Truly Captivating...

Who Am I?

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:09:00 +0000

I am CLEANSED and FORGIVEN. (1 John 1:9)

I am A NEW CREATION. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I am LOVED by my HEAVENLY FATHER and have been
ADOPTED AS HIS CHILD. (1 John 3:1)

I am FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made... (Psalm 139:14)

and GOD DELIGHTS IN ME. (Psalm 147:11)

I am God's CHOSEN... (1 Peter 2:9)

and the APPLE OF HIS EYE. (Psalm 17:8)

"You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,

a holy nation, His own special people,

that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called

you out of darkness into His marvelous light."

~ 1 Peter 2:9

Special thanks to Sheila Walsh and her Good Morning, Lord devotional journal for the inspiration.

What I'm Thinkin' 'Bout

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:21:00 +0000

Good Morning, Beautiful Friends!!

I just wanted to take a moment to share some things that I am pondering today...

1) Jesus is my FRIEND, and I can trust him with ANYTHING. He carries me when I am weak.

You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. {John 15:14-15}

"Consider Job. Yes, he was God's servant, but even more importantly, he was also God's friend. Throughout Job's entire ordeal, his reactions showed that he did not serve God forwhat he could get from the Almighty, but for what he could give to the Lord from the core of his being. Job did not serve God out of fear or duty. He served God out of love, and so it should be with friends... Ultimately only our loyalty to God as our Friend will hold us when life is rough. (Sheila Walsh - Good Morning, Lord)

2) I need to think about what I'm thinking about!!

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. {Philippians 4:8}

"You might be experiencing some problems in life--not realizing that you are creating them yourself by what you're choosing to think about. I challenge you to THINK ABOUT what you are THINKING ABOUT! - You might be discouraged or even depressed and wonder what caused it. Yet if you will examine your thought life, you will find that you are feeding the negative emotions you are feeling. Negative thoughts are fuel for discouragement.. we can think about what's wrong with our lives, or choose to think about what is RIGHT with them!!" (Joyce Meyer, Battlefield of the Mind)

3) God allows me to struggle so that I might become stronger.

"It is said that if we were to help the butterfly remove itself from the cocoon, the butterfly would not be strong enough to survive. It is the struggle that prepares the butterfly to become strong enough to fly. Without the struggle in the cocoon, it could not survive as a butterfly... The Lord prepares each of us in similar ways. Some of our (pasts) seem to have been harsh and born from a seemingly unloving God. However, the Lord knows our struggle and will make our life an instrument in His hand if we follow Him with an upright heart. He does make all things beautiful in His time, if we are willing to be patient." (Today God Is First, Devotional)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. {James 1:2-4}

I love it when I wake up thirsty for a "good word" and He POURS into me like this!

My cup overflows!!!

What about you? What does the Teacher have you "thinkin' 'bout" today??

Resting In Jesus Rewind

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:18:00 +0000

I didn't sleep too well last night. The "baby" (our new puppy) cried a lot and I had to keep getting up with him. Needless to say I was a little (okay, a LOT) crank this morning.

As usual, after I got the KISA and Kiddos out the door, I sat down with my bible, coffee, and computer. I usually don't check my emails first, but the window was already open and an email notification for blog comments caught my eye. Haven't blogged in a while, so I wanted to see which post was read.

Long story short, Jesus found a way to remind me that not only am I in desperate need of physical rest, but SPIRITUAL rest, in Him, as well...

Since He reminded me... I thought I would remind you. Here's a "Blast from the Past" (circa May 2009) for ya!! ENJOY!!

Resting In Jesus

This is just a little something I got out of my Bible Study this morning. I wanted to share it with you all in hopes that it will encourage you as it has me."Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light". (Matthew 11:28-30)Jesus offers to give us rest, but in order to receive it, we must take his yoke upon us and learn from Him. The lesson writer goes on to say,"Resting in Jesus does not necessarily mean that you will be removed from circumstances, trials, activities, or responsibilities. It means that as you submit to the power and authority of Jesus and commit your situation to Him, you are connected to Him and He bears the weight of your burden. He shares in your suffering. Resting in Him empowers you to remain steadfast no matter the circumstances". HALLELUJAH!!!! I don't know about you, but that gives me great hope and better understanding of what that means...to "take his yoke" upon me. It sounds as if we are adding to our burdens at first, but when we realize that we are connecting to him, it means he is taking the load off of us and helping us to carry it. Why? Why is he willing to do this? Because he is gentle and humble in heart!!! How? How is he able to do this? Well, that reminds me of a song...(you didn't think I could blog about Jesus without a song did you??) It's a song that I used to sing in Youth Ensemble..."if He carried the weight of the world, upon his shoulders, I know my brother that He will carry you." Chris Tomlin also sings a song that answers both "why" and "how" Jesus would carry our burdens. It's all about his "Unfailing Love".

You have my heart And I am yours forever You are my strength God of grace and power And everything You hold in your hand Still you make time for me I cant understandPraise you God of earth and skyHow beautiful is Your unfailing love (unfailing love, unfailing love) And you never change God you remainThe Holy One and my unfailing love (unfailing love) You are my rock the one I hold on to You are my song and I sing for you And everything You hold in your hand Still you make time for me, I cant understand Praise you, God of earth and sky How beautiful is Your unfailing love (unfailing, love unfailing love)And you never change, God You remain the Holy One and my unfailing love (unfailing love)

Thank you Jesus!!! I love you and I praise you for what you have taught me today through this scripture. May your hand ever be at work in my heart and life. I want to shine for you. Thank you for the rest you offer me, if I will only submit to your power and authority. Help me to take your yoke upon me. I praise you because you are my God, and yet you are so gentle and humble in heart. I have come to you because I do feel weak, and burdened...teach me your ways, I want to learn them. Give me rest for my soul!! Amen.

P.S. - Thank you "Mary"... Wherever you are!!! :-)

Good Friday Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:29:00 +0000

(A repost from a former "Friday Five")

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Colossians 1:19-21)
So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. (John 19:16-18)
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whichthe world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14)
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

From the Priest's Meadow...

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:09:00 +0000

I know... Sounds like the title of a Jan Karon novel, doesn't it? ;-)

Well... not really. I mean, I guess not. I don't think so, anyway... Oh, just keep reading and you'll see!!

On June 8, 2004, the world was graced with the presence of Samuel Pressley Reeder. Since that day, my heart... my life...our home, even... has never been the same.

We chose the name "Samuel" because of its repetitive presence in the Reeder family line. Henry Samuel, Joseph Samuel, Benjamin Samuel, etc... We knew we wanted to call him "Sam", though, and I really didn't like the idea of calling him by his middle name. (Story of my life... but don't you dare ask me what my "first" name before marriage was... I am NOT going there!!) So Chris and I agreed that "Samuel" would be his first name.

When choosing a middle name, the answer was obvious to me. Jacob's middle name is DeWitt after Chris' paternal grandfather, whom he was extremely close to, and who passed away before we ever started dating. I only met his grandma Reeder a few times before Lou Gherig's disease took her Home. Grandma's maiden name was "Pressley". Since Jake was named after Grandpa Reeder, I felt it only fitting to name Sam after his partner in life, Pauline Pressley Reeder.

