Give Courage...

Happy Wednesday Everyone!



To those visiting I say welcome. I post every Wednesday and my purpose is to bless you in your day as you go along your way.

Have you ever found yourself going about your day when suddenly you realize that your joy and peace have been replaced by a nauseating sense of self doubt?

I used to be plagued with self-doubt but God has done such a deep and refining work in me that I rarely trip up in that area anymore. I did say, rarely, which means I sometimes still do.

In fact, just yesterday I walked away from a conversation that left me looking down and not up.

It only took me a few minutes (or was it hours) to reaffirm to myself the fact that I have followed as Jesus has led me. My walk might look a little different than yours, and your walk no doubt looks different than your neighbors, but it's the path that counts. As long as we press on, press in, and keep moving toward the Promised Land, we don't have to split hairs over pigeon toes, duck feet, knocked knees, or short steps.

We're all different - and that was God's design - but we have this in common - we were made to bring Him glory.

So what does that little anecdote have to do with "giving courage"?

Everything. Just this morning I spoke with two of my golden girls (mentors) who gave me courage by encouraging me. They knew nothing about my inner struggle yesterday but they walk in step with the Holy Spirit and He informed them that I needed an arm around my shoulder.

One of my golden girls went to bat for my seventeen year old son who is dealing with a herniated disc. She asked God to intervene on His behalf. She waited in His presence and she listened to His voice through His Word. Then she called me to remind me once again that God is very much engaged in this process with Jordan and that many people are praying for him. My heart was strengthened by that call.

Shortly thereafter, I received another call from another golden girl (every one should have a mentor!) who blessed me beyond words. She went to prayer this morning and boldly asked this question, "Lord, Susie is on my heart today. What can you tell me that I can share with her?" She waited, and listened, and read the Word of God.

The things she shared with me were specific answers to questions I'd been asking God last night and this morning. Her call filled me with courage along with the reminder that we serve a loving, living, intimately involved God. How sweet it is to be loved by Him!

No matter how you're feeling today - give some courage away. Go to the Lord on behalf of someone. Or go with no agenda at all and just ask God who needs a fresh dose of courage. Spend some time waiting, listening, and reading the Word. Trust that God loves to answer prayers such as this.

And remember, what we sow is what we grow.

When you give some courage, you'll also receive it at just the right time.

Be blessed today - and be a blessing today.

Until next week...

Persistence...

Greetings, Dear Friends!

To those visiting for the first time I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my goal is to bless you and nourish your soul.

My husband received a call the other day from our son Luke who is in college studying to be a worship pastor. He has no money, but some how, over time, he has managed to acquire the gear necessary to foster his interest in computers and nurture his love for music. He barters, he builds from scratch, he trades, he saves, and in the end he gets what he's after.

The recent phone call went like this: "Uh, Dad, how are you doing today? Well I just wanted to tell you that I have a friend who needed a computer so I took one of my old ones, rebuilt it, programmed it with the things he wanted and then sold it to him. Then I got a ride to the bank and deposited the money. Then I called the music store and asked them to set aside the speaker I've been eyeing for some time. Then I paid for it over the phone with my credit card. It's sitting there with my name on it. Would you mind picking it up for me?"

My husband looked at me and said, "How do ya say no to that?"

I was reading in Luke chapter 12 the other day and I pondered Jesus' words, "Fear not, it's the Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom!"

Think with me for a moment about all of the references to faith and persistence in the Bible. Over and over again Jesus stopped in His tracks and made an example of someone who dared to believe. And...over and over again, you could almost hear Him breathe a heavy sigh when just after a miracle, people wondered what He was going to do about lunch, or the odor, or whatever.

Jesus would basically stop and say, "Have you not been with me the whole time? Have you not seen the miracles I performed on your behalf? What will it take to get you to believe?" Jesus used the parable about the persistent widow so that we would always pray and never give up (see Luke 18:1).

He used her persistence as an example that we might follow suit.

My son Luke has a pretty narrow focus when it comes to his goals, dreams, and desires. Not that any of these are small - in fact - they are huge. But he is so clear on his gifts and interests that he has very little interest in much else. When he has a few extra dollars, he spends it on computers, music equipment, or his sweet girlfriend.

