New Places...

Greetings, Dear Friends!

Susie Larson here...

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my goal is to nourish your soul and encourage you along the way.

You know, this journey of faith constantly beckons us onward. We are pilgrims, which means we are a group of people traveling to a sacred place. With our feet on the ground and our eyes fixed on Heaven, we walk the walk of faith; believing God is who He says He is, and counting on His Word to be our sustenance.

Certain seasons call us to camp for a while, to rest our weary legs, and to remind ourselves again why this journey is an important one.

Other seasons call us to run; to work, to gain ground, and to not relent until we reach the goal God has given us.

And still other seasons call us to change; to leave one place in order to attain another.

And this is where I am today.

Maybe you are too.

As Beloved children of God, we all have a next place of promise waiting for us. Not just in Heaven, but in the land of the living too.

Jesus asked us to pray, "May Your Kingdom COME to earth, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN...and may Your will be DONE on earth, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

I've mentioned this many times but my life verse is Psalm 116:9 and it says, "And so I walk in Your presence as I live here on earth."



In God's presence we find power, promise, and provision.



Try interchanging the word "promise" for "presence" in the verse above.

And so I walk in the Lord's promise as I live here on earth.

Part of praying for God's Kingdom to come to earth is to walk out His promises right where we live. Part of praying for His will to be done is to get a vision for His will for our lives, our communities, and our world.

So...to wrestle with God for such things is to know and believe that we all have a next place of promise.

Which leads me to the point I made at the introduction of this email.

I spend a lot of time with God and I strongly sense He is about to take me to a new place. Not geographically per se, but spiritually and ministry wise. My toes are at the edge of my new place of promise and I can already tell there are giants in the land.

The only way I can possess that which God supplies is to leave some of my heavy, old baggage behind.

Always, before stepping up to new places, God in His mercy reminds us of our need for Him. And as poetic as that sounds, it's not such a fun process.

For me to be reminded of my moment-by-moment need for Christ's life and presence in me, is for me to see my tendency toward doubt, fear, small thinking, and irritability. Only when I see my smallness, am I reminded of how MUCH I need His greatness to be at work within me.

I am called by faith to possess new land, but I cannot claim a blade of that grass unless I've allowed Christ to lay claim to the unconquered areas of my soul.

God can only do above and beyond all I ask or think according to the extent He is allowed to work within me (Ephesians).

I want to go. I want to possess. I want to please God by my faith.

But before I go, I must confess my need. I must leave my baggage behind.

Where is God taking you next? Do you have a sense of your next place of promise?

What is holding you back?

Fears? Doubts? Worries? Insecurity? Judgments against others?

Leave them behind and cross over to the new land.

God has more for you.

Follow His lead.

Have a blessed week and don't forget to pick up a copy of my new release, Alone in Marriage: Encouragement for the Times When it's all up to You

Until next week...

Don't Settle...

Hi Friends!

Susie Larson here...

And to my visitors, I say welcome!

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

My life verse is Psalm 116:9 - And so I walk in the Lord's presence as I live here on earth.

In the Psalms, King David also wrote, "Where can I go from your presence..."

God is always in our midst, we just miss Him when we don't acknowlege Him.

Imagine walking into a crowded room, knowing that your closest and dearest friend is somewhere in the crowd. No one compares to this friend because she knows you, she understands you, she has seen all of your warts and imperfections, and she has been more loyal than anyone else in your life. She rescued you from messes you've made for yourself. She borrowed you money when you were down and out. And she constantly challenges you to learn and grow and become all you were meant to be. What a friend.

You walk into the crowded room, but instead of seeking out your friend, you simply surrender to the pressure of the masses and allow yourself to be moved this way and that, being carried along by the events of the day. Finally when you leave the room, you are exhausted, you've accomplished nothing, and your ears ring from the countless conversations that swirled all around you.

Had you only pressed through the crowds to get to your friend, your time in the room would have meant something. Your encounter with your friend would have made all the difference in the world.

Jesus provides for you. Jesus has rescued you. No one can talk Jesus out of loving you! Jesus is that friend who makes sense of everything, every day.

