A risk worth taking (GIVEAWAY)
February 6, 2009 | Books, Proverbs 31 Ministries
Welcome to all of you who are joining me today from Proverbs 31 devo!
I have a special copy of my book, The Woman I am Becoming, on my shelf. In it, it is autographed by most of the 20something friends who joined me as I wrote the book. It is private and their words aren’t for this blog, but they bring me joy.
It was a cool time, writing that book. We set up a yahoo group and I zipped out questions and they came back with answers, or more questions.
They didn’t hold back and I’m grateful for that. We talked about our calling, about God, about loss, about vocation, about sex and the men in each of our lives, and more.
In every aspect there was the issue of risk. It takes savvy to pick a man who loves God, but also knows how to love you. It’s hard to wait, risking the time tick-tocking away, until the timing is right for your dreams (or God’s plans). It’s risky to love parents or siblings or friends who once hurt you. Even though they’ve changed, that mark is still on your heart.
What I loved best about this very long conversation is that I grew. In a sense it was a mentoring role, but what emerged was a strong group of women of all ages talking about things that matter to them. They mentored me just as much as I did them as they asked the tough questions, like:
Tiffany lost her mom. How do you risk trusting God when you pray and the answer isn’t what you wanted?
RayChelle didn’t look like the typical ministry girl. How do you risk following God when you don’t look/sound/always fit in with what people say you should be?
Crystal has a dream. So does Sarah. When would it happen? Why was God taking so long?
Jess felt far from home though she was surrounded by people. How do you risk finding new community?
These are only a few of the things we discussed, but in the end we decided that risk was worth it. But what I learned is as we take those risks we need each other. A pat on the back. Prayer. Laughter. Friendship.
Who is your encouragement? Who do you connect with as you grow, reach, ask the tough questions? And perhaps that’s the biggest risk of all, letting down your guard and stepping into new friendships.
What is your risk? What is God doing in your life in this area?
Just for fun and because Valentines Day is around the corner, I’m offering a GIVEAWAY to one lucky commentor today.
It’s the My Natural all-natural 100% non-toxic plush toy tinted with natural plants and minerals and stuffed with untreated cotton. Your child can chew on it, play with it, sleep with it, and you can feel comfortable. Plus it’s soft and cuddly and cute! This limited edition pink bunny with a tan belly and floppy ears (a little different than pictured) with a green scarf is created by MiYim Simply Organic.
Comment on this post and you’ll be entered in the drawing! We’ll choose a winner on Saturday a.m. by random number generator.
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So thankful for the encouragers God has placed in my life. People I believe love me purely and have my best interet at heart. More importantly, they love the Lord and want to be His vessel.
In Chuck Swindoll’s book “Koinonia — Recipe for Authentic Fellowship”, he states that “new friendships” often come from healthy fellowship. And you are right, we have to be willing to risk and be vulnerable to step into vibrant fellowship and allow Him to birth new friendships.
“A pat on the back. Prayer. Laughter. Friendship.”…a few of the sweet blessings and simple pleasures of life.
February 6th, 2009 at 7:03 amMy risk is submitting to God as I ask Him to change me to be the woman He created me to be. I have known I needed to do this for years and finally found the courage to go for it. I am also praying that God will show me the idols in my life so that He will have that #1 spot in my heart. Thank you for your encouraging message, Suzanne!
February 6th, 2009 at 7:30 amSo thankful for the DAILY encouragement this site brings to my life. My risk is TOTALLY trusting God to bring my husband home! We were married in April, 2008, in Costa Rica. God’s plan is for him to relocate here and the Immigration process has long and heart wrenching. I have not seen him since April, 2008, and we miss each other TERRIBLY! Is God still in control in the midst of the silence? Does He know that I long to have my husband by my side to begin the life that He has carved for us as a married couple? I need His strength and His guidance.
February 6th, 2009 at 9:15 amI liked what you said about finding a group of women who love you regardless. I have several God has given me, and I am so thankful to Him for these friendships we’ve formed. I really enjoyed reading what you wrote on the Prov. 31 devotion this morning. Thank you and God bless!
February 6th, 2009 at 9:22 amWow!! You nailed so many things about me. I like to be in my “safe” place where I know I can’t get hurt but have recently come to realize how much I am missing.
I keep my emotions and hurts to myself never asking for a listening ear when it is needed. I will do anything to stay within my boundries because that is where I am comfortable.
