NEW BEGINNINGS

BEHOLD, 

I will do a new thing.

Now it shall spring forth;

Shall you not know it?

I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Isa. 43:19

No matter our circumstances, God is in the midst of them ready to lead us to higher ground.  Be encouraged, this is the year of BEHOLD!  God is on our side.

Counting My Blessings,

xo Susy

Yes and Amen

I was awakened this morning, while it was still dark, by the sound of a train whistle off in the distance. Keeping my eyes closed (and hoping to go back to sleep), I could hear the train rumbling on the tracks, and my thoughts turned to all those people that lived even closer than I. How could they sleep? 

I couldn't, and eventually scuffed into the kitchen to make coffee. 

Later, as I settled into a plate of eggs over easy, in my cute little breakfast room, I opened my bible randomly to the OT. 

 
I happened upon a page that had a verse highlighted and underscored, and I'd written multiple notes in the margin. Two were just dates: 6/23/03, and 5/9/08 ~ no notations. 

Another one read "4/12/05 Took communion and worshipped. Received this word before going to take mammogram." [The doctors have been telling me for decades they have concerns.]

The big note at the bottom of the page brought a smile to my face. "5/18. Received a physical 'wave' of the Holy Spirit at RWC [Women's Conference], and heard in my heart 'never again'. On 5/8 I had a physical & am being sent to GYN to rule out cancer. It's already been ruled out! DONE!!!" 

Here's the verse that was marked up? 

Zeph. 3:14-15
Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!  The LORD has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; You shall see disaster no more.*
There's an asterisk on the last line of those verses with a final side note: * "Never again will you fear any harm" 

I think, and I believe, that in the middle of our night seasons, when we can't sleep and we're rumbling down the tracks of our life, the Father hears the cries of our heart that come to His ears like a train whistle. But instead of turning away and making coffee, He gently leans down and whispers to us, saying "Never again".   

Counting My Blessings

xo Susy

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, 

to the glory of God through us.  ~2 Cor. 1:20

True Faith

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith; and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.
             ~George Mueller

George Mueller [1805-1898] was  a Christian evangelist and Director of the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, England caring for over        10, 000 orphans in his lifetime.  He also established 117 schools which offered Christian education to over 120,000 children.

The remarkable thing was, Mueller never made requests for financial support, nor did he ever go into debt.  Many times, he received unsolicited donations only hours before they were needed.

On one well-documented occasion, he gave thanks for breakfast while all the children were sitting at the table, even though there was nothing to eat in the house. As they finished praying, the baker knocked on the door with sufficient fresh bread to feed everyone, and the milkman gave them plenty of fresh milk because his cart broke down in front of the orphanage.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything 

by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,

 let your requests be made known to God;
and the peace of God, 

which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds

 through Christ Jesus.

 Phil. 4:6-7

 

 

 

Counting My Blessings
xo Susy

 

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Stay and Fight

Stay until I say "go",
fight until I say "rest".

That's what I heard in my heart this morning as I was praying for a friend.

And here's how we're able to do that...

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

Lam 3:22-23

Counting My Blessings

xo Susy

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It's Up to Us...

For some, the world has stopped.  For a community the processing of an unfathomable evil, that will shape their future, has just begun.

For the rest of us ~ we cry, we pray, we care from the bottom of our hearts.

I believe the tragedy of Newtown is a clarion call to the watchmen.  Be alert, be vigilant.  Pray for families, schools, churches, and your city.  Prayer walk your neighborhood and your school yards and set a hedge of protection around them.

Make Psalm 91 your address and your declaration.

Counting My Blessings

xo Susy

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The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit

Psalm 34:18

What To Do ~ When You've Done All You Know To Do

Humble yourself, therefore, under God's mighty hand of blessing, that He may lift you up in due time.

Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7

 Father, I acknowledge I'm not able to produce the outcome that I need ~ so I wholeheartedly lay my circumstances at your feet. Help me not to worry or be fearful, but to genuinely put my hope and trust in You and Your incredible love for me.  Amen.

Counting My Blessings,

xo Susy

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Point of View

Have you ever wondered why tough times happen to devoted Christians?  I have, and I'm sure there are LOTS of reasons.  But one of them is discussed in a letter written by a man named James, who tradition says was the brother of Jesus.  He's explaining to fellow believers, among other things, why trials and temptations occur.  He said, "the testing of your faith produces patience".

In other words, patience is suppose to be the 'fruit' of our adversity.  And apparently, patience is so powerful it will cause us to be "perfect"(spiritually mature) and "complete" (lacking nothing, whole).

So what exactly is Patience? It's often translated endurance and perseverance. 

My favorite definition, however, is "a consistent response".  

When Jesus faced temptation, His 'consistent response' was "It is written".  He countered the devil's temptation in the wilderness with The Word of God.  I don't think we can do any better than to follow His example.  When tough times, difficult circumstances, or the devil himself comes a-knockin', respond with God's word, consistently. Regardless of what it looks like and regardless of how you feel.  And may I add, out loud.  (The devil's a lot of things, but he's not a mind-reader.)

Here's  how I summarize James 1:3

Testings come to find the Word of God operating in you.

Let God's word be a part of your inner make-up, fully functioning, and operating at full capacity.  When the tough times hit, answer back with your own faith-filled declaration:  It Is Written!

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17

Counting my Blessings,

Susy

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True North

Stand at the crossroads and look;

ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, 
and walk in it, and you will find
rest for your souls.
Jeremiah 6:16
 
Whenever I need direction, I usually
find my answer in the bible.  But
sometimes it's a quiet voice in my heart
telling me which way to turn, or a good
word of Godly counsel from a trusted friend. How does God speak to you?

Jesus has gone that way before us,
and He delights to show us the path.
He said "Follow me".

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Spring Planting

"You may be without what you need, but you're never without the seed that will produce it."

The word of God is seed and

"the sower sows the word" 

No matter what your need, God's word can produce the harvest.  Take His promises and plant them deep in your heart.  Don't dig them up with your unbelief.   Keep watering them with your faith, and soon you'll have a harvest.

There is unlimited potential in a seed.  

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A Hymn of Faith

Though the fig tree may not blossom,

Nor fruit be on the vines;

Though the labor of the olive may fail,

And the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

And there be no herd in the stalls --

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.

Habakkuk 3:17-19  These beautiful Old Testament verses end with the notation "To the Chief Musician"  and were to be used in worship.  

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