. Each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to Caribou Coffee. My son suggested I switch to Starbucks. What do you think? 

Anyway, today is the day to award September's winner.

And the winner is...Tina Greenland! Tina, Congratulations! email me at: info@susielarson.com and claim your prize.

*Just a note: winners have to contact me. I'm not able to chase you down! Thanks so much!

One more note of business. My quarterly Ezine comes out on October 15; if you haven't signed up, be sure to do so today! I give away lots of fun books from fellow authors; I include some devotional thoughts and great book recommendations; and I offer some health and balance tips. Here's the link to subscribe:

Susie's Ezine:

Now, on to my topic...

This morning during my prayer time, I pondered Jesus' words to His disciples regarding the woman who lavishly anointed Jesus' head with expensive oil:

"...For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her." (Mark 14:6-9)

A little later during my prayer time I read from Revelations, chapter two regarding the Church of Ephesus. 

This church, from all appearances, had it together. They were known for their incredible work ethic, their patience, their intolerance of evil, and their ability to discern the legitimacy of those who talked a good talk. They had grit and perseverance and they were very, very patient.

AND YET, God took issue with them. So much so, that unless they repented, He promised to come quickly and remove the lampstand from their place. 

Just where did they miss the mark?

The Bible says, they 'left their first love'. 

They were about their Father's business with out their Father's fellowship. 

Think about another story in the New Testament. Mary and Martha. Both had access to Jesus. Both loved Him. To quote author William L. Ford III who addressed the difference between Martha and Mary's focus, "Martha was consumed with how she served...Mary was consumed with WHO she served..."

Hang with me, I'll be making my point soon.

Let's just jump to one more Bible passage. In 1 Corinthians chapter 13: 3 it says:

"If I give away all I have to the poor and give my body up to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing."

Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm passionate about social justice issues. I want the Church to be mobilized to feed the poor, rescue the oppressed, and to set captives free!

I use a portion of every one of my speaking engagements to draw attention to the work of my heroes at the International Justice Mission.

In fact, just last night, my husband and I (and a few of our friends) attended Sara Groves' 'Art-Music-Justice' tour and I cried through most of the program. It was amazing.

So, what's my point?

I believe that many people, Christian and otherwise, are stepping up to meet the needs of the oppressed because God is pressing the issue. His heart burns for these precious people and He'll use whoever is available to do the things that He cares about.

But, in light of the anger and political divisions in and outside the Church, you can see how 'Social Justice' can become a religion all its own.

It's noble to do this work. Every one agrees with that.

Jesus, on the other hand, well, He's a little more controversial. 

I'm walking carefully here, so please stay with me.

At the end of the day, it's our oneness with Jesus that matters more than anything. And when we fan that flame, nurture that love, and live from a place of intimacy with Him, we'll do the things He cares about. We'll be provoked to care about the poor; we'll be compelled to help the helpless; we'll be moved to make a difference in our world.

But if we stray away from our 'first love' passion, and we use all of our energy to diligently do the work (minus the worship), in a short amount of time, it'll become about us; about what we're doing; about what others should be doing.

The result? Self righteousness. Judgement. Exhaustion. Frustration. Feeling overwhelmed by the vast need around us. Feeling under-qualified to make a difference. Feeling prideful that we're doing more than the next guy. Feeling insignificant that we're not doing as much as the next guy. And so on.

And yet, when we abide in the Vine, fruit happens. Life happens. Needs are met. People are revived. And we're made new in the process. When we hook up to our Life Source, life flows through us and produces an impact that we never could on our own. 

My friends at the International Justice Mission are perfect examples of this.

Each and every person I've met and worked alongside, has been a godly, humble person. They are so connected with the heart of Christ behind their work, they give off no expectation that 'you should really be doing more' or that 'I'm someone special because I'm doing what matters'. 

On the contrary.

They are so connected to the heart of Christ in this thing, that they face the worst of the evil on this earth with a brave and humble heart knowing that God is with them. They can receive your $5.00 gift with utter humility and gratitude as if you have just given them a million dollars. 

How do they walk such a narrow path? 

Under Gary Haugen's leadership, every IJM staffer places a high priority on prayer and oneness with God.

The days are speeding up and the end is nearer today than it was yesterday. 

One day we'll all give an account for what we did with what was offered us.