I'm a fanatic about names and their meanings, so the ultimate "seal of approval" was to look up the meanings of these names before giving them the go-ahead. (I already knew that Samuel means "asked of, or heard of God". Beautiful. This precious little man was certainly a request of our hearts.)

I found that "Pressley" means "from the priest's meadow". I thought this was really neat considering that there were a few "pastor/preachers" in the Reeder line, as well.

Little did I know... ;-)

Sam accepted Jesus as his Savior almost two years ago. (You can read that story, here). Since that time, he has genuinely possessed a hunger for the word and a zeal for understanding it. He is constantly asking thought provoking questions like, "What does Jesus look like"? Only to answer himself by saying such things as, "Well, we can't see Him now because He is way too holy... if we looked at him we would die. But when we get to heaven we can see him, because then we will be made holy, too!" (Seriously... Ask Chris. That was an actual conversation!)

Speaking of Chris, Sam has commissioned his Daddy to lead "Father-Son Saturday Morning Bible Study". (He actually asked me to add that to our Family Calendar. :-)) During this time, they will read through a passage of scripture, talk about it, and then pray. They are currently reading through the book of John.

Several weeks ago Sam's teacher told me what a wonderful leader and encourager he is for the other students in his class. She said that when certain types of misbehavior or disruptions occur, Sam will raise his and and ask, "Mrs. Leonard? Can I say something?"

She usually obliges him, and is always pleasantly surprised at the wisdom and inspiration he offers his classmates. Needless to say, I left her room with one of the greatest compliments anyone has ever given any of my children tucked neatly into my proud mother's heart. ;-)

This morning, Sam woke early. He padded into the Family Room where his dad and I were seated in our respective recliners, Bibles and iPads in our laps, each having our "Quiet Time" with Jesus. He crawled up in my lap and asked if he could have his breakfast. As I got up to prepare the microwavable sausage biscuits (his new favorite), he walked over to Chris and said, "Dad, could we have some Bible Study time?". Yeah.. it 's only Thursday, but what father in his right mind (or right HEART, rather) could deny this request??

Chris had Sam read aloud the scriptures from Hebrews 11:1-11 that he was studying. Then they discussed the scripture, and camped out on one particular verse for a few minutes.

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

Chris asked "We can't see God can we? But we still believe in him and have faith that he exists". (This is what prompted the whole conversation I quoted above, concerning what Jesus looks like...) After they finished talking, Sam said, can you look up another verse for me? Chris looked at me over Sam's head, a little taken back, and said, "Sure, Buddy... which one?" Sam requested Romans 10:17. (Yes. He used the specific reference!!)

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."

Sam told Chris that this was one of his memory verses from Good News Club (an actual Bible Study club for children that meets at his school on Monday afternoons) and that it reminded him of "that other verse we just read". Then he said, "And Daddy, guess what? Remember, we read last Saturday that Jesus IS the Word!" (John 1:1).

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Wow!! I just stood there... Sausage biscuits in my hand, tears in my eyes... Utterly amazed.

All this gets me to thinking... "Priest's Meadow"?? Really, now??

Obviously God knew something we didn't.

Whether he grows up to be a "pastor" or not... he is already shepherding others, and that is definitely a gift from above. He is already hiding God's word in his heart, and he is already sharing the Good News he has learned with others!!

This "Proud Mama" can take no credit, though... It's all about JESUS and the wonderful plans HE has... for hope and a future... for the work that HE has prepared in advance...

For my precious little Preacher-Man!

Talking the Fire Down (Take 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:59:00 +0000

I'll start by sharing an excerpt from a blog post written on July 16, 2010...

Ever since Jake was about five years old, he's been practicing a very unique habit.

Let me explain...

One afternoon, as the house was eerily quiet, I went looking for my Little J-Man to see what he was up to. I found him in his room pacing back and forth, talking to himself.

I asked, "Sweetie, are you alright?"

To which he responded, "Yes Ma'am... I just had to be by myself so I could talk the fire down."

When I questioned him further about what this meant, he said that sometimes he gets really angry (He gets his temper from his Mama!) and he has to go and talk to Jesus about what is bothering him, and get His help to calm down.

Wow. Even a grown-up such as myself - ESPECIALLY My Self - would do well to practice this!

I couldn't help but remember this story this morning as I read my scriptures for today...

Ephesians 4:25-27

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

Very timely, indeed. I had just expressed to some wonderful Women of Destiny yesterday (my accountability partners) that I was struggling with some issues that I have been praying freedom over.

One of them, and not the least of which, being my temper.

You see, My mother is of German descent... My father, Scottish. In case you are wondering, this is quite the lethal combo. It's thunder and lightening. It's TNT with a short fuse. It's a dangerous, dangerous, combo... one that can lead to utter destruction, if you're not careful. And in the past, I am sorry to say, I have not been very careful.

At our "Freedom Weekend" (What's a "freedom weekend"? Glad you asked... you can find the answer HERE.) several weeks ago, I prayed to be FREE from this generational stronghold. But like all of us, my flesh tends to rear it's ugly head after a while, and begs to be put back in it's place.

Last night at Life Group we were talking about the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Our circle was so full of His presence, that people just began sharing from their hearts about what these verses meant to them, personally. I shared that one of my favorite parts is what Jesus says in John 11: 43-44...

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Other translations say, "loose him"... either way, he has to get out of those stinky-nasty grave clothes (he'd been dead for 4 days) so that he can be free to LIVE again! This is true of me, as well. So many times in my life it's like I try to pick up those stinky old habits (those old burial garments) and put them back on, when I absolutely have NO BUSINESS doing so! I'm no longer in the pit! He has set my feet upon THE ROCK!

As my friend Mickey so eloquently spoke last night, "Satan isn't all THAT powerful... he's just crafty." He knows our weaknesses and exploits them... making those "filthy rags" look fashionable again. We just have to remember this... and then remember that we have WEAPONS to defeat these thoughts that he puts in our heads.

2 Corinthians 10: 4-5

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

So now we get back around to my sweet boy Jacob...

It turns out that "talking the fire down" was simply his way of wielding the weapons in his God-given arsenal to take "every thought captive and obedient to Christ".

So, like I said in the previous post quoted above...

"Even a grown-up, such as myself, and especially MY SELF, would do well to practice this!"

Out of the mouths of babes, I tell ya...

Out of the mouths of babes!!

Amazed!

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:26:00 +0000

To say that God has been moving and shaking in my world lately would be QUITE the understatement.

For months and months now, I have been dealing with one issue after the other... personal issues. Some pleasant, some painful. But all used of Him to "brightly color" the ingredients of my life as He creates His Masterpiece through me. (See James 1:2-4, and Ephesians 2:10)

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending an AWESOME "Weekend Encounter" with some other ladies from my church. The men had gone on their "encounter" the weekend before, and came back so different and new, that we girls couldn't wait for our turn! I seriously think these should be called Freedom Weekends because of the impact that they've had on my life personally, and on the lives of many, many others. Some of these people were "friends" going into the weekend, but are now SISTERS because wonderful experience.

We confronted sin, fear, doubt, hurt, anxiety and depression full-on, and basically kicked them all in the teeth!! Seriously, y'all... I haven't felt this free in YEARS. IF EVER!!

My chains are GONE! The hurt, anger, and bitterness have been released, and my heart has been healed, purified and renewed. My eyes have been opened. And my hands and arms have been unbound in order to recieve and feel the love of others... as well as share my love, His love, in return.