It's really something to watch a college kid with no money navigate his way through life with persistence, prayer, and a focused desire...and end up with the object of his pursuit.

Now I am not using Luke as an example to suggest that we should go after every material pursuit our heart desires. Rather, I want us to view it as sort of a word picture.

Matthew 7:7-12 says, Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. for everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? or if he asks for a fish, will you give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him?

(and here's a very important part of the verse...)

SO in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you...

Boldness blesses God. Faith pleases Him. Persistence pays off. We have access to the riches of Heaven and God has called us to pray and not give up - but not just for our own needs - for the needs of others too.

I find it interesting that after we are told that the Father loves to give good gifts to those who ask for them, by telling us to do for others, He is reminding us, "Since you have access to boundless provision and power, use these to make the world a better place. Bless yourself. Bless others. Improve the human condition. Put a demand on the resources of Heaven."

I've never been sorry for persisting in prayer. I've always walked away with far more than I invested.

Ask Him for the nations - ask that His Kingdom would come and invade your community - ask Him to do a mighty work in your midst - because it is Your Father's great pleasure to give you the Kingdom.

Until next week...

Life vs. The Law

Greetings, Dear Friends!

To my new visitors, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to provide you with some soul nourishment that you may be energized to be about the things God has called you to!

I was reading in the book of John this morning and I was impressed again by Jesus' tenacity of purpose in spite of the constant opposition He faced.

In Jerusalem was a pool surrounded by five covered colonnades. A great number of disabled people spent a great amount of time there, hoping to be healed. A certain man had been disabled for thirty-eight years!

Surely he was hard to miss. If you lived in Jersualem at the time, you no doubt saw this man spending time at the healing pool.

Jesus, the healer, walked up to the man and asked him if he wanted to get well. Instead of shouting, "YES!" the man explained why he hadn't been healed up to this point. Even so, you can't have an encounter with the Living One and remain unchanged. The man was healed.

And how did the "religious" ones respond to this miracle?

I imagine them narrowing their eyes, tapping thier lips while saying to the restored man, "It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat." (John 5:10)

Talk about making a mountain out of a mole-hill!

Read this verse, it's pretty amazing:

"So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted Him" (John 5:16).

There's no emotion around that verse, but think of what that must have been like for Jesus!

He heals a man who has suffered for thirty-eight years and is treated with hostility as a result. What a backwards world He came to save.

But I love His response in verse 17: "My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too, am working." It's as if He is saying, "Think what you will, but I came to impart life. If it doesn't fit in your box, well, I guess that's too bad. I will go where people are more intent on my presence than on their religious program. Though you all need me, I came to save and heal those who know they need Me."

Here lies the difference between those after religion, and those after a relationship with Christ:

With an eagle-eye on the law, one points out every little deviation from what they understand the law to be...while the other runs after Jesus, rises up with eagles wings, and pursues the LIFE Jesus came to give. Jesus said, "I've come that you might have LIFE - and not just life - life overflowing - life to fullest - a free and powerful and impacting LIFE" (my paraphrase of John 10:10b).

The law shows us our need for Jesus.

Instead of being the "law police" and bashing every one who steps outside the lines - let's be a people who are far more earnest about going after anything that would hinder the presence of God in our midst.

Let us be quick to repent of our own sins of arrogance, judgementalism, and unbelief. And if someone runs after Jesus in a way that makes us feel uncomfortable, may we bow low and ask God for a renewed sense of passion and insight.

Francis Frangipane wisely said, "The Pharisee honors what God has done, but rejects what God is doing."

Until next week...

Listen to Him...

Greetings, Dear Friends!

And a special welcome to any new visitors! I post every Wednesday and my whole purpose is to bless and encourage you along your way.



The Bible says that DAILY the Heavens pour forth speech. Daily, God is speaking to us, wooing us to His side, and leading us in the way we should go.

So, what do you suppose is one of the enemy's greatest tactics against us?

Busy-ness!

Take a minute, pour a cup of coffee, take in a deep breath and exhale.

Take a moment and rest in His presence...