What did we do with the offer of fellowship with Jesus?

We're we willing to face and admit the poverty of our own soul?

Did we serve on our own strength, or did we serve out of our fullness in Christ?

Did we place a high priority on our time in Jesus' presence?

Did we tend to things that burn in God's heart?

Did we live by faith?

Considering the Church of Ephesus who seemed to have it all together but ran the risk of losing their 'lampstand' because somewhere along the line, they wandered off track...may we pause and consider the path we are on today.

As Graham Cooke once said, "Christianity isn't rocket science, it's about living under the love of Christ. It's about letting Him love you and living in response to that love."

Take time today to ponder your fellowship with Christ. Nurture that love-affair. Rest in His care. Do what He says. 

No more. No less. 

Trust Him to carry the world on His shoulders. Be humbly grateful for the call on your life. Entrust others to Him as well. 

First and foremost, love Jesus today. Enjoy the fact that He is crazy in love with you. 

Until next week~

Love Heals...

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.

I'm back from last week's publicity tour and I have to say, things went extremely well. I missed connecting with you though and I have a fun message to share today.

Before I get into my topic I have a little business to take care of. As most of you regulars know, each month I give away a $10.00 Caribou Coffee gift card to someone who posts on my blog. Next week I'll announce the winner for September. Remember, you have to claim your prize. I wish I had time to chase you down, but I don't. So if you see your name posted next week, be sure to contact me.

Also, on October 15th, my quarterly E-zine goes out to my mailing list subscribers. This E-zine is packed with fun information. From health and balance tips to great book recommendations. From devotional insights to a handful of fun giveaways. If you've not subscribed yet, do so by clicking the following link:

E-zine Subscribe...

You'll receive the E-zine in October, January, April, and July. A couple times a year you'll receive a "Members Only" email offering great discounts on my books and CDs. 

Okay, now on to my topic...

About a year ago I blogged about a stray, abused dog my son rescued from traffic. In that post I wrote about the power of loving the weak and the call to to be more like Christ in this way. Check it out:

Loving the Weak...

Anyway, when Jordan rescued, "Bubs" (a name he gave the dog after we tried every other name we could think of including Steve and Phil), he was scruffy, scared, and completely messed up. His nails were grown into a full circle. His teeth were black. He was filthy and without a collar. Whenever I reached up to scratch my head, he would shrink back in fear. Any movement made in his presence made him jump back and cower as if he was about to be hit.

(A little note: if you took the time to read the "Loving the Weak" post (which I love), you'll notice I referred to Bubs as a 'she' but we were more than a little wrong about that little point.)

Whenever I opened the sliding glass door for Bubs to go outside, he would shrink back, start shaking, and cry like a baby. Every. Single. Time.

I started to wonder if he had been slammed in the door or kicked out the door when it was time to go to the bathroom. 

Even now, when the storms rage outside, he trembles and cries in my arms. I have to wrap him in a blanket and hold him tight to get him to stop crying. My heart broke as I imagined him stuck outside on stormy nights. What a broken, wounded animal this was!

But boy, how have things changed for Bubs!

Just after we decided to keep him and care for him, we put about $350.00 into his teeth, nails, hair, shots, etc., etc. His whole appearance changed.

In the months that followed Bubs got perkier and perkier. He follows me around. Everywhere. I can't get up and take two steps without him right at my side.

My friend said that dogs know when they've been rescued and they're forever grateful. 

Bubs is definitely grateful.

What's amazing is that I can now open the sliding door just enough to let him out, and he'll bolt right through without a hint of fear! I used to have to open the door all the way and gently carry him out onto the deck. 

Now that Bub's feels safe, his funny personality has emerged. He makes us laugh every day. 

He still makes an occasional mess and sometimes smells bad. But he knows he's loved. 

Look again at the picture above. Now that dog has a good gig!

Just what does this have to do with you and me?

Well, I can think of several areas of my life that were once marked by fear, cowering, and shrinking back, and are now forever changed because of God's love and truth in my life

God's love heals.

He loves us. He wants to go to every deep, wounded, dark place, and shine His light there. He is intent on our healing and freedom. 

Read this great excerpt from, "Sparkling Gems from the Greek"

"...you can be sure that the 'agape' love of God wil never fail you or let you down. This love is constant, unchanging, and dependable. It is a love you will always find to be reliable and true--a love on which you can depend." (p.687)

When we're messy and when we smell bad, God loves us still.