Read on...

We have pressure from all sides, but we must not miss out on the best of what God has for us. And when we acknowlege God's presence as we live here on earth, His quiet whisper upstages the clamor and commotion all around us.

Why are we so willing to be carried along by the pressures of the day when Jesus promised to lead us by still waters?

Why are we so willing to race through the day in a blur when Jesus promised us a heart absent of anxiety, full of peace?

Why do we settle for a dreamless existence when Jesus said we would do even greater things than He?

Blessed are those who seek hard after God, for they shall be satisfied with His presence and the things He has promised...

My heart is saddened by the countless people I have met who have settled in their wilderness and stopped hoping for something better.

Some of you have lost your fight and need a fresh dose of courage. Don't settle. Ask for courage and keep asking until you get it.

Some of you are staring at a giant, feeling certain you will be defeated. All you need is that one smooth stone, that one word of truth that will take him out. Then you will be positioned to step into your destiny. Don't let the giants in your land keep you from all God has promised you.

Others of you are just plain tired and need some rest, but feel unsure that God will provide. Know this, He will. But sometimes He asks us to run when we would rather rest, and rest when we think we should run. Trust Him, He is good.

Some of you have been drinking from cracked cisterns. In other words, you are medicating on junk rather than marinating in His presence. You might be eating too much, drinking too much, playing too many computer games, or reading too many racy novels.

These things take your time and drain your strength. You are too important to wasting your time or your energy on such things.

Ask God to stir up a divine hunger within you. Jesus will satisfy you in a way that will nourish and strengthen you.

C.S. Lewis wrote, "Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."

In what areas of life do you settle? Refuse to sit down and settle! Stand up and take hold of all God has promised you. Don't give up. Get up, and march on until you possess your next place of promise.

Godly living provides blessing in this life and the life to come.

May the Lord Himself stir up a hunger within us!

Have a wonderful week and remember to pick up a copy of my new release...

Alone in Marriage: Encouragment for the Times When it's all up to You

Gratitude...

Greetings, Everyone!

Susie Larson here...

And to my visitors, I say welcome. I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way.

Years ago during a holiday dinner, we went around the table and shared about the things we learned from God over the course of that year.

My son Luke was about fourteen at the time. He surprised me with these words, "I've learned that when you're thankful, life is better."

Once when Francis Frangipane was being interviewed on a radio program, he was asked what he thought was the most prevailing problem in our country today. He paused for a moment and then replied, "Ingratitude."

Today we are going to explore the power of thankfulness. God inhabits the praises of His people and we are His people. He draws near to the humbly thankful, and He distances Himself from the grumbly, prideful.

No matter what season life finds us in right now, we have reason for praise, reason to be grateful.

When we lived in our first house where I spent months and months on bedrest, I had a single tree that I looked at every single day. It didn't even belong to us. It was in the yard of a neighbor who lived in the adjacent cul-de-sac.

I love trees and we only had wimpy, little stick trees in our yard. For some reason, I felt like the richest woman in the world when I stared out my window at that top of the giant oak that towered over the neighbor's house top. God put that tree there just for me. I was convinced of that.

One day as I was stuck on my couch, hooked up to my I.V., I looked up at my tree. The beauty and the strength of that tree stopped me in my tracks. Not that I was going anywhere, I was stuck there. But my mind was about to take a hasty turn to self-pity and frustration.

But at that moment, I was filled with awe and wonder. The God who knows my name, put that tree where I would be able to see it every day during my months and months of illness. I opened my mouth and began thanking God out loud. "Lord, I thank you for my tree. It means the world to me. It's so tall, and strong, and lovely. When I look at that tree, I am reminded that You not only care for our needs, You satisfy our desires too. You are a good, good God, and I thank you for so intimately ministering to me today."

Just like that I heard a whisper across my heart, "Someday you'll get to wake up to more trees than you can count. Don't give up hope."

Today we live in a house that backs up to rows and rows of giant oak trees and tall pine trees. Every morning I wake up and I remember what He promised me back during my wilderness times.

