That don't impress me much.

Good morning friends,

I know these are fewer and far between, life sometimes takes over.

Are there people who make you crazy? Or ones you dislike?

Yep me too.

God has been showing me lately how to love the unlovable.

I grew up in a house that always had tons of people coming and going.

All manner of folks, Rich, poor, dirty, hungry, lonely.

My parents never turned anyone away.

Our house was a safe zone, you could talk, drink coffee and laugh.

But you knew you were loved. No matter who you were.

My mom was not easily impressed, so fashion or labels meant little to her,

but peoples souls were. 

I like to think I am like that, OK I love fashion, gotta have me a purse.

But titles and accolades mean little to me. I am not impressed by letters behind your name.

It doesn't mean you are better just like to study.

I hope I look to peoples hearts. Money does NOT make the man. Bank account balances mean little.

I have seen super rich who are horridly unhappy and bottom rung poor who were the happiest.

It is more about being content and happy no matter where you are.

My Grandfather, was a pastor, raised 13 kids in a dirt floor, non electric cabin,

He prayed that 4 generations of his family would never win a great amount of money (lotto)

and my mom prayed that the next 4 generations wouldn't either.

Why? They knew contentment where God put them. I am a trailer living, used car driving, thrift store shopping, second hand loving person.

And yes I am happy, oh there are things I wish I had, but I also learned young,God will give us all the desires of our heart. I have lived in my dream house, drove an amazing car, carried the bag I have always wanted.

So where does true contentment and unconditional love come from?

They come from a heart that trusts God is in control. That He really does supply all our needs according to His riches. We can learn the true meaning of faith, and trust by relying on God, and knowing He is in control.

Once we had no food in our house at all, I mean none. My mom had us set the table and pray. We asked her why and she said with such confidence God would supply with a smile on her face.

As soon as Amen was muttered, the doorbell rang. When we opened it our porch was full of food, and no one in site to identify for the delivery. That moment showed me  Faith in action. So if God can take care of us, why do we fret and worry? OK so human nature plays a part, but it is so much easier to give it to God.

Oh I worry, fret and stress.  God always shows me HE is in control.

We can come to Him no matter how we look or smell. We don't have to prove anything to Him. We 

can just come. With our sin and nasty junk, with our addictions and pain. He doesn't want perfect, cause if He did He could have made us that way, instead He wants us like we are.  Don't take for granted the things He gives you. Thank Him continually, and find contentment in Him and not a place or situation. IN HIM.

He's got your back.

Where can I learn to trust Him with my circumstances?

My health, finances, children etc.

Ask Him to show you

Be blessed

Always

Suszi

I wanna thank you Lord.

Good morning friends,

Have you ever been told you only have this much time to live, or you may never walk again or some sort of news that "Professionals" give? They may know from experience or what has happened to others, or what books have told them would happen. But is there real truth in those predictions? The only one who knows anything is God. Who are we to trust,  anyone above God?

When we are given these types of conditions, we have a choice to make. Do we trust men or do we trust God?

No I am not dying or any such thing. But my thoughts are on how quickly we trust others and how slowly we trust God. We take ideas or words more seriously then we take the truth of God.

Who knows why things happen in life? Why are we tested or feel like we are being judged? Look at Job, (my hero) Loses his home, ALL his children, friends, wealth, everything and yet He praises God. How is it we so quickly forget He is King, sovereign, omnipotent, and all knowing, 

we got through trials and valleys, in our walk and sometimes those valleys or deep and long, time moves slower there, it seems never ending, will you ever see the sun again, will you ever be on a mountain to smell that pure fresh air? It is hard to imagine being in a hot jungly sweaty place where the air rarely moves and you feel smothered by the heat. But it is this place where we learn to trust God. When we are at our lowest, our most desperate that we run to Him. There will always be times when those around you don't understand you, or you feel pain, or just want the ride to stop so you can get off.

Praise Him in the morning, Praise Him in the evening, Praise Him constantly. I want to praise Him. 

I think about the verse that says if we won't the rocks will cry out. Hmmm Talking rocks? If He can make rocks speak can He not or does He not deserve our praise? 

I need to praise Him with my heart, that is hard with disappointment, I need to praise Him with my body that is weary and weak. I need to praise him with a spirit that is weary from grief, and pain. I need to praise Him when others disappoint me, or talk about me, or judge me. I need to Praise Him with everything that I AM.

What I am is, flawed, scared, unworthy, seasonally depressed, I hate the snow, my kids are making me crazy, my friends are mad at me, the world has let me down, I am also a treasure, a daughter of a KING, loved unconditionally, precious, beautiful, dressed in splendor, Lover of the creator of the universe.

And yet I kinda worship Him Sundays, and pray and read the Word when I remember. I am not passing judgement on anyone, I am talking about me. I am so neglectful of the things of Christ.  

I fail and feel sorry for myself.

I need to praise Him, Dance like no one is looking, Sing when I can no longer hold a tune, look to Him when my eyes no longer see, Listen to him when my ears are deaf, know He is there when my brain and emotions make me second guess everything. 

Praise Him for my situation, Praise HIM, PRAISE HIM.

Thank you Lord.

I wanna thank you Lord.

Thank HIM today for every little thing in your entire being.

Always

Suszi

Lego's just wont come apart.

( these are my sermon notes from the past few weeks above)

(the red area reads as a prayer: Jesus forgive me from my willful disobedience, set me free.)

Mark 1:32-34

32-34 That evening, after the sun was down, they brought sick and evil-afflicted people to him, the whole city lined up at his door! He cured their sick bodies and tormented spirits. Because the demons knew his true identity, he didn’t let them say a word.

Hello Friends,

This verse or verses are the ones our church have been studying the past few weeks.

And I am no theologian, but It has really struck a cord with me.

About what we let get between us and God. Strong holds and foot holds and stuff.

Footholds are those weak places Satan tries to get in and hurt you,

Have you ever had 2 Lego's stuck together and no way are you getting them apart? You bite and dig, use anything necessary to get them apart. So frustrating isn't it. Satan knows the right tool to use to get in that tight spot. Like hurtful words, anger, attitudes etc.

The one that Struck me the hardest was our reactions.

I guess I know if I talk back to someone, or get snotty it is wrong, but I never really thought that the way I react to my husband or kids as sin. I know it can come across rude or inpatient. and that is bad. but the emotion behind the reaction can be sin. I have the past few years tended to get worse in my tone or how I come across as being more sarcastic, and there is the sin. Not that telling your kids to sit and be quiet, or stop fighting, or listen to me, are wrong. But thoughts like "Oh man, can you just shut up and be still"

" Grrr those kids are making me crazy" 

OUCH

I know what sin is, but me being sinful with my kids? wow.

Not that we arnt allowed to be firm and upset with them but where does being Christ like come in?  

Not the first thing to come out lately. 

I love my kids and husband, and Ohh how they make me nuts sometimes.

It is said you hurt the ones you love the most.

Those are the ones who love you at your worst, but also at your best.

That is God. Loves us at our worse and best. No questions asked.

So how do we act? Not the way I am.

I have a huge, personality and Irish and a hillbilly.

It is hard to admit my wrong, but that is where grace comes in.

As with life everything is a process, a journey.

One step at a time, one moment at a time.

For me one reaction at a time.

Our homework in church was to pray about where we think those footholds are in our life.

God will show you the areas that need work, prayer and tightening up.

I figure I will take one at a time cause I'm sure there is a lot of areas I need help with and in order to be about the business of the things of God, we MUST be constantly vigil of those areas we are weak in.

So footholds don't become strongholds, and it is harder to get rid of.

Be blessed today

Always

Suszi