God is doing amazing things in my life. But it's not just me.

My Church (I just love saying that... "MY church") has been set ablaze!!

Because of renewal in the lives of our leaders (they all went on their own "encounter weekend"), revival is here! The preaching (which I've always enjoyed) has intensified. Pastor Bryan is even MORE PASSIONATE than ever. The Word is spoken BOLDLY and in a FRESH AND EXCITING way. His sweet wife ("Pastor Kim") has stepped up to the plate courageously. For she, too has been set free!! She is an amazing woman, and I am so blessed to call her my friend!!

Our Life Pastor (Jay) is about ready to launch a new service for our youth and young adults that is going to be OFF THE CHAIN!! He and our Executive Pastor (Chris -yeah, I'm a little biased on that one) are planning and accomplishing AMAZING things for the Kingdom! Our musicians are full of His Spirit. Our worship has come to a WHOLE NOTHA LEVEL!! People aren't just singing. They are PRAISING! Heads are lifted, arms are raised, tears are shed, and songs are sung with passion and purpose!

The Word says, "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me". And guys, THAT IS HAPPENING. I am seeing it more and more every week. People are embracing each other in holy hugs and praying over one another. People are coming down at the end of service to receive ministry and prayer. We have 19 people signed up for baptism on Easter Sunday! LIVES ARE BEING CHANGED!!

Our youth are being discipled and mentored by phenomenal people in phenomenal ways. To quote my daughter after last week's Life Night, "Mama! We brought heaven down"!! Young men and women from all over the country, have left the comforts of home, friends, and family to come to Florence, South Carolina to be part of this movement of God.

Our cell groups have grown more intimate and strong. We aren't just "fellow-church-goers"... we are brothers and sisters... DOING LIFE TOGETHER!! Holding each other up, holding each other accountable, and sometimes just holding each other in times of hurt.

It's AMAZING!

As I sat reflecting on my scripture for this morning, a song came up on Pandora said so simply what I have been feeling lately.

I don't know why I am surprised, really... Jesus never ceases to amaze me!

I am so excited about what he is doing in my life and the life of Pee Dee Community Fellowship.

Look out Florence! A movement has begun, and the walls of the Julia 4 will not be able to contain it!

How is He amazing you these days???

Just Alike

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:22:00 +0000

As most of you know, I have a baby sister that is not quite ten years my junior. She was SO FUN to watch growing up… such a little hambone who never met a stranger, and never failed to speak her mind. (She still embodies every single bit of that same spunk!)

When she was born, she looked VERY MUCH like I did as a baby. And even though as she grew, she began to look less and less like me, there were still many similarities in our personalities. (See above …Ha, ha!!)

My Dad used to have (still does) a little saying about us… “Youngest and Oldest… Just alike”!! Karen and I still claim this unique little bond over our hearts and lives. Thing is… there are a lot of differences, too.

I was “Little Miss Goodie Two-Shoes” and she “A Rebel Without A Cause”. I was the oldest who had to “set the example”… She was the youngest who challenged most, and broke many rules. I have dark hair, hers is blonde (wink, wink!!) Our body types are different, our seasons of life are different… and many times our outlooks are different. Yet, we are both loved “big” by our father, and adored by our mother... (We also have a set of twins – brother and sister – sandwiched in between us, who are also VERY DIFFERENT from us, yet VERY AWESOME, and completely, and unequivocally VERY LOVED).

Why am I telling y’all this?? Ha! …Good question. Maybe sharing this verse I read in Ephesians this morning will help…

Ephesians 3:6 (ESV)

This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Or, in other words…

Ephesians 3:6 (MSG)

The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board.

After reading and meditating on these verses, I got to thinking… (I know… Dangerous, right? But bear with me…) ;-)

I am just really impacted by the fact that we are ALL EQUAL in the eyes of Christ... we all receive the SAME GIFT, THE SAME GRACE, THE SAME INHERITANCE in HIM!! So many times we tend to compare ourselves to others, either by saying, "I wish I could be more like that" or "Thank God I'm not like that!", but in reality, we are all in the same boat!! There are no BIG I’s or little u's in the Kingdom of God.
That being said, do we treat each other that way??

I think Paul is writing this to the Gentile Jesus Followers because they are being looked down on by their Jewish Brothers. He’s encouraging them in the faith, while also defending that there is no need to become "Jew" first then Christian! JESUS BLOOD COVERS US ALL!!

But don't we do the same thing in churches sometimes? Don't we look down our noses at some, while idolizing others? I like the way “The Message” puts it… insiders and outsiders. Do we have those categories in our churches? (Don’t we??)

There is NOTHING I can do to be separated from the love of Christ, and at the same time, there is NOT ONE THING I can do to deserve it.

I say, we stop comparing ourselves to one another…

I say we all start living in the awesome gift of our INHERITANCE through Christ Jesus!

Jew or Gentile…Insider or Outsider…Oldest or Youngest...

WE ARE JUST ALIKE!!!!!

Bottom line... It's all about JESUS!

HIS GRACE, HIS SACRIFICE, HIS MERCY, and HIS REDEEMING LOVE!!!!!!

Can I get an AMEN!?!?

Encouraging Words

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:27:00 +0000

God granted me the AWESOME opportunity to speak to some beautiful ladies in the Upstate (South Carolina) this past Monday night!!

I was able to share the LOVE of my Savior, The Ultimate Valentine on the eve of Valentine’s Day...as I also shared my testimony and how He has seen me through times of trouble and trial.

I promised the ladies that I would post some of the scriptures that I used during these struggles… to encourage me… keep me strong, and close to Jesus… so that they would have them in their “arsenal” as well.

Without further ado….

Isaiah 61:1-3 (Jesus came to heal the broken-hearted and set the captives free!!)

Jeremiah 29:11 (God has a PLAN for your life.)

Romans 8:28 (All things work for good…)

Genesis 50:20 (What is intended to harm, God uses for good.)

Psalm 30:11-12 (He turns our mourning into dancing!)

There was also a quote that I shared by James Boice that I have written on an index card, posted above my computer… to remind me daily that…

“The God of the Bible is not weak; He is strong. He is all-mighty. Nothing happens without His permission or apart from His purposes – even evil. Nothing disturbs or puzzles Him. His purposes are always accomplished. Therefore those who know Him rightly act with boldness, assured that God is with them to accomplish his own desirable purposes in their lives.”

For even more encouraging scriptures and quotes, you can also access my story in three separate blog posts found HERE.

Thank you SO MUCH to my Sweet Friend Amy Hickman and LifeSong Church for making me feel so welcome and loved!! You guys are SUPER-DUPER SPECIAL!!!!!

Need Some “Mom Encouragement”??

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:44:00 +0000

I sure do!!

Whew!! This “Mama Thang” can just about wear you flat out, can’t it??

Between the boisterous play of two strapping boys, and the complete “diva meltdowns” of a pre-teen daughter, sometimes I don’t know whether to scratch my watch or wind my rear-end!

But have no fear!! The fabulous Lysa TerKeurst is offering out some life-lines for us frazzled Moms!

Check out her blog post here, or click on any link below to take you directly to the encouragement you need!

