Rest and Replenishment...

Greetings, Friends!

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. It feels like ages since I've connected with you although it's only been a short time. Two weeks ago I was in North Carolina attending a writers conference, and last week, I was in recovery mode after our hugely successful benefit dinner for the International Justice Mission.

You may notice this post looking different these days. Well TypePad has kindly imposed some "improvements" to this site that have left me pulling out my hair and wanting to jump and and down and scream. How's that for a peaceful picture? This morning I had my blog all ready to post and if can say this, I loved what I wrote about rest and replenishment. I pushed the "Save" button and my post completely disappeared. I worked all morning on that little ditty and then it was gone. I just returned from an appointment and sat down to re-write this blog and for the last hour, I've battled with the elements and barely won. So here I am with blue font, no ability to post links, and feeling completely beside myself with frustration. 

What a perfect time to stop, take a deep breath, and remember again what I wrote about this morning.

Before I get into my topic, I need to award May's winner of the $10.00 Caribou gift card. And the winner is...Lynda Bishop! Lynda, congratulations! Please email me at: info@susielarson.com to claim your prize. 

Like coffee? Post some on this blog in June and you may be a winner!

Now on to my topic...

If you've heard me speak before, you've no doubt heard me say this: With all my heart, I believe one of the enemy's ploys in our day is to get us so over-committed, so depleted, that we completely lose our sense of wonder, awe, and peace. He wants us running in so many directions, or simply running too fast in one direction, that we forget that life is more than our task list. 

I'm reading a wonderful book on the Sabbath by Wayne Muller. And though I don't agree with everything he writes, I'm learning again how to rest, not just on Sundays, but - to a certain degree - every day. There's something to be said about unstrapping the harness or setting down the load of cares, and resting for a moment. 

We need Sabbath moments every single day. 

Right now, I have all of my boys at home. And though two of them are preparing for their next phase of life, I have them with me now. I'm struck by how quickly their childhood came and went. My sons are now men. And so, for this short time, I relish their nearness. When we sit down together for dinner, I light a candle and sit down to enjoy my family. We take longer to eat; we linger at the table and laugh about trivial things. Dinners with my family have been Sabbath moments for me.

Another sacred time for me is the morning. Even on the brisk mornings my husband and I head out to the deck swing. Wrapped in a blanket and hugging our morning we coffee, we pray for our boys, our country, and for the safety of our friends at International Justice Mission. Mornings replenish me.

Since I am a doer, I must constantly watch over my schedule and make sure I'm not squandering my time on things God has not called me to do. I think a lot of us struggle doing a lot of good things at the expense of the highest and best thing.

So why do we go on overdrive and neglect our soul and body's need for rest? I submit that we do this for one of two reasons. 1 - We have a bloated view of self (we think we are the only ones who can save the world, or do our job, or whatever). 2 - We have a shriveled view of God (we lose sight of the fact that He holds it all; He provides it all; and He commands us to rest). 

Read this excerpt from Muller's book on the Sabbath:

"Sabbath requires surrender. If we only stop when we are finished with all our work, we will never stop - because our work is never completely done. With every accomplishment there arises a new responsibility. Every swept floor invites another sweeping, every child bathed invites another bathing. When all life moves in such cycles, what is ever finished? The sun goes round, the moon goes round, the tides and seasons go round, people are born and die, and when are we finished? If we refuse rest until we are finished, we will never rest until we die. Sabbath dissolves the artificial urgency of our days, because it liberates us from the need to be finished."

I love that. 

Sabbath moments are the exhale to our inhale. They are the ebb of the flowing tide. They are the down beat in the rhythm of life. Just as it's impossible to be healthy by only eating on the weekends, it's impossible to enjoy a peaceful, rhythmic life without responding to your body's and soul's regular need for a little down time. 

Sit in your car in the parking lot, put your head back, and soak in the words to a profound song. Pull into a park, and sit on a bench. Watch the trees sway in the breeze and ask God for that kind of flexibility. Get up early, or stay up late, and take a few moments to ponder the idea that you are someone God loves. 

Refuse the staleness of a hurried life. 

Work hard, yes. Do what yo do with excellence. But don't think for a moment that your tasks are more important than the condition of your soul. 