When we're grateful and when we're growing, God cheers us on.

When we're afraid and we cower, God holds us close. 

When we cling to our fears more than the promises of God, we break His heart. And there is a point where those fears then, become rebellious.

It's for FREEDOM that Christ has set us free!

Just for good measure, I'll include one more picture of Bubs. Jordan 'super-tucked' him (something Kevin did for our boys every night when they were young).

Daily, God pours forth a new measure of grace and healing. 

Slow down, look up, and open your hands.

Receive what He so lovingly wants to give you. 

Walk in a greater measure of wholeness today than you did yesterday.

Know and believe that God is up to great things in your life!

Have a blessed and wonderful week.

A Taste of Things to Come...

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. 

As usual, before I get in to my topic, I have a little business to take care of. Each month I give away a little treat (and every once in a while, a big treat!). This month, one of you who posts on my blog will win a $10.00 gift card to Caribou Coffee. Here's how you win: post on my blog and come back to visit. I'll announce the winner on the first Wednesday in September. It's important to note, if you're name is announced, you need to contact me in order to claim your prize. So pay attention and watch for your name!

Now on to my topic...

The other morning during my time of prayer, I lingered for a while on a passage from the Gospel of Mark, chapter eleven.

Jesus rode through town on a donkey. The people took off their jackets and laid them on the ground that the King of glory and His never-ridden donkey might walk over them. The crowds shouted at the tops of their lungs, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" (See Mark 11:7-10)

What a humble picture of our Lord receiving praise from those who would later shout in favor of His execution. If we were on that donkey, we might have gotten quite a rise from being the object of the crowd's affection. Jesus had a clear perspective in good times and bad. In fact, several times in the New Testament it says that because Jesus knew what was in the heart of man, He entrusted Himself to no one.

Jesus entered Jerusalem and looked around. He assessed the state of things. 

The next day Jesus and His disciples were walking along and Jesus felt His stomach growl. He was hungry.

In the distance He noticed a fig tree with its leaves. Let's read the passage of Scripture:

"...He went to see if He could find anything on (the fig tree). When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And He said to it, 'May no one eat fruit from you again.'" (Mark 11:13-14)

This passage troubled me.

If it wasn't the season for figs, how is that the tree was expected to bear fruit? 

Seems a little harsh, doesn't it?

Well I did a little investigating and I found a delicious little nugget in one of my commentaries.

Hang with me and read what I found in the "Believer's Bible Commentary"...

"Fig trees in Bible lands produced an early edible fruit before the leaves appeared. It was a harbinger of the regular crop, here described as the 'season for figs.' If no early figs appeared, it was a sign that there would be no regular crop later on...There was a promise without fulfillment, profession without reality...Although the primary interpretation of this passage relates to the nation of Israel, it has application to people of all ages who combine high talk with low walk." (p. 1350)

If there were leaves on the fig tree, there should also have been some edible fruit.

If we say we are Believers, it means there needs to be fruit, growth, increase, and nourishment going in and flowing out of us.

These are sobering times calling for real faith and tangible results. 

God has given good gifts to His children. He has planted seeds in our garden. 

Have we cultivated an atmosphere for growth?

Are people nourished by the fruit of our lives?

Traveling around as I do, I meet many Christians of all shapes and sizes. Some take seriously this walk of faith. Others, run to and fro, trying to keep up with their many commitments, thinking they'll nurture their relationship with Jesus...another day.

Over and over in Scripture, we are instructed to be ready; to have oil in our lamps and a watchful eye on the times. 

Read this verse from Matthew 13:12...

To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them.

That verse haunts me when I pray for women on the go who have no time to pray.

We can't be luke-warm and survive. Jesus would much rather our yes be yes and our no be no. He'd prefer we be honest about the matters of our heart. 

If we truly are Believers, may our walk match our talk. May our lives shine His light. And may the fruit that comes from our relationship with Him, nourish many.

Father in Heaven, I pray for my fellow brothers an sisters right now. Help us to keep You first and foremost in our hearts. May our hearts beat in rhythm with Yours. Help us love what You love and do what You would do. May we make the most of the times, for Your Namesake. Amen.