If she needs a little laugh…http://lysaterkeurst.com/2010/11/that-mom/
If she needs some heart touching encouragement: http://lysaterkeurst.com/2010/09/exhale-and-dance/
If someone has recently bumped into her happy… http://lysaterkeurst.com/2010/10/when-my-happy-gets-bumped/
If she’s struggling trying to find the right formula for raising kids… http://lysaterkeurst.com/2010/10/the-formula/
If she wants to learn to pray boldly for her kids… http://lysaterkeurst.com/2010/10/if-we-arent-praying-boldly-for-our-kids-who-is/
If she needs a little help with conflict resolution…http://lysaterkeurst.com/2010/09/conflict-resolution/

Also, if you haven’t already, subscribe to her feed so you can get daily emails. I really look forward to her wisdom and insight each day… She is REAL, and very humble and humorous in her writing.

So what are you waiting for?? We are in the trenches people!! Grab reinforcements so we can get back out there and WIN this battle for our children!!

Upward and onward we go! Let me hear you say it… “Hoo-rah”!!!!

Take the Shackles Off My Feet So I Can Dance!

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:15:00 +0000

I’ve been awake for a little more than two hours now, and already this day has been FANTABULOUS!!! I just have to share what God did this morning…

Some of you, who know me well, know that I have REALLY been struggling over the last couple of months. I have let chains (that I’ve already been freed from in the past) re-shackle me and keep me down in the dumps… held captive once again.

I find it interesting that as my goal in life is to be TRULY CAPTIVATING… basking in His Glory… Satan takes that very word (as he always does, for he is a liar and the father of lies) and twists it… reforms it… and leaves it simply CAPTIVE… because that is his desire for me.

My mother has told me all my life that if I were to ever TRULY KNOW the JOY my salvation, Satan would cower… quiver in his boots. Which is why he seeks to keep me defeated and render me useless for the Kingdom.

Well… NO MORE!!

As I was studying Ephesians 1:7-10 this morning, The Son appeared to me and SET ME FREE!!!

(Here is the entry in my SOAP Journal from this morning…)

SCRIPTURE:

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he
lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1:7-10 ESV)

Which He lavished upon us in every kind of wisdom and understanding (practical insight and prudence), Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (of His plan, of His purpose). [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him, (Ephesians 1:8, 9 AMP)

OBSERVATION: God has freely given me salvation through his Son Jesus. He has blessed me with abundant grace, which brings me freedom and knowledge of his plans for me. I (like ALL things) am to be made complete in Christ. Why? Because it brings Him pleasure… and because He loves me!

APPLICATION: Accept the gift! Open it! Treasure it! Wallow in it!! I am FORGIVEN and FREE... I need to stop shackling (and re-shackling) myself in chains of bondage. Chains of remorse, regret and shame... the Son has set me free, so I am FREE indeed! I am to be made complete in Christ. Allow him to work and reign. Stop trying to perfect myself. Rest in the abundant grace of Jesus!

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I am so sorry! I've been walking around like in defeat as if your work on the cross (defeating death, hell, and the grave) doesn't matter! You have chosen me, forgiven me, and destined me! Please help me accept that. Stop trying to earn it and just receive it!! God I surrender my whole heart to you.. Right now. All of the places and spaces that I have locked up and kept beyond reach, or hidden out of the way, I ask you now to open and fill! Fill with your presence! Your love! Your grace! In you I am being made complete! You have awesome plans (still) for my life! You are not done with me... Not until I have taken my last breath and returned home to you. Help me Jesus to be secure in that! Work in me... Move in me! I am yours!!
I LOVE YOU, JESUS!!

I don’t usually post my Bible Study Notes for the world to see, but today, I am. Today I will shout it to the roof-tops!!

“My chains are gone! I’ve been set free!! My God, My Savior has ransomed me! And like a flood, His mercy reigns… Unending Love… Amazing Grace!!

Amen! What do YOU NEED to be set free from today? Hurt? Guilt? Shame?… Let it go, sweet friend! Surrender all to Jesus! For if the SON has set you free, YOU ARE FREE INDEED!!!

Now come on… Let’s DANCE!!!

Is This Thing On???

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Hi there!

It’s me again.

I know it ‘s been a while, but I’m happy to say…

I’m BACK!!

A lot has changed in my life over the last several months, and even more so in the last couple of weeks. I am excited to share what’s new.

But that can wait.

Just wanted you to know that I am here, and you can expect to see me a little more regularly in the future.

And I’m TICKLED PINK to be back!

So… See you SOON!!!!

Sweet Emmie-G

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:31:00 +0000

My very first bundle of joy... 27 hours of labor.... But you were SO worth it!

A true Beauty... A perfect "10"... We marveled at you (especially Papa
and Gigi!!)

Even then you looked "just like your Mama"! ;-)

Fairy princesses, kittens, Dora, and Blue were your most favorite playmates.

Always ready to recite and perform, you were quick to show us what you
had learned... Quite the little sponge you were!

You loved to play "dress up" and more than once used a little brother
as a "model"... You loved to make things beautiful.

Creative, crafty, poetic and musical.

You had your Daddy wrapped around your little finger.

You are still a truly captivating young lady.... Sometimes I find
myself just staring at you.

Porcelain skin, lustrous chestnut locks, and chocolate brown eyes...
No doubt about it, SnowWhite, you are most definitely the "fairest of
them all"!

But your beauty is not only skin deep... Your heart is kind. You
nurture others and lead them with special care.

Very tender-hearted, and quick to internalize things... A real-life
porcelain doll, others too need handle you with care.

Extremely persistent and determined, once you've set your mind on a
goal it will be achieved.

Hope Floats, The Notebook, Monte Carlo, and The Last Song... You're
still a big fan of princesses and fairy tales.

Never backing down from a challenge, you will try anything once... But
you are quick to admit when it's not for you and move on.

A loyal friend, Everyone is your BFF... Except Jordan, she's your
BFFFAAEL (whatever that means...) ;-)

You are quick to forgive, yet cautiously optimistic. You don't build
walls, you build fences.

Your heart is noble and in tune with that of Your Father... You are
His Princess and you seek to please Him in all that you do.

Singing, writing, dancing, laughing, loving, and leading.... You still
specialize in making things beautiful.

Even now, you have your Daddy (and all the rest of us) wrapped around
your little finger!

Happy Birthday, Princess Emilee... Keep on shining like the beautiful
diamond you are... Reflecting His glory to the world around you!!

I love you,BabyGirl!!! And I a super proud to be your Mama!!! You are
still SO worth it!! ;-)

Jacob DeWitt…

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:52:00 +0000

(September 25, 2011)

I can’t believe you turned 10 today!

My tiniest baby… two weeks early, you brought so much joy to my heart.

You were a truly beautiful baby boy…

(Auntie KK wanted to send your pics to magazines.)

You are still a VERY stunning little fella.

As a toddler you found your smile, and became quite the comedian.

Your laughter was (and remains) contagious.

A thoughtful, brain-stormer, you contemplate and strategize every move.

A strong sense of compassion and justice lives within your heart.

You are most definitely a “righter of wrongs”.

Maybe that’s why Bat-Man and Spider Man are your heroes.

Very passionate… in love, in belief, and in temper.

But you know how to “talk the fire down”.

You won’t necessarily start a fight, but you will finish one very time.

From Veggie Tales to Star Wars, to Super Heroes, your play is always imaginative.

You’ve yet to meet a video game you can’t conquer.

You are a home body, and deeply devoted to your family.