In his book, "Celtic Devotions", Dr. Calvin Miller penned this profound little prayer, "Lord, Help me to remember that I can make more bricks in six days than I can in seven." 

I love that too. :)

Be fully present with your family around the table tonight. Take hold of those promised Sabbath moments God offers you each day. And when you feel that inner nudge to spend a little more time with Him, consider yourself honored to do so.

Have a blessed week~

Rest...

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.

If feels like ages though its only been two weeks. Two weeks ago, I was away at my writer's conference. Last week, I was in recovery mode after our hugely successful benefit dinner for the International Justice Mission. 

I am excited to share a few insights on the issue of rest and replenishment - something I'm seeing in a whole new light.

But, first things first. Each month I give away a gift card to one of my blog posters and the winner for the month of May is...

One More Week...

Hi Friends,

Susie Larson here...

I missed you last week! I was at my writers conference and had some difficulty with my internet connection.

Today I am in recovery mode. I just finished a banner season in ministry, topped of last night with our 2nd annual benefit dinner for International Justice Mission (see www.ijm.org). 

We had a super-successful night and we are thrilled...and exhausted.

My well is dry and I need a day to be re-filled.

I hope you'll come back next week and pay me a visit. I'm reading a book on the Sabbath and have some interesting things to share on the idea of rest.

See you then!

Blessings~

Susie 

www.susielarson.com

Celebrate!

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.

If you take the time to post on my blog in May, you may win a $10.00 gift card to Caribou, Target, OR Dairy Queen! Your choice. So drop me a note and say hi!

Now on to my topic...

I recently returned from speaking at the first ever, "Beloved" conference hosted by South Union Christian Church in Indiana, and I'm telling you, we had a wonderful time!

The event hosts treated me with absolute love and care. In fact, they bathed the whole weekend in prayer and we enjoyed a powerful time in the Lord's presence.

My reason for sharing this with you is because they they did a skit that is still affecting me. And though this at first glance may appear to be a post directed at women, there's something here for men too.

Prior to one of the sessions, the lights went down, the spotlight went up, the music played, and one at a time, women marched down a model runway, each wearing different banners that represented where their value came from. One banner said, "Ambition", another, "Model", and another, "Educated" and so on and so forth. One at a time, the women strutted down the runway with an empty but prideful look in her eyes. During this portion of the skit, the large Power Point screen displayed one timeless quote after another; each depicting true beauty; inner beauty and value.

Off to the side, judges sat on tall chairs, whispering and jotting down their remarks on each woman.

Once the women had done their walk, they disappeared back stage. A minute later, they all re-appeared wearing jeans and a "Beloved" t-shirt. They lined up on the stage, all looking very much the same. The judges approached the first girl, crowned her and hugged her. She jumped up and down with excitement and headed down the runway, this time with great joy and humility and celebration. The music was fun and upbeat and everyone celebrated her.

Then the next girl was crowned and celebrated and did her walk/dance down the runway. Everybody cheered. Everybody celebrated.

Every girl in the cast was crowned, cheered for, and celebrated as if to say, "You win. And, You win. And You win. And so do you, you win!"

And so it goes with you.

For the LORD your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will exult over you by singing a happy song (Zephania 3:17).

Maybe I'm reading into it too much, but I don't think so.

God has gifted each and every one of us and unless we identify ourselves more with the Giver than the gift, we'll subtly shift our weight, our hope, and our sense of value into the gift.

We'll strut our stuff, we'll look at others, size them up, wonder where we fall into rank with them on the scene, and in doing so, we'll miss out on the fullness of life and community we were intended for in the Body of Christ.

When we strive to be known for our gift rather than to be known for knowing Him, we separate ourselves from others and from the joyful song God is singing over us.

Think about the women in the second part of that skit. All dressed the same, all celebrated for their uniqueness, and yet, all in it together.

When we commit the sin of comparison - we miss out.

When we embrace competition over community - we miss out.

When our fears and insecurities trump our faith and sense of identity - we (and everyone around us) miss out.

It all goes back to the Giver.

Do you know that He sings over you? He does.

Do you know that He is pulling for you today? He is.

Do you know that He has already made a way for you? He has.

Do you know that He'll be faithful tomorrow? He will.