Never underestimate the power of gratitude. It's good for the soul and so much more. I believe that when we speak words of thanks, we plant seeds for tomorrow's harvest. When we express our gratitude to God, we are lifted up to a higher and better perspective. When we pray with a heart of thanksgiving, the enemy has to flee because Jesus is so near.

Find your tree today. No matter what you're going through, know that God has paid specific attention to detail when it comes to you and your life. If you look around, you will see it.

Lord, I thank You for loving me. You are my treasure and I am Yours. Fill me up with a new sense of gratitude and perspective. Forgive me for the countless times I have acted like a spoiled child. I am an orphan and You have adopted me. Every good thing in my life is because of You. I trust you to take my sacrifice of praise and make something beautiful with it. I bless Your holy Name. Thank You for being so near today. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

PS ~ My new release just hit the shelves. Alone in Marriage: Encouragement for the Times When it's all up to You", published by Moody Publishers is now available. Make my day and pick up a copy.

Click here to see "Alone in Marriage"...

Until next week...

Repentance...

Good Day, Friends!

And a warm welcome to my visitors. I post every Wednesday and my goal is to bless and nourish you along the way.

I've realized something about myself - actually, I already knew it - but now I am more sure of it.

I am a terrible gardener.

Maybe I just don't care enough.

When it was time to plant the seeds, I half-heartedly turned over the soil. Then I planted the seeds. And now I watch from my deck as our underground sprinkler waters the garden.

Every once in a while I walk over there to see how things are growing. I planted so many tomato plants that they don't need wire racks to hold them up. My pepper plants look pitiful but the weeds around them are thriving. Kevin was intent on having a few cornstalks in the garden which embarrasses me completely. I think that's why I am keeping a healthy distance from the garden. The stalks are now taller than I am and they look out of place in our suburban back yard. Ugh.

This morning as I spent time on my deck, praying and watching the sun rise, it occured to me how important it is to regularly and intentionally, dig deeper.

I want to talk about something that will greatly improve the quality of our lives - and the quality of the fruit that comes from us.

This morning I whispered a prayer to the Lord..."Lord, forgive me for the ways I worry when I should be trusting You. Forgive me for getting so focused on my destination that I completely miss the beauty of the journey. So talk to me, Lord. Are there any other weeds I've allowed to grow in me? Any attitudes or wrong beliefs?"

I sipped my coffee, read through a few passages of Scripture, and then looked up at the sun rays peeking through the tree branches. And I waited.

In a matter of moments I was made aware of a subtle shift in attitude toward someone who hurt my son. I suddenly realized how - under the surface, where no one can see - I possessed a lack of grace for someone who was difficult for me to love.

One by one, the Lord brought to mind thoughts, attitudes, and postures I had taken that were less than His best for me.

One by one, I acknowledged my sin, I confessed my wrong thinking and the unbelief that accompanied my thoughts, and I thanked God for the fresh mercies waiting for me when I was through.

Maybe you're a savvy gardener. Then you get this. But if you're like me, maybe you need a little reminder to stop, and dig deep on a regular basis. Get rid of the seeds and the weeds that will choke out the good stuff trying to grow in you.

After my very cleansing time of repentance, I looked around and just smiled.

I took in a deep breath and I let it out again.

Suddenly I could see clearer. My body didn't ache as much. And in my heart I felt more eager to love others.

We cannot underestimate how easy it is for weeds to spring up in our lives. We may feel justified in leaving them there, much like I feel justified in letting my garden fend for itself. But when you think of it that way, doesn't it just sound silly?

You're worth more than that. And so am I.

I just stumbled upon this marvelous verse:

(The Holy One says...) "I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts (Isaiah 57:15).

Do you see the profound impact of getting low? It's actually a high and holy place. A place of refreshment.

I pray you'll find some time this week to sit in a quiet place and offer your life up to the Lord. Give Him full permission and access to search your heart and point out anything that may offend Him (See Psalm 139).

Don't come under condemnation because there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. But come under the light with your thoughts and attitudes and then look up and receive His mercy and grace.