So like your father, you relish quality time with him,

And you’re always willing to help him with projects around the house.

A friend to animals of all kinds… especially cats and dogs.

You are the whole reason our family ever got a pet in the first place!

Very selective, I know you will always make good choices…

It takes you ten minutes to tie your shoes because they have to be “just right”.

You STILL fill my heart with such joy!

So strong and handsome, thoughtful, and caring…

You are my Super Hero!

Happy Birthday, Jake!

I love you ever so very much!!

Courageous Faith–Final Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 11:30:00 +0000

As promised, here are a few pictures…

First, a couple of the older ones I have kept in my “Joshua Scrapbook” over the last 19 years.

SUCH a beautiful baby!!

A couple more… current ones…

Josh and his sweet girlfriend, Meg, and then one I just thought was too cute…

even if he does have an UGLY ORANGE hat on!! :-)

And lastly, here are two that we took the day all the children all met each other for the first time.

I think you can tell by the expression on my face… I was SO PROUD!

I’ll leave you with these final thoughts from my message this last Sunday…

**(You can listen to My Story in its entirety here.)**

Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

What do you need to TRUST GOD with today? How do you need him to WORK AND MOVE in your life?? Are you being held CAPTIVE by sin, or circumstances? Maybe you are like I was, and need to pray a prayer like “God, you have to make this okay. You have to handle this. Because I can’t. I don’t even WANT to.”

Remember the verses we started with? From Isaiah 61?

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion ---- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.”

That is why JESUS CAME. To proclaim FREEDOM to the captives… to SET THE PRISONERS FREE!! Redeeming our lives is His specialty! That’s HOW HE ROLLS!!

I am not just saying these words because they are the “Christian Thing” to say. I am begging you right now to come to him and surrender everything, because I have lived it. I have seen what He can do with a heart and life that are totally His.

He has TURNED MY MOURNING INTO DANCING!! He has given me JOY in my heart instead of tears of mourning. He is making me a MIGHTY OAK that stands tall and testifies to HIS GLORY!!

(That’s the tagline of my blog, by the way… Truly Captivating: Shining My Light. Reflecting His Glory.)

I want to share one more thing, and then I’ll close. Do you know what the name JOSHUA means? It’s actually a form of the same name as our Savior… Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua… It literally means “Jehovah Saves”.

What do you think? Could there be a more appropriate name? God used Joshua to save my life… God gave Joshua to me because He knew I would save his… But it’s not Josh’s name that is most important.

It’s JESUS.

Call on Him today. Let Him be YOUR SAVIOR… Your VERY PRESENT HELP in time of need!!

********************************************

Thank you all for the privilege of allowing me to share these special details of my life with you. Thank you to all who have joined me on this journey… My beloved parents and siblings, Josh’s precious parents and siblings, My awesome KISA, my three beautiful babies (Emilee, Jake, and Sam), and most especially, you Josh. Thank you for giving me permission to share our story… to continue to allow God to work and move through it in MIGHTY ways… You totally amaze me!! And I will ALWAYS love you… Like Jesus does!!!

Courageous Faith Part Three–Walkin’ On Sunshine

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:30:00 +0000

(August 7, 2011… One of the most JOYOUS days of my life!!)

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!” (Psalm 30:11-12)

Time went on and I began to get back to some sense of “normal” in my life. I re-enrolled at Francis Marion University (after taking a break from school due to everything that had happened) and got involved in the Baptist Student Union. I met some great friends, and actually began to feel like myself again. Bethany asked me the next year if I would share my story at their Annual Fund-Raiser Banquet as a “Birth Mom’s Perspective” on adoption. That was just the first time… over the next couple of years, God gave me MANY opportunities to share. And share I did, because like Joseph, I believed that…

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives”. (Genesis 50:20)

One of the ways I was able to heal, was because I believed (still do) that nothing happens to us that doesn’t first flow through the filter of God’s hand. “That which does not kill us makes us stronger”… and we become strong so we can help the weak. Allowing God to lead us through our experiences gives us the grace and courage to help others who may be going through the same thing. One of my dear friends at my home church was a missionary to Japan at this time. She shared my story with many women in that culture who needed to be comforted… who had lost their own innocence… their own children.

Unbeknownst to me, God was using my story to bless people on the other side of the globe!

But that’s not all… “the saving of many lives” also referred to my own. Another huge part of my healing was through the knowledge that my baby, “Joshua” (as his adoptive parents had named him) was out there somewhere… Smiling, Laughing, Growing, and becoming… and I clung to that with every fiber of my being. I knew this because I was able to get monthly reports for the first year of his life. The family would send pictures and updates through Bethany to my counselor who would then forward them to me. I would literally be standing at the mailbox waiting to hear the latest. It was such a blessing!

After the first year, the family decided that they wanted the adoption to continue to be “open”. They wanted Josh to know about me… to hear from me… and to one day be part of his life. I continued to get pictures and letters, this time directly from his Mom. I was able to send him gifts every birthday, and Christmas. I still do.

In the mean time, I met my KISA. (My Knight in Shining Armor). The night he asked me out on our first date, I had just given my testimony.. told this same story, at a BSU Bible Study. As my senior year of college began, I had one big prayer… to find my “future husband”. I met him that night.

Since he’d always known about everything I had been through, and all about Joshua, things were never awkward. He was as excited as I was when new pictures and letters would come in. He would even go with me (still does) to buy Josh’s gifts. Chris’ perspective has always been that Josh may not be “his child” but he is part of me… and I am his, so Josh is, too. That has always been SUCH a blessing… but never more than the last couple of months.

Josh graduated from High School in June of 2010, and I was sent an invitation.

I wasn’t sure at the time if this was just a “wanted you to know” kind of thing, or if he really wanted me there… If the time had come to finally meet my son. After praying over it, Chris and I decided that the timing wasn’t quite right… and that when it was, God would make that abundantly clear.

Since I now I have three more children, I began to worry about how to tell them. What would they think? What would Josh think when he found out about them? But every time those worries would plague me, I would remember one fact. God’s fingerprints have been on this situation since the very beginning, and he had all of that worked out, too… I just had NO IDEA how well…

This past June, Josh found me on Facebook. (Facebook!!) When I got the “friend request” I didn’t even hesitate… I immediately accepted. We began to message each other every few days, that grew into “chat sessions” where we talked about Swamp People and Country Music. :-) I was LOVING getting to know him more personally and having contact with this beautiful young man that I had loved from birth. I kept telling Chris, he is just too good to be true. So wise, so strong, so mature. Again, just confirmation that God’s plan is perfect, and my decision 19 years ago was a good one.

He is out on his own now, and has been struggling just a bit, so right before his birthday (August 1) I gave him my phone number and told him I was here for him, if he ever needed me. Ten minutes later, I got a text.. “Hey. Ha ha. It’s Josh”. I couldn’t stop smiling.

Conversations began to grow deeper, and I could tell Josh had lots of questions. Questions about who he is, and where he gets certain personality traits and other tendencies. (Like, ahem… a bad temper – No! Surely not MY child!! *Wink, Wink!*) I began to explain to him that I would love to answer his questions, but I didn’t think that texts or Facebook was the proper platform. His parents and I have always said that we would let Josh lead, and I would only move as far as he wanted me to go. I was trying to be so sensitive to that. So, as you might imagine, I could barely catch my breath when he replied, “I think I know where you are going with this. And if I am honest, I have to tell you that I am ready to meet you, and be a part of your life.”