When I receive YOU and celebrate with YOU, and you celebrate me and receive me, we get to share our fruit and our reward is great. You're victory becomes my victory. My victory becomes your victory. One of us sends a thousand to flight; but two of us, ten thousand!

There is power in unity, in numbers, and in a group of people who know and understand that we are ALL made in His image.

This IS the day the Lord has made and He has made a way for you. Rejoice with Him and be glad.

He takes GREAT delight in you. He REJOICES over you with singing. And He watches you with GREAT CARE.

Whether this feels true or not, you have a cause to celebrate.

In His presence, the fullness of joy is found (Psalm 16:11).

Have a great week~

Your Pilgrimage...

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 gift card to someone who has visited and posted on my blog. Well it's time to announce the gift card winner for the month of April.

And the winner is...Kathy Schwanke! Kathy, contact me offline at info@susielarson.com and claim your gift card! Congratulations and thanks for being such a faithful visitor! Blessings to you!

If you take the time to post on my blog in May, you may win a $10.00 gift card to Caribou, Target, OR Dairy Queen! Your choice. So drop me a note and say hi!

Now on to my topic...

As some of you may know, I've stepped into a new role as of late. While I'm used to being interviewed on the radio (and I really do love radio), working on the other side of the microphone is fairly new to me.

We as Minnesotans (and the surrounding areas) are blessed with fairly large and very popular Christian radio station. KTIS is continually rates in the top ten Christian stations in the country.

Recently I had the privilege of co-hosting with Kim Ketola (formerly Kim Jefferies) on her show, Along the Way with Kim Ketola. My first time co-hosting I got to interview my friend Sara Groves. Sara was incredible as always. Yesterday I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Calvin Miller. We had a great time together. If you want to hear that interview or listen to the whole show, follow this link (the interview took place during hour 2):

Along the Way - May 6th

So what does that have to do with our topic today?

The theme that ran through the whole two hours was this: Our Pilgrimage.

Kim Ketola just returned from France and described how, because of their desperate need, thousands and thousands of Catholics traveled long distances to touch the holy water. Calvin Miller described the mindset of the Celts and how they viewed their whole lives as a pilgrimage.

Though our hope is not in the water but in Christ alone, the challenge remains. What is the object of our earnest pursuit? In fact, are we earnestly pursuing anything?

To be earnest is to be:

Intense

Committed

Dedicated

Diligent

Wholehearted

Sincere

Urgent

Impassioned

The opposite of earnest is to be:

Frivolous

Apathetic

Halfhearted

Look again at this list. Do you see yourself among the earnest?

When you pause and take a look around, where do you see your greatest energies applied?

I chose the picture at the top of the page because I think it represents the life of the Believer. We are not a stagnant pond with no life flowing in or out. We are a bubbling, bursting, flowing stream. Isaiah 58:11 calls us a spring, whose waters never fail. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that He rewards those who earnestly seek after Him.

We are journeying toward our Promised Land and while we're at it, through our faith and earnest pursuit of God, we bring God's Kingdom to earth as we go.

Our call is this sacred pilgrimage. Our temptation is to forget our call.

Are we too easily distracted from our intended purpose on earth?

When the storms hit, or the breakthrough tarries, do we lose sight of our goal and camp in the wilderness?

A pilgrim is defined as one who is traveling to a sacred place.

Where are you on this journey?

If yours is a stagnant faith? That's okay, just ask God to revive you once again!

If you've been distracted, be not dismayed, just ask God to give you a singleminded purpose from this day forward!

If your faith has been shipwrecked, don't despair. God will repair your sail and revive your soul.

To be earnest in our pursuit and focused on the call, takes some effort on our part.

Ask God today for a renewed sense of purpose and a revived sense of His presence.

Take Him at His Word, and walk on even when you don't feel Him.

Refuse to be addicted and distracted by the trappings of this world. Be in it but not of it.

Be a blessing to those around you and let your life be an example of freedom and wholeness.

Refuse to stay stuck in old wounds and wrong beliefs.

It's for freedom that Christ has set you free.

If you've been camping in the wilderness too long, pack your bags, and get moving.

May our lives, our pilgrimage, be marked by these things: sincerity; wholeheartedness; passion; conviction; dedication; and a singleminded focus on what really matters during our short time on this earth.

Be blessed today!

Until next week~