I know things need to change and I have recently taken baby steps toward change. Doing something that is totally not me.
Taking the first step is the hardest but also seeing the blessing that He is giving me provides the emotional encouragement I can use.
I know there is so much more for me and it is such a comfort knowing He want to give these things to me. All I have to do is have faith and take that step.
Thank you for these encouraging words today.
February 6th, 2009 at 9:31 amMy struggle or risk is stepping out into the world of unbelievers including those in my own home and revealing God’s wonders and expressing to them that Jesus is the way and through Him anything can be done. God sent His Son that we may be saved. I pray that the Holy Spirit through Jesus will send the words from my tongue and my actions of faith are evident in my home and my community that I can lead by example to Christ. I thank God everyday for my Christian friends and hope to have many more.
February 6th, 2009 at 9:39 amWow! Reading this topic this morning confirmed a lot of things I have been battling with lately. Especially “Fear” when you let it grip you. Thank you for your encouraging, truthful words and I know something that I need to do now, i’m going to take the risk in faith. THank you so much Suzanne!
February 6th, 2009 at 9:44 ammy mantra for this year is “say no to the fear and yes to the providence of God” (borrowed fro Angie at Bring the Rain). I can relate to taking the mask off. I am becoming brave enough to risk not seeing my dreams come true to speak them aloud and walk in the way He is calling. He is calling me to share my story. To tell the secrets and allow them to stop strangling me!!! I love your devo today. Thanks!
February 6th, 2009 at 9:50 amSuzie-
February 6th, 2009 at 9:55 amThank you for the P31 devotion today. Amen and amen, sister. What great inspiration and truth.
Keep up the great work!
Suzanne, I am so very grateful to you for sharing your perspectives on life with all of us. God surely blessed me when he sent me in the direction of your words. Both with your book, The Mother I Want to Be, and your blog; I’ve just recently begun reading both.
THANK YOU GOD! Thank you Suzanne!
February 6th, 2009 at 9:58 amI always am encouraged by the daily devotionals and many times they are so on target with what I have prayed about that very morning. Today was amazing! I am struggling with a problem at work and I am so afraid to get in the middle of it and get it worked out. But I know God wants me to handle it today. I am afraid and I need prayers of encouragement to do it afraid.
Thanks for encouraging us to do it afraid.
February 6th, 2009 at 10:27 amGreat encouragement! It brought the thought to me that even as Peter had the faith to go out and take the risk to walk on the water, he failed and began to sink. But Jesus was right there to keep him safe. If we have that example of Peter being held up when he begin to sink, how encouraging it is to know that Jesus will hold me up when I start to sink. It’s scary to “walk on water” in our life, but we just need to keep our eyes on Jesus.
February 6th, 2009 at 10:40 amI have been in my safe place too long. As I read the devotion I knew that is was speaking to me and where I need to draw the line and begin a new day. Relocation is hard and that is where I have been that last 18months. But now I see maybe this is where God needs me to be not only to “take a walk on the water” but to be where my husband needs us. I need to trust more that it may not always be a smooth “walk” but that God is leading me and is there to make it a better walk. Thank you. Guess I need to do some “cleaning” dusting off some of the dreams that I hid and pray for some new dreams. Blessings, Kris
February 6th, 2009 at 11:11 amIt is trully amazing to me that the very thing that GOD is working on in me you are talking about. I have been praying for emontial healing in my life so that I can become the woman god intended me to be. I have started to take steps in that direction but it is very hard and scary I keep geting hurt and I dont want to be but I know that god has something great for me at the end. I just have to have faith
February 6th, 2009 at 11:25 amI struggle with letting people into my life. A big step for me is I am actually thinking about joining a group of women from the church to travel to the women of faith conference 12 hours away. I’m not sure if I am able to go yet but I don’t know many of the women in my church. This would be a HUGE step for me. Spending 3 days/nights with people I don’t know. I already have anxiety about going and I don’t know if I can.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:03 pmThanks for the post!
I struggle with forgiveness. I am working on that aspect of my life. Trying to remember that people really do change is a hard concept for me. Although forgiveness is hard for me, love is never a problem.
Thanks, Aunt Snuz!
February 6th, 2009 at 12:11 pmI am encouraged by what freedom God has brought into your life. Thank you for sharing with us, and for giving the glory to the One that all Glory goes to, AMEN!