WOW! The tears began to flow… but this time. They were tears of JOY!

A week later, (August 7, 2011)we met in person, just the two of us (as Josh requested).

It was SO AMAZING!! We literally just smiled and stared at each other for the first few minutes. As God would have it, Josh is now living only 5 minutes from my youngest sister and her husband. Door after door was opened… and we joyfully, yet cautiously stepped through them. The time came to share with my children… I was scared to death, but I was ready. Emilee knows the whole story, she happened to walk in on me one day in my room when I was having a “moment” and demanded to know why I was crying… she is a very determined little chick, so Chris and I decided it was time to tell her. (She is here today… I love you, Baby Girl!! Thanks for being so strong for your Mama and for helping me hold it together! You are truly a Steel Magnolia in my book!) Chris and I decided to tell the boys a couple of weeks ago. They’ve always known about “Joshua” and that he is a “special part of our family” because they’ve seen pictures… both in my parent’s home, and my own. As I said… I had to see him… to be reminded daily that HE is the good that came out of that night. HE is the reason I am alive today… But now the boys know that Josh is their brother. (They know that “something bad” happened to Mama when I was a young woman and that God gave me Josh to help me get through it.) All the kids were over-joyed. Honestly, the first question that every single one of them asked was, “When can we meet him?” Last Sunday, Josh met Emilee, Jacob, and Sam. It was love at first sight. I could have just busted wide open.

Josh is still very close with his parents and siblings (as he should be), but he now has another family that loves him, and has embraced him, too.

God truly worked it all out, and He has turned my mourning into dancing… I can honestly say, that other than my wedding day, and the births of my three little ones, I have never been happier.

Sweet Lord Jesus, I stand in awe. You have indeed worked this all out above and beyond any and all of my expectations… you have done more than I could ever ask or imagine. Your will is perfect. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for helping me to trust that you were going to really give me that HOPE and that FUTRE you promised. I cannot be silent! I will sing your praises forever!

(Stay tuned tomorrow… for some Final Thoughts and PICTURES!!) :-)

Courageous Faith Part Two–Daylight Dawns

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:16:00 +0000

(August 1, 1992)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”. - Romans 8:28

Again, it was right around midnight. The pains had been coming all day, but by this time they were stronger, and much closer together. I had no idea what I was going to do… You see, I had finally come to terms with my pregnancy about 4 months in. Before that I was in total denial. The first 2-3 months, I had had some spotting which I mistakenly supposed to be my cycle. I breathed a sigh of relief. Until the spotting stopped. Month four there was nothing, and my belly was beginning to poke out. I kept telling myself, “No. This cannot be happening. God wouldn’t let this happen to me”. A month or so later, I began to feel the child inside me move. At this point there was no denying it, anymore. I was pregnant, and I had NO IDEA who the father was.

I had a serious boyfriend in high school, and dated a few guys in my first year or so of college, but I had never given myself to anyone. I’m not saying I was perfect. I was what you might call, “very affectionate”. But I never gave myself to anyone because for me, it was VERY IMPORTANT to save that gift for my husband. So there was no question in my mind about when I had become pregnant… but I had no clue as to how to tell my parents, or anyone else for that matter.

The only person I had even shared my nightmare with was my sister Betsy, who is not quite two years younger than me. I went to her, to share in confidence. I made her swear not to tell a soul. She kept my secret. Until she could no longer.

As the time drew closer I began to soak my pillow with tears at night. Praying to God. Asking Him, again, to help me. My constant prayer was, “God you have to take this. You have to make this okay. I can’t handle it. I don’t even want to try. It’s yours. Your will be done.”

Even if I had known sooner, I can honestly say that the thought of having an abortion made me cringe. I believed (at that time) that it was a totally legitimate way to handle this type of thing, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I couldn’t punish an innocent life… not for something someone else did. It wasn’t my fault. But it wasn’t the baby’s fault, either. I had to believe that God had a plan.

I believe with all my heart that one of the reasons God allowed me to carry this baby, was to save my life. I honestly don’t know if I would be here, otherwise. There were times that I wished I could find a way out of my pain. A way to end it once and for all, but I would never do any harm to myself… because I could never harm my baby.

I began to talk to the child at night. Rub my belly and say, “It’s going to be okay. We’re going to be okay. You are going to be okay.”

So that night, as the labor pains grew stronger and nearer, I knew that I could keep my secret no longer. My baby sister, Karen (then 11 years old) was “camping out” with me in her sleeping bag, in the floor beside my bed. When she heard me crying, she went downstairs and got Mama. When my mother reached my bed, she saw me clinching my waist and writhing in pain. She reached down to touch me, and as soon as she did, she said, “Oh, my God! Susanne, do you have something to tell me?”

To this day, I literally have no idea exactly what I said to her. I remember telling her the gist of things, and hearing her say she had to go get Daddy. I begged her not to.

My Dad had been through a rough year with his job. Very successful, but very busy, and very stressful. He had been promoted to Regional Manager of his company and been traveling a lot. All I could think about was that he would have a stroke or a heart-attack and be checking in the hospital right along with me.

When Dad heard what Mom said, he looked straight into my eyes and said, “Who?” I told him, “Daddy. I don’t know. It happened last fall. That weekend I was away visiting (my friend).”

We raced to the hospital. When we got there and the doctors checked me out, it was discovered that I was very sick. My blood-pressure was through the roof, and I had taken on way too much fluid. I was toxic.

Mom told the doctor all she knew, and he came and stood beside me saying, “I am going to take care of you. We are going to get you through this”.

After some medicine for pain and to help regulate my blood pressure, I began to sleep a little. My Dad came to my side again, and said… “Honey. I know you have been through a lot. And I don’t even really know where to start. But I need you to know that we are here now. I am here. And I will do whatever you need me to do. And if you want to take this baby home, all you have to do is say the word, and it’s done.” I said, “No, Daddy. I can’t. I have to do what is right for the child. He or she deserves a mother AND a father. I cannot give this child a Daddy… or even a healthy and whole Mama, at this point. I know what I have to do. We have to find him/her a family.”

He nodded. Tears in his eyes. And that was the end of it.

After my son was born, they whisked him away. The doctors didn’t want me upset. My blood-pressure was still dangerously high.

I was moved from the delivery room to the floor for at-risk pregnancies. I had to stay in the hospital for three days to recover.

In the mean time, a wonderful representative from Bethany Christian Services visited me. We literally picked this agency out of a phone book, and within an hour of calling them, the woman I would later refer to as “My Guardian Angel” was at the door of my hospital room. After telling her my story (the first time my parents had actually heard it in any detail), she took my hand. Her eyes filled with tears, she said, “Susanne. We have a family that has been praying for a child with special circumstances. They came to us last October. I believe they are the family that God has prepared to raise your baby”.

I believed it, too.

A week later, I did the hardest thing I have ever done. I signed the papers to release my son to this family’s care. Although it broke my heart to give him up, I have never regretted it, not even one day, since.

Jesus this is SO HARD. But I know you have a plan. And I know you will work this out according to your purpose. Please help me trust you, and move forward. I need you to heal me, and restore me. Please be with my baby and his new family… Give them everything they need to raise him according to your word, and your will for his life. Help us both to walk into the future and the good that you have promised us.