I'll miss you next week. I'll be on a publicity tour but I'll post again the following week.

Peace to you~

Good Gifts...

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.

I'm having a little trouble with the font function on my blog and I apologize for the two font styles and sizes on today's post.

Before I get into my topic, I have some business to take care of. Today I get to announce the winner of the $50.00 VISA gift card and the five recipients of a free copy of my new release, The Uncommon Woman.

Drum roll please...

And the winner of the $50.00 VISA gift card is: Denise! Denise, I don't have your last name but you posted on my blog in August. Please email me at info@susielarson.com to claim your prize. I know your email address so I'll recognize your address when you contact me. :)

And the five winners of free copies of 'The Uncommon Woman' are as follows:

Kelly F

Loree Arington

Anna J

Clair

Michele 

Please contact me at: info@susielarson.com to claim your book.

Congratulations one and all!

And one more point of business: As usual, this month I'll award a $10.00 gift card to Caribou Coffee to someone who posts on my blog. We're entering the fall season and for many of us, a warm cup of java soothes the soul. :)

Now, on to my topic.

This morning during my devotional time, I spent some time reading the Gospel of Mark. Quite a number of verses impacted me but for some reason, this one especially jumped out at me:

For truly I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward (Mark 9:41).

A cup of water. A small thing, no? 

Well, not really. Not ever.

Has anyone given you a cup of water recently?

I can think of a number of instances for me personally:

• My husband and I volunteered to host the Varsity/JV football(and their friends) safe party at our house. We said we'd do it if someone could help us with the food. My friend Kay cooked sloppy joes for 125 football players and their friends because she's Martha, and I'm not. Amazing. 


• One of my mentors asked me to come over for a snack and a time of prayer because during her prayer time, God spoke to her about me and she had some things to share. 


• My son Jordan, before he left for school yesterday, prayed that God would heal me. 


• A woman I'd never met face-to-face, offered to organize a speaking event and book signing because she believes in the things God has given me to say.  


•  A friend has volunteered to come to my house and help organize my files (and my closets and my drawers) so I can start out my speaking season fresh and ready.     

God cherishes the gift of these precious saints so much that He Himself has written down their deeds in the Book of Remembrance. And though I'll find my own ways to express my gratitude, God considers their gifts important enough that He Himself will also return a blessing. 

Their gifts to me are divine and refreshing. And to God, those gifts bring a little of Heaven to earth.

What about you? Has anyone recently blessed you with a cup of water because you belong to Him?

Pause for a moment and consider the idea that those things are sacred and precious to God. Pray for those people and return a blessing to them.

Now let's look at this from another angle. 

Proverbs 3:27 says this:

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

Give some things away today.

Give away a smile. Give away your place in line. Offer up a prayer for someone you don't particularly like. Send a card. Write an email. Make a call. Pay for someone's coffee. Forgive a debt. Forgive an offense. Offer mercy instead of judgment. 

Because you belong to God, and because it matters to Him that we bless others, give, give, and give some more. Not because it makes you look good, but because it makes Him glad.

Let's take one more angle and then I'll let you go for the day. :)

Read this verse:

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how-much-more will your Father in Heaven, give good gifts to those who ask Him (Matthew 7:11)!

Daily, God pours out His blessings on a waiting and watching world. The problem is, most of us aren't waiting or watching.

Jesus loves to give good gifts - gifts that are specifically designed with you in mind. 

The Bible says that He delights in every detail of your life.

Think about that.

Don't be afraid to ask Him for gifts, for intervention, and for a cup of water when you're in a dry and weary land.

Ask, seek, knock. For those who ask, receive; those who seek, find; and those who knock, the door will be opened for them.

Be thankful for the countless ways people come through for you. Notice their deeds and take them to heart, because God certainly does.

Be a blessing and give something away every single day. Your load will be lighter and you'll bless another.

Be sure to ask God for what you need and thank Him for the ways He has come through for you - and for the ways that He will most certainly come through for you. 

Aren't good gifts just the best?

Until next week~

The Great Adventure...

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.

Before I get into my topic, I have a little business to take care of. As most of you know, each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts a comment on this blog.

And in celebration of my new release, "The Uncommon Woman"

I'm giving away a $50.00 VISA gift card to someone who posts a comment during the month of August! I'll announce the winner next week.