February 6th, 2009 at 1:12 pmI struggle with a varity of things. The number one thing in my life right now is a husband that his choosing another woman over me, but in the same sentence will tell me he loves me. God has great plans for me and us. I MUST trust in the Lord that HE will do what is RIGHT and GOOD in my life. I am no longer able to make those steps in a small fashion. I’ve had to take a total LEAP into an unknown, and have faith that the Lord will be there to catch me. But, I’m not so afraid of the bottom. I’ve already been there. Where He is taking me, there is light – His light.
My marriage is in shambles. I DO know that with God this is all possible. He has already started a work within me – it is exciting and painful at the same time. I’m frightned, but I am trusting in the Lord for Him to do the necessary work. I am truly for the first time falling in love with the person I am. I am enjoying the person I’m becoming, and the person I am today. I really want to share this with my husband. There are so many exciting things happening for me! And, it is only because of Gods love for me, that I am able to for once and all see myself through His eyes. I know that the restoration of our marriage is possible. I’ve encountered many Christian couple, that because of the the Grace of our Lord, their marriages are intact, and stronger after the storms of infidelity. I know that inorder for me to get to where I am today, I had to get to a point of HATING who I was becoming. I was on a continual merry go round of giving and taking my will to and from God. I finally had to get to a point of hating the consequences of that giving and taking that finally I had enough. I now, continually throughout the day give my everything to Christ. I struggle with wanting to take it back, but I know the terrible mess that I make of things when I do that. I don’t want those consequences to follow me though my life and into the generations of the next. I have a small little girl that already looks to me and copies what I do. This realization frightens me. But, it also pushes me to continue to move forward with the Lord on a daily basis. From my understanding, the woman that my husband is with can not stand to look at herself in the mirror for she does not like herself that much. She has 2 children – a boy aged 10 and a girl aged 8. I have been thinking alot about this the past week of what she is showing these children in the way of loving herself and what her children learn from her. My daughter will be turning 2 in a week and a half. I don’t want the same thing for our daughter. I want her to be able to see herself through the eyes of God. To know that she is the wonderful creation, created specifically for us, from God.
Thank you for the devotional today. I know that the changes within will be painful, but in a way, the pain is okay – because I know the outcome from it will be a marvelous creation.
God Bless.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:03 pmI gained encouragment from you P31 devotion today. Thank you!
February 6th, 2009 at 4:34 pmThank you for the devotion today. For the first time I discovered that I struggle with loving my husband and my boys with affection. Why… because my mom did not love us in that way. I assess my past often looking for why it’s hard for me to love more openly (hugging, smiling, etc.) and I could never figure it out. My mom was a great mom, but she rarely hugged, cuddled, or showed much affection. You opened my eyes to why I am lacking such a crucial element for motherhood. Starting today I am going to trust God for strength and courage to love my boys in a more affectionate and open way. This is a risk worth taking!
February 6th, 2009 at 6:20 pmBlessings,
Brandi
First, isn’t it amazing how God is talking to so many about similar things… addressing fears, stepping out of our comfort zones and trusting HIM. I read an amazing book recently that God is using to change my life and in it the author talked about the same things… facing our fears.
Recently, I began sensing God talking to me about facing a fear and stepping into something I never thought possible. I want to go to school full-time to become a Physical Therapist. The thing is… I’m not 19 and fresh out of High School. I’m almost 43 with two teenaged children and a full-time job that is SAFE. I’ve started taking baby steps to pursue this dream and each step God has blessed and opened up the way for the next step! I’m excited to see what He does and where He takes me in this but I’m even more excited to KNOW that HE is leading and guiding me. He has sealed in my heart that through HIM I CAN do ALL things!
Many blessings to you and to all these beautiful women that have left comments. God will truly enrich your lives as you continue to trust in Him and the plans and pursposes that He has for your lives.
February 6th, 2009 at 7:39 pmI finally got a little time to myself and I thought that I would check out your site. I am so glad that I did! Suzie you ROCK (even more than I already thought that you did). You and Richard has always been a blessing in my life and my family. What Richard did for us at Kayne’s service will stay with me forever. I miss that little boy so much that I hurt. I look at Drake now and know that if Kayne had lived Drake would not be here. I truly do not know what I would do without Drake in my life. I have discovered a new work this week. “Typical” I have heard so many times this week that Drake is “too sick” or “not normal”. Those words have just cut me to the bone. So I have learned to just smile at them and say he is just not like a typical 16 month old. He is wonderful and I just can not brag about him enough. So now with 2 kids here my fear is that something is going to happen to me and the hubby. What happens to my kids???? Chosing someone to care for your kids has got to be the hardest thing that I have ever had to do. We still don’t have an answer to this question. So I guess 1 of my many risks is trusting someone enough to let them raise my kids if the need arises. Oh and this has got to be the best site ever. I will come back often.