Courageous Faith (Part One): Darkest Night

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 11:30:00 +0000

“The God of the Bible is not weak; He is strong. He is all-mighty. Nothing happens without His permission or apart from His purposes – even evil. Nothing disturbs or puzzles Him. His purposes are always accomplished. Therefore those who know Him rightly act with boldness, assured that God is with them to accomplish his own desirable purposes in their lives.”

(James Boice)

(October 20, 1991)

Jeremiah 29: 11 tells us…

“For I know the plans I have for you”, says the Lord. “Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.”

It was chilly night in October. A few minutes past midnight. My Daddy always told me, “Nothing good happens after midnight.” He was right. Sort of…

I had been to a party on a college campus. The party scene wasn’t my norm, but I made an exception… there were friends I hadn’t seen in a while. The campus being unfamiliar to me, I called ahead to make sure I knew where I was going. My friend’s dorm (that I was staying with) was on one side of the campus… the party was on the other.

Once I got over there, I immediately felt uncomfortable, but I hung around to visit with old friends. After about another hour or so, I had had about enough of the scene. I told my friends I was going to head on back to the other side… they talked me into staying another hour. I finally left around 11:45 pm. I drove back to my friend’s dorm, but being Sunday night (my school was on Fall Break, her school was not) there were ABSOLUTELY NO Parking spaces. I drove around for a while hoping that someone would move out and I could park there. No one ever did. So I drove to an adjacent lot looking for a spot. Nothing.

I ended up going a little farther down and finding a spot at the back of a dark lot behind another set of dorms. I began to make the trek back to familiar territory.

As I neared the back of the building, I heard a voice. As most scared 19 year old girls would do, that late at night, in unfamiliar territory, I began to pick up the pace… Trying to get around that building and into the light as fast as I could. I was not successful. Before I knew it, I was lying on the ground, with a tall dark shadow above me. The next 30 minutes, or so, became my worst nightmare.

All of a sudden, a large group of students rounded the back of the building, making a lot of noise. I remember the sound of raucous laughter filling the air… the perpetrator immediately got up, and ran off. I didn’t waste any time, either. I got back to my friends dorm, and announced that I was going to take a shower. She asked, “Didn’t you take one before you left?” I said, “Yeah. But I need another.” As I desperately tried to cleanse my body, I prayed to Jesus with all my heart. “Lord, please let me be okay. Please take care of me and this entire situation. Please wrap me in your comfort, your strength, and your peace”. I put on my PJs, crawled into bed, and cried myself to sleep.

Really, God? A hope and a future? Even through this?? I don’t understand how that could be. It feels like I have been robbed of all I hoped for… everything I’ve ever dreamed… But I trust you, Jesus. With everything.

Courageous Faith

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:33:00 +0000

Good morning, Y’all!
As some of you may know by now, I shared my testimony at PDCF during yesterday morning’s service.
**You can listen to My Story in its entirety here.**
For those of you who couldn’t make it, and for some who live in other towns/states, I thought I would post it on my blog.
I’ve been waiting a LONG time to tell this story here at Truly Captivating…
I had to wait for the right time and the right circumstances, and most importantly the right person to be on board, before I had the permission to share.
I’m going to be posting it in three parts, starting tomorrow…
Part One – Darkest Night
Part Two – Daylight Dawns
Part Three – Walking on Sunshine
(Also decided to post some FINAL THOUGHTS - and pictures!)
**Just click on any/each link above to get to that part of the story.**
The main verses that I used in preparation, and as inspiration to post my story come from Isaiah 61:1-3…

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion ----
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.”

Stay tuned… :-)

Awesome Menu Combo!

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 02:22:00 +0000

I LOVE to cook.

Since I am always looking for new ideas, I subscribed to weekly emails from Pillsbury.com

I got an email yesterday entitled “Easy Week Night Dinners”. (Now THAT’s what I call an “auto-click”, as in… I’m not even gonna think about it, just CLICK to get to the good stuff! )

One of the items featured this week was Ham and Cheese Crescent Roll-Ups.

They look really yummy don’t they??

So I started thinking… what could I pair with this new take on a ham and cheese sandwich?

SOUP, of course!!

I Googled “Easy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipes” and found THIS.

I put them together and VOILA!

My family was in Hog (and Chicken!) Heaven!!

P.S. ~ Total prep/cook time was about 35-45 minutes. Not bad for a “home cooked'” meal!

Can. Not. Wait.

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:18:00 +0000

So excited about getting to go to Catalyst for the FIRST TIME this year!!

Catalyst Atlanta 2011 {Be Present} Preview from Catalyst on Vimeo.

See why I am so excited???

Who else will be there?? Hit me up and let me know!

Would love to meet some peeps LIVE and IN PERSON!!

Happy Monday!!!

My God

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:14:00 +0000

(Aslan with Lucy, Prince Caspian)

I read these words in a devotional book a couple of weeks ago…

Since then, I have had them posted in a prominent place over my computer, so that I will read them every. single. morning. before I start my day…

The God of the Bible is not weak;

He is strong. He is all-mighty.

Nothing happens without His permission

Or apart from his purposes – even evil.

Nothing disturbs or puzzles Him.

His purposes are always accomplished.

Therefore, those who know Him rightly act with boldness,

Assured that God is with them to accomplish

His own desirable purposes in their lives.

- James Boice

They are such an encouragement to me… I hope they bless you, too!!

Go with your STRONG and MIGHTY God today…

Allow Him to fulfill his purposes in your life No. Matter. What.

Happy Friday, Y’all!!!

I Won’t Let Go

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 19:21:00 +0000

My kiddos are struggling a bit right now…

ALL of them.

New school year, new classes, new seasons of life…

I think one of the hardest things about being a Mama is watching your kids struggle and knowing there is nothing you can do… but be there.

I can’t shield or save them from everything. I wish I could…

Like a butterfly must struggle out of his cocoon in order for his wings to be strong enough to fly, we have to let our children struggle.

It’s all part of growing up. Becoming the awesome, brilliant, wonderful people that HE has created them to be.

I am but a vessel… doing the best I know how… in awe that I’ve even been called to do so.

I heard this song today in the truck, and I just broke.

As the song played, I thought of each one of them in my heart, and the struggles they are each facing. After the song finished, I turned off the radio. In the silence, I took the time to pray for them… each of them individually… lifting them up to the Father as I sat waiting in the school car-rider line.

I just kept repeating these lines over and over…

I will stand by you
I will help you through
When you’ve done all you can do
If you can’t cope
I will dry your eyes
I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight
And I wont let go

When I got home, I hugged each of them tight (one in my heart) and told them each how much I loved them. I can’t keep them from struggling… but I can be there with them.

ALL of them…

Every step of the way!!

The Waiting Game

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:01:00 +0000

“If I pulled back the curtain to allow you to view the heavenly realms, you would understand much more. However I have designed you to live by faith, and not by sight.”

– Sarah Young, Jesus Calling

It’s so hard sometimes, isn’t it?? God gives us “just enough light for the step we’re on”…

No turning back.

No charging forward.

Just here. Now.

But what a gift the present is! (Pun intended.) :-)

He wants us to trust Him. Lean on Him. Let Him carry us when the road is difficult and our feet are weary. He gives us His strength… His power. Enough for each and every day. Just like the Manna in the wilderness, we can’t borrow it or store it. It’s provided as needed.