Another way to win a $50.00 VISA gift card is to post a review of 'The Uncommon Woman' on Amazon. You have to be subscribed to my mailing list to win. Once you post a review, email me and your name will go into a drawing. I'll announce the winner in the October issue of my E-zine.

Okay, now on to my topic...

I'm reading a great book right now, written by one of my modern-day heroes, Gary Haugen. His new book, "Just Courage" is of course speaking my language, challenging my faith, and confronting my own need for self-preservation. 

I love it.

The opening pages tell of a time when Gary was back in college, staying up late, sitting in the dorm laundry room, waiting for his clothes to dry. While he waited, he read an essay written by John Stuart Mills titled, "On Liberty". In the essay, written in 1859, Mills described the process by which words lose their meaning. To quote from Gary's book, "He casually offered that the best example of this phenomenon was Christians. Christians, he observed seen to have the amazing ability to say the most wonderful things, without actually believing them." (p.9)

Gary goes on to describe a time when his father took his three sons (Gary being the youngest) on a mountain climb. At one point up the mountain, Gary decided he'd had enough and would rather wait it out in the visitor's center. There, he was comfortable and safe. He read about other mountain climbers and saw pictures of the beautiful flowers that roamed the mountainside. 

Eventually, though, the visitor's center seemed small and stuffy. Gary envied those who had the courage to actually climb the mountain. He realized there was vast difference between those who actually see the flowers and climb the mountains, and those who simply read about such things. When his brothers returned from their adventure, their faces were flush with excitement; their bodies scraped from the climb; and they had stories to tell about their adventure with their dad.

Here's a powerful excerpt from the book:

"In different times and different ways, our heavenly Father offers us a simple proposition: Follow me beyond what you can control, beyond where your own strength and competencies can take you, and beyond what is affirmed or risked by the crowd - and you will experience me and my power and my wisdom and my love...

"...Does this mean I need to abandon the things I do well? Do I have to let go of my source of strength - my gifts, my passions, my training, my expertise? No, I don't think so. Those are good things from God. I think he simply wants us to take them on a more demanding climb, where we will actually need his help, and where he delights to grant it." (pp. 17-18).

A complete side note: Many years ago, I sat on a laundromat bench, waiting for my clothes to dry. With my Bible open to John 13, I pondered these words in a fresh, new way:

"Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist."

Because Jesus knew His identity was not up for grabs or changeable with popular opinion, He could get up from the table and do what the lowliest servant would have done. Jesus climbed mountains and moved mountains. He healed the sick and comforted the poor. And He rubbed the grime off of the feet of friends who would abandon Him that very night. Jesus did things great and small with a consistent dignity because He embraced His identity and was clear about His purpose.

Likewise, when we hold fast to the idea that we came from God, are returning to God, we will be compelled to consider - on a deeper level - what we do with our time here on earth.

Recently I pondered passages from Scripture that reminded me once again, that my work, my life, my efforts will be put through the fire. And only those things done for Christ will last. The Bible says that clearly, some will only get through with their Salvation because their works will not survive the fire (See 1 Corinthians 3 & 4).

The Bible also says that "anything done apart from faith is sin."

These are sobering words for sobering times. 

Works fueled by self promotion, self-preservation, selfish ambition, will not survive the fire. 

Feats attempted with holy confidence and humble dependence will. 

You've heard it a thousand times, we're not called to be successful, only faithful. Although, God loves to grant success to those whose hearts are set on Him. He is thrilled to meet us on a journey we could never make on our own.

You and I are called to faith; to adventure with God to unknown places; to right some of the wrongs in our day; to help the helpless; to take risks with both love and mountains. 

For my final post this month on what it means to be uncommon, please allow me to share one last excerpt from the book:

"May the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, bless you and make you a blessing. May His face shine upon you as you determine to live a life that is pleasing to Him. May you never settle for halfhearted living since you've been offered continual abundance. May you never be content to shuffle on the low road when our Savior has called you to the higher way. May you always be filled to the fullness of God until you reach the other side. May you now, with all of the faith can muster, receive and appropriate the gifts God has given you. I pray you will speak and live with holy confidence and humble dependence. May you determine to live a life of radical love and powerful servanthood. May your life reflect the true meaning of living as an uncommon woman." (p. 194)

Until next week~