February 6th, 2009 at 8:33 pmI love you – enjoyed our trip to Brazil forever ago.
So I’d rather win the book than the cute lil bunny – but anything you give away is special & I would treasure it if I won.
=)
February 6th, 2009 at 10:46 pmI admit my fear of getting out of the boat because I believe God wants me to push past my anxieties to proceed towards a greater relationship with him. I also admit that some of your comments above strike my heart because I have issues that need healing as well.
I like your what if statements of: -What if you live in authenticity and discover new and lasting relationships (even with those in your own home)?
-What if you face your fears and overcome them?
-What if you unmask your emotions and actually deal with them?
-What if you tell your secrets and they no longer suffocate you in the hidden places of your heart?
I also admit that sometimes it is easier to live in fear because at least I know that place extremely well, but every time I desire to remain in the boat- there is something in me that yearns for freedom as well. Since June 2008, I have had to deal with what ifs as I continue to seek work and direction as I lost an opportunity that I cared for very much.
I am also not sure how he shows his love to me although I have moments when I yell at him to stop hurting me. He quietly says he does not want to me but address my wounds and emotional scares. The medication is sometimes hard to take especially if you have not always received affirmation.
I realize this blog is mostly for woman- I offer my apologize if I disrespected anyone, but I also wanted to admit my need to get out of the boat of isolation, depression, and fear.
Thank you
February 7th, 2009 at 7:21 amSuzie, I am, once again, grateful for getting to be a part of your book. It’s a great reminder for me when I start to doubt and wonder and get “antsy.” Funny thing is, right now a risk to me is getting very involved in my job, fearing that if I get too entrenched I’ll forget the dream. I really do love what I do–for the most part–and have great aspirations for doing it better and possibly getting really good at it and training others as I have been trained. But then I think, “Wait a minute! This wasn’t my dream for my life! And if I get too focused on making Oak Tree Academy the absolute BEST Early Childhood Education Center in the area will I forget the dream or derail myself too much to ever get back on the track I started on??” But then I think this is just who I am. I can’t do something or be involved in something without wanting to be sure it is the best and be sure that I am doing my best at it and, well, I guess that’s just how God made me. So wanting to spend energy and time being the best IS being and doing what God has called me to and how can that be bad? (I know, I’m so confusing!)
Anyway, thank you, again, for the reminder and for always being there for us.
February 7th, 2009 at 10:53 amThis is my first time visiting your page and reading your blogs. I am the mother of four wonderful children, and married to a very brave U.S. soldier. My 17 year old son (my first born) just left me last Thursday to go to basic training in Georgia. Several months ago he got into some trouble with the law, four months ago to be exact, no charges were filed, they didn’t arrest him, nothing. So when he was doing the background check for the military, nothing came up. We thought maybe the case was dropped or they forgot, so we thought he was in the all clear. The day he left for basic, I got a certified letter in the mail from our county’s Juvenile Probation Dept. NOW they are filing charges. I am so scared for him because if my attorney cannot convince the DA to let him stay where he is…which would be better anyway because he’s in the position to pay back damages for what he did….otherwise, he’ll be discharged and sent to juvie. I have been going through a very hard time with my ex-husband for the last six years, and this was just the icing on the cake. I know that God is trying to teach me something, and I cannot seem to get what it is. I am at rock bottom and I have got to find my way back to the Lord because I am so lost. You are very encouraging and you give me hope that He does have bigger and better plans for me, and my son, and that’s what I need to remind myself of everyday. I threw all of this mess at His feet and said “Take it! I don’t want it anymore!!!” So, please pray for me that I will have the strength not to take it back because I feel I have been my own stumbling block between me and God. Thank you for your words, you have really helped me see things a little clearer!
In Christ,
February 8th, 2009 at 1:29 amKaci
Catherine’s name was drawn as the lucky winner by a random number generator! Congratulations, Catherine! Send me your snail mail address and the bunny will go into the mail today!
February 9th, 2009 at 10:10 amMy prayer is to trust God in my life right now…that he will lead me in the direction I need to follow.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:34 pm