Our whole purpose for walking this earth is to continue what Jesus started.

I've shared this before but my life verse is Psalm 116:9 - "And so I walk in His Presence as I live here on earth."

In His presence there's power, there's favor, there's provision, and there's direction. In His presence there is clarity about what really matters and there is an awareness of the storehouses to which we have access. In His presence insecurity is swallowed up by Holy Confidence that allows us to hold our heads high because we were made for Heaven. In His presence, pride is swallowed up by Humble Dependence because we begin to understand that we are nothing without Him.

To walk in His presence as we live here on earth is to bring a sense of God's love and power with us wherever we go. It's to leave people and places better than we found them. It's to approach tomorrow with more faith than we did today.

To walk in His presence is to have an ear bent toward Heaven as we go about our business. it's to welcome daily detours as Divine Interruptions because we are aware that we belong to Him and He gets to decide how our day goes.

Daily the Heavens pour forth speech. Daily God is talking to us! And yet we miss it when we race through life with our eyes on the ground and our minds either bound by the past or burdened by the future.

Our past mistakes and sins, when confessed and entrusted to the Redeeming work of Christ, are covered, forgiven and forgotten. We must leave them there. Our future is in God's hands. We must believe His Word that says, He charts the course ahead of us and He establishes His purposes for us. He precedes and follows and places His hand of blessing on our heads (Psalm 139:5).

And since all of that is true, we must also embrace our PRESENT which is FILLED with POWER! We lay hold of a powerful present by listening to the One who is always speaking to us. Jesus, who loves us so much, is hoping we'll slow down long enough to be filled, assured, and redirected by His voice.

Over and over again we read in the Bible these words, "This is My Beloved Son, this is Jesus...listen to Him."

Until next week...May the Lord bless you and keep you; may He make His beautiful face to shine down upon you and give you peace; and may you slow down many times throughout your day and listen to what He has to say. His desire is for you.

Rest...

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

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

I can't believe it is spring time once again!

I remember last spring like it was yesterday. I was coming off of an intense speaking season which included international travel. I was exhuasted and in deep need of a vacation. I was facing a busy summer getting the house ready for my son's graduation open house along with writing my next book.

I wanted to cry, I was so tired. I just wanted to curl up with a good novel and rest for a month or two, or three. There didn't seem to be enough hours in the day to fill my cup back up.

I dragged myself through my tasks lists while repeatedly uttering, "I need a vacation."

Apparently I had said it one too many times because I was stopped in my tracks by the voice of the Lord and He strongly corrected me. He said, "You will stop saying, 'I need a vacation.' I chart the course ahead of you and I tell you where to stop and rest (Psalm 139:3)!"

I stood corrected and humbled.

I asked for forgiveness and then declared once again, "My nourishment is to do Your work. If it's not time for me to take a vacation just yet, I trust that You will give me what I need to get things done."

I stopped complaining and got to work. Little by little my spirit was revived. We got the work done for Luke's open house and I wrote a book that I am excited about.

This is not to say that I didn't take sabbath days and sabbath moments to rest, reflect, and replenish my soul.

But I realized how much my complaining was weighing me down and making me lose focus.

I was literally revived while I went about my work.

Eventually He provided a getaway for me. I write this post from a hotel room in Orlando, Florida. I've been enjoying my morning prayer times on a deck that overlooks the water. I've had days to rest, work out, and read my novels (my dream vacation).

The best thing about it all is that I approached this vacation with joy and anticipation (rather than desperation).

The Holy Spirit's stern voice to me that day was a loving reminder that my days and my times are in His hands.

He leads us beside still waters and He tells us where to stop and rest.

Sometimes He calls us to run when we would rather rest. Other times He calls us to rest when it seems to make better sense to run.

But He knows best.

Don't race by the sacred moments He provides. Rest in the Lord.

Don't complain that He's not giving you the break you need. Trust Him and boldly call on Him to sustain and strengthen you as you go about your day.

Expect Him to provide a break for you at just the right time, and then take the opportunity when He brings it your way.

He knows your frame and He knows you.

He cares deeply about your spiritual health and He will lead you safely to your next place of promise.

Be blessed, my friends.

Until next week...