“He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms: he will carry them in his bosom and gently lead those that are with young.” (Psalm 40:11)

“But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

As I was having my quiet time this morning, God flooded my mind with these images. He reminded me that it’s okay to be vulnerable… that my weaknesses, when I trust them to Him, are the very things that display His strength and glory in my life. It’s okay to tell Him how I feel… disappointments, doubts, concerns, yes… even fears. These are the things He takes and redeems… uses to show His power. He gently nudges me to stop fighting and struggling, and just rest in Him. The battle is the Lord’s!

Then I read this about times of trouble…

“Unspoken pain festers and takes on a life of its own; it cripples growth. Now I trust God’s love for me enough to tell him what I honestly feel knowing that just as he received Mary and Martha (at the time of Lazarus’ death), he will receive me…

Mary and Martha both watched Jesus weep. They must have realized that Jesus knew he was about to bring Lazarus back to life, and yet he shed tears of grief and outrage for the brokenness of the human condition.

To me, that adds a holy dignity to so many of life’s harshest moments. It says we can trust in a Savior who cares --- deeply. It says he has a plan and in the midst working it takes the time to feel with us, hurt with us, hear us.'”

- Sheila Walsh, When a Woman Trusts God

God wants my honesty… demands it. And through the person of Jesus, He grieves with me over my struggles. He loves me enough to shoulder the weight of my burdens… to carry the load for me.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29)

Not only does He carry me and offer me rest, but he gives me the assurance that He is at work. Even through my pain…

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

“The God of the Bible is not weak; He is strong. He is all-mighty. Nothing happens without His permission or apart from His purposes – even evil. Nothing disturbs or puzzles Him. His purposes are always accomplished. Therefore those who know Him rightly act with the boldness, assured that God is with them to accomplish His own desirable purposes in their lives.” - James Boice

That gives me so much peace and security… that I can have the assurance to know that God is always working. He has a plan, and nothing can stop it. Nothing gets in his way. Not any person, any fear, any memory, any hurt or any pain. He is sovereign. He is in control. Like David says in Psalm 27…

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (v.1)

“Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage;

Wait for the Lord!” (v.14)

As a self-proclaimed “Control Freak”, waiting and resting don’t always come natural for me. But when I consider the benefits, I understand that they are both needed. I have to “Be still… and Know” that God is in control. He is my Rock, and my Redeemer. He has my best interest at heart, and always has. He WILL fulfill his purposes for my life. He WILL reveal His glory through my circumstances.

The Apostle Paul reminds us…

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

It’s a waiting game. But it’s SO worth it!

The Wallet

noreply@blogger.com (Susanne) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:46:00 +0000

Actually, it’s a “waw-let”…. At least that what Sam calls it!

For his birthday, back in June, he received quite a haul! Even after depositing money into his savings account, Sam still had $113 to spend. I’m pretty sure he’s never had that much money at his immediate disposal before. In fact, he made a daily ritual of sitting down in the floor of his bedroom to count it.

After noticing this event a few times, I asked, “Buddy… are you counting it again?”

His immediate reply was, “Mama, this never gets old.” (He he!!)

Well, one day, a week or so later, he decided to count his money again. But this time he could not find his “waw-let”. We were about to go spend a couple of days with my family in Columbia, and he told me he wanted to take a few dollars with him… in case, “I see somethin’ I want.”

We looked everywhere he said he had been with it, but couldn’t find it. I dismissed it with a “Well, it’s got to be here somewhere, it didn’t just sprout legs and walk off!”, mostly because I was packing and trying to get the truck loaded. He was upset, but he let it pass.

When we got to Mama’s he went to spend the night with my sister and her little boy. An evening with Aunt Betsy almost always includes a shopping trip, and this one was no exception. They ducked in Crazy 8s at the Sandhills Shopping Center, and Sam saw a “cool shirt”.

“Aunt Betsy”, he said with his little puppy-dog eyes just a-droopin’, “I would by me that shirt, except I’ve lost my waw-let”.

Of course she “loaned” him the money to buy the shirt, but this led to several phone calls from family in the following weeks after we returned home as to whether or not we had yet found the “waw-let”.

The next week, all three of my kids left for a trip to Lancaster to spend a week with their Aunt Misty (Chris’ sister). As soon as I sent them off, I made up my mind to re-start the search. Since I still had a few hours before Chris got off work, I decided to be thorough. Very thorough.

I began by taking everything out from under the bed. All those Rubber Maid totes full of various and sundry toy collections, all of the random stuffed animals that had been “lost” in the night… everything! No wallet.

I went through each and every one of those tote boxes. I looked under the covers and between the sheets. I climbed up to the top bunk to see if it had wandered up to Jacob’s bed. No wallet.

I ended up cleaning out the closet, emptying the large toy box by the door, and going through each and every drawer full of clothing. Still… no wallet.

At this point, I realize it could be anywhere! (Seriously!! I found Spiderman in an empty Pop-tart box in the pantry once!!) This thought lead to me continuing this exhaustive search through each and every bedroom and bath in the rear of the house. I even looked under bathroom cabinets. Still. No “waw-let”.

As I came to the other end of the house, and prepared to look in every nook and cranny in the living, dining and kitchen areas, I prayed. “Lord. You know how upset that baby is that he can’t find his wallet, and I am desperately trying to find it for him. Please help me, here!”

In the front entrance of our home, there is a little table/cabinet that I got from my sister. It has two drawers and a small cabinet area beneath. Really, the only reason it’s there is so we can have a place to drop our keys, and to hold my peace lily. We don’t store anything of consequence there. But something said, “Look.” So I did.

One drawer, nothing. Second drawer, nothing. I pulled open the cabinet, and there it sat.

PRAISE THE LORD!!! I HAD FOUND THE WALLET!!

I called my dad, my sister, Chris, and certainly Sam at his Aunt Misty’s, to tell them! “What was lost, had now been found”!!

As soon as the words escaped my lips, I was reminded of three parables in the book of Luke. The Lost (or Prodigal) Son being the last, and most famous of these, and the first of the Lost Sheep that I learned to quote as a teen, I tend to overlook the middle passage in that little trilogy. The Parable of the Lost Coin.

In it, Jesus tells about a woman who had lost one of her ten silver coins. She swept the house and began to “seek diligently” until she found it. She didn’t give up. She kept searching…

That’s what I had done. I never quit searching for the wallet. I knew it was here in this house SOMEWHERE and I had to find it.

That is what Jesus does. He never stops searching… looking… waiting. He came to “seek and save that which was lost”. And when He “finds” us… the angels in heaven rejoice!!

Just like the woman in the parable rejoiced as she called all her friends to come and celebrate with her that her coin had been found.

Just like I exuberantly called everyone I knew would give a care, and reported that I had found the wallet!!

Truly. There has rarely been a time in my life that I was more exhilarated. More relieved. All my hard work had actually accomplished something! I began to think more on this… this “victory” of mine, and the Bible passages that had come to mind with it. Jesus completed a great work, too. A greater work than anyone else has ever accomplished. He laid down his life for me.

“It is finished”, He said from the cross. Knowing that all His hard work had actually accomplished something.

Salvation. For you. For me.

He never stopped searching…

I once was lost. Now I’m found!

Thank you, Jesus!!!