You'll lighten your load and renew your perspective.

Have a blessed week.

PS ~ My new release, "Alone in Marriage: Encouragement for the Times When it's all up to You" just hit the shelves. Make my day and pick it up at your local Christian bookstore.

Peace to you all~

Awakening the Pleasure of God...

Greetings, Dear Friends!

And to those visiting I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my purpose is to bless and encourage you along your way.

This morning I was talking with a friend and we were both recalling the ways God has affected us, even changed us. My friend made an observation that affirmed me greatly. She said, "Susie, God has clearly done a work in you. You are accomplishing far more now than you ever have; and you're doing it with less effort and more peace."

Her words stopped me in my tracks. I looked back over my shoulder and recounted the times and seasons when striving was my middle name and straining was the way I played the game!

At some point along the way, I realized the error of my ways. I began praying by faith, "Lord, I thank you that there's no striving in me because I know that you are God!" The more I prayed this prayer, the more peaceful and rested I felt.

One day when my task list was greater than my ability to accomplish it, I was especially tempted to worry. But I did something else instead. I said, "Lord, it looks like I will need a loaves and fishes day today. No matter what, I refuse to worry."

At that very moment I was filled with peace and I knew I had awakened the Lord's pleasure. I felt His smile over me all day long, and believe it or not, I accomplished everything on my list and still had room in my day to clean my house and go biking on the trails! You know, it's really not so much about what we accomplish but rather the heart with which we accomplish the things God gives us to do. He is good and He is for us. And when we look to Him, He strengthens us out of HIS riches, where there is no lack.

Since that time, I've discovered some tangibile ways to walk in peace, provision, and power, and to thus awaken the sweet pleasure of the Lord...

Believing...

Jesus knows that you have circumstances screaming at you, taunting you to be afraid, to worry, and to look down. So when you turn your back on those things and choose to trust God instead, you awaken His pleasure. He knows this is not easy and it means everything to Him when you believe Him over what your eyes see. Believe Him today and picture Him smiling over you.

Obeying...

As you go through your day, you'll be faced with countless opportunities to go your own way or obey. When you're tempted to be rude, but you're kind instead, that's obedience. When you pray first and speak second. That's obedience. When you love the unlovely and give when it's within your ability to do so, that's obedience. When you walk away from an opportunity because Jesus is clearly saying, "Not yet", that's obedience and it will surely be rewarded. We awaken God's pleasure when we trust Him enough to obey Him.

Forgiving...

As the love of the multitudes grows cold, we will have many opportunities to forgive. By choosing not to forgive, we put ourselves in prison. But when we cherish our one-ness with God over our desire to see "them pay" we awaken the pleasure of God. Forgiveness is costly, yes. It cost Jesus everything to forgive us. Our lives will be anointed and blessed as we follow His lead.

Loving...

He loved us first and we awaken His pleasure when we recieve that love without shame. We need to tip our head back, stretch out our arms and say, "Thank you for loving me, Lord! I don't deserve it but I receive it!" We cannot give what we don't possess. We can't communicate what we don't have a handle on ourselves. That's why it is important to remind ourselves of His love for us...many times a day. Our willingness to receive His love, awakens His pleasure. And when we are so saturated with His love that we drip, we will be a source of refreshment for many.

As my mentor always says, "When we let God have His way in us, doing the things He asks us to will no longer be an 'ought to' or a 'should do'...they'll be a 'get to.'"

Make the conscious choice to walk in His presence today.

You know, I posted last week about Bubs the stray dog we've apparently adopted. Well, we still have him and I have fallen in love with this dog.

What's funny is that even though he's old and has arthritis, he still does this little leap thing when he gets excited. And do you know what gets him excited? Doing a good thing. Every time he obeys he starts leaping and looking up at me for my smile and assurance.

Not that we're looking for God's approval but it's good to be aware of His smile.

He sings over you. He dances over you. And when you take the leap of faith to believe that your choices matter, He puts His hand over His heart and He smiles.

Amazing love.

Until next week...