stop reading your Bible
Don’t you love it when Scripture comes to life? My friend, Lysa TerKeurst, shares how the Bible had become a duty in her book, Becoming More. She decided not to read her Bible anymore.
Huh?
She didn’t want to read it as a book, or mark it off on her to-do list. So she stopped reading it, and started seeing it as an opportunity to connect with God. She sat down and read maybe one Scripture, or perhaps that turned to much more. But her prayer was “show me how to live”.
And He did.
I’ve been studying Romans this week. Some mornings I talk to God about what I’ve learned through one scripture. At other times, I’m drawn into the story of Paul and his dialogue with skeptics.
His words are interesting because of his experience. Paul had arrived in Rome straight out of the crossroads, a place where he was in limbo for two years plus. Not free. Not totally imprisoned. Shipwrecked. Hurt by church people who once admired him. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
10:49 am |
Leaving some baggage behind at DEN
I sat in the Denver airport yesterday for six hours, and then another hour on the tarmac. That’s a lot of time to think.
I heard a lot of great speakers at the conference in downtown Denver this past week. That’s a huge benefit of teaching at these conferences, in that I am privileged to sit under the teaching and speaking of people I truly respect. Like Max Lucado. Kendra Smiley. Phillip Yancy. Phil Vischer.
One thing that I’ve learned about great speakers/pastors/lay people is that no matter how polished it is, or how great the powerpoint presentation or videos, if the audience doesn’t remember it the next day or know what do do with the message, then it’s just a message.
But if you wake up thinking about it the next day, and the next, it’s more than a message. It’s a call to action. Somehow those words transcended into a “you and God” moment, and you know that you need to do business with your Creator. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
12:11 pm |
Help Haiti Live
Doyou love music? Love children? Here’s a way you can tune in to some of the best Christian musical artists and help thousands of children in Haiti.
If you visit here often, you know that I’m a big fan of Compassion International. I would stand on street corners and tell strangers about this organization.
One, because my family is privileged to sponsor a beautiful little girl named Buli.
Two, because I’ve traveled with Compassion and seen their work up close and personal.
One month following the 7.1 earthquake that struck Haiti, an all-star cast of musicians is gathering for “Help Haiti Live,” a two-city ticketed concert event taking place on February 27th, 2010 to benefit Compassion International’s Haiti.
(more…)
Posted by Suzie @
7:31 am |
I stopped praying
If you came over from Encouragement for Today, welcome!
Today I asked my friend and mentor, Cecil Murphey, best-selling co-author of 90 Minutes in Heaven, to join us. Prayer is something we know is powerful, but what if you aren’t receiving an answer. Should you stop praying? That’s exactly what one man wanted to do, and it caused Cec to stop and consider why he would pray, even if he didn’t receive the answer he hoped.
Here’s Cec Murphey:
“I Stopped Praying” by Cecil Murphey
“I finally stopped praying for my two brothers.” Steven explained that he had prayed every day “for at least twelve years and it hasn’t made any difference.”
I didn’t know how to answer so I said, “I’m sorry you’re discouraged.” (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
6:04 am |
Incredible forgiveness, incredible freedom
I’m joining Deanna Allen, host of Pathway to Serenity blogtalk radio today at 11:00 PST (1:00 CT) to talk about why it’s hard to forgive, and the incredible freedom you find when you do. I hope you’ll join us! (To listen, click here!)
Has anyone ever told you that forgiving is easy?
Maybe forgiving the guy who acted like a fool on the highway isn’t too hard, or forgiving the lady who jumped in line ahead of you at the grocery store. Butwhat if someone has harmed you or a family member? What do you do then? How do you forgive?
I’ve been digging deep into the topic of forgiveness. I’ve lived it and discovered that there is incredible freedom in living a life of grace and mercy. But it’s not something that you just find along the way. It’s a purposeful intent to move beyond the burden and restrictions of bitterness, anger, rage, or unresolved emotions tied to a person or event.
Forgiveness is a bridge I thought I had crossed, but the deeper I delved into the meaning of the word forgiveness, the more I realized how much work remained in my own heart.
I discovered that there were several different meanings of the word, forgiveness. Eureka! That’s why it is so hard when someone tosses out the words, “Just forgive!”. Because they may be talking about forgiving an uncouth neighbor, when the kind of forgiveness you need has to come from Someone bigger than you, because the hurt is too large. I found this word as I studied:
Xariðzomai [Greek]: translated Charizomai – 1) to frankly forgive; 2) to give graciously, give freely, bestow
it’s the word Jesus used when He looked down at the men who had put Him on the cross, and said, “Forgive [Charizomai] them, for they know not what they do.”
I sat with friends about a year ago to hear their story. I loved their 22-year-old daughter. She’s a young woman with a feeding tube, unable to communicate in words, and in a wheelchair. I asked if they could share her story.
Hearing it broke my heart. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
11:36 am |
Dear friend…
Dear Suzie,
I’ve been following your blog and your FB page. If you were to describe me I’d say I have religious leanings, but I usually fall to the other side in my day to day life.
I’m not like you. The truth is that I probably won’t fit, not in the way I dress, talk, act. But I want God.
You’ve been talking about being in the crossroads. I guess that describes me, right? So, what now?
DM (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
12:52 pm |
