That thing that HE does
What a wonderful weekend!
I love it when God does His thing. I spoke twice at She Speaks (a conference for women who want to write and/or speak). I shared the message of making your faith your own with a group of beautiful teen girls, and then I was scheduled to speak at an after-dinner coffeehouse writers’ event.
This is the deal. It was the worst hour of the day. The women had just eaten dinner. They got up that morning at 7. They went to bed the night before after midnight. It wasn’t a fascinating topic, though it is one that I’m passionate about - The Things I Wish I Had Known When I First Started Writing.
So the odds were stacked against that presentation. And yet something very cool happened.
God showed up.
Don’t you love it when that happens? Somehow, out of a writing topic, He gently ministered to a woman who is a breast cancer survivor, to a mom of teens, to a woman estranged from her loved one, and to many more. After the presentation, many women lined up to share their story.
Have I mentioned how much I love hearing your stories?
This is the one thing I really have learned. It’s not about the woman with the mike, or even the carefully prepared and prayed-over presentation. Somehow, some way, God can take ordinary words and place them in the hearts of His girls — the women sitting in the audience with their private joys, their private pain, their secrets, and their dreams.
Because He knows them and loves them.
I walked away this weekend in love with Jesus all over again.
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11:40 am |
and one more
Posted by Suzie @
4:59 am |
I’ve had travel days like this. . .
Posted by Suzie @
5:49 am |
Still on the road
In honor of those who fly on a regular basis, I’ll share some of my favorite travel cartoons the next few posts.
If I’m able to slip away for a few moments this week, I’ll share some pics and what God is doing at the conference.
Suzie
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4:40 am |
Leaving on a jet plane
It’s been wet and soggy here in beautiful Green Country. I leave tomorrow for Charlotte, NC.
The ocean.
Friends.
Fun!
I’m speaking at She Speaks, a wonderful ministry that trains women and young women who desire to speak or write. While I’m there, I’ll take a side trip to the beach and hang out with a few good friends. (more…)
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3:40 pm |
No Name
June 16, 2008 | stories
Today’s post is from one of my favorite people and most respected writer. Cec Murphey shares a story about his wife, Shirley, and a little girl with no name.
I don’t hear the term, “A mother in Israel” used often these days. It appears only a couple of times in the Old Testament. When I was fairly young in the faith, I used to hear the term regularly.
They referred to a woman, who might be a birth mother, but she was a person who wrapped her arms around others and expressed nurturing, motherly love.
I want to tell you about a mother in Israel. The story goes back to our days in Kenya. After we had been there at least a year and my wife had learned the Luo language, she went to a women’s convention with Africans Margaret and Wilfrida.
After they arrived at Kadem in our VW Bug, Shirley saw a little girl sitting alone next to the outside, wooden fire. Shirley guessed she was maybe eight years old. Her matted hair, dirty skin, and a dress that defied naming the color stirred up deep compassion in Shirley. She held out her hand to the child and introduced herself. (more…)
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8:06 am |
An Uncommon Woman: Susie Larson
Suzie interviews Susie Larson, author of The Uncommon Woman: Making an Ordinary Life Extraordinary
Suzie: Hi Susie. I just finished the preview copy of The Uncommon Woman and it’s a great book. Thanks for joining us. Let’s jump in! What is your definition of an uncommon woman?
Susie Larson: First of all, Suzie, I want to thank you for taking the time to read the book and for interviewing me. I’m passionate about this topic because I believe churches, families, and communities will be strengthened when we as women rise up to the high call on our lives.
~ An Uncommon Woman is Not Defined by What She Does, but Whose She Is ~
An uncommon woman has determined to believe the beautiful truth about herself; that she is called to something so much greater than the pettiness, drama, and gossip common to women. The uncommon woman embraces a holy confidence and humble dependence that declares, “I’m nothing without Christ, but everything to Him.”
She is willing to reach for the stars and do things way over her head (without pride). And she is willing to do things that seem beneath her (without self-awareness). She’s not defined by what she does, but by the fact that Jesus has made her whole and He has equipped her to do mighty things.
Suzie: You say that an uncommon woman “gets back up again”. How is that possible? (more…)
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9:14 am |
Facebook Mee Maw
I hung out with my mom on Saturday. She’s 70, but pretty computer savvy. She really wants to be able to connect with all of her children and grandchildren, because many of them live far away.
So, I helped her set up a Facebook account. And man, she took off with it. I checked yesterday and she had become “friends” with 8 of her 11 grandchildren. She had already left messages and her wall was filling up with, “Hey Mee Maw!”.
I love Facebook. I love connecting with family and friends and colleagues. I love meeting with someone and knowing what’s going on in their life. No awkward pauses. No “I know you, but don’t really know you” moments. I love knowing what their favorite song or book is, and to be able to celebrate moments such as my nephew, Mitch’s, engagement to his beautiful girlfriend, Brittney, this past weekend.
And I enjoy hearing from you. Thanks for all the Facebook messages. Thanks for encouraging this writer sitting, pecking away on her laptop, her hair in a clippee, still in her PJ’s (it’s raining buckets, it just makes it feel like a comfy Saturday morning, I can’t seem to change out of my pj’s), wondering if anyone out there is reading her books.
Connect with Suzie on Facebook: ID is Suzanne Eller
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1:24 pm |
What not to say
I was reading a friend’s blog today. She lost her husband 11 years ago. LeAnn shares how to be a friend when someone you care about faces a great loss. It’s full of helpful information and gentle insight.
Sixteen years ago I found out I had cancer. I remember friends rallying around me, and making life easier for Richard, me, and the kids. But I also remember fielding comments from a few that brought me to my knees–literally. It seemed like my life had changed over night. The doctors shared harsh statistics. I was going through chemo and radiation. Financially we were juggling all the new medical expenses and lack of my income as I went through treatment. Life was suddenly scary, but I wanted to face it with faith and confidence.
Some didn’t know what to say, I think, so they said things like this: (more…)
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10:00 am |
Fructose Free
I read the recent studies that say that fructose is in most of the foods that we eat and that it is a chief cause of obesity in Americans, especially women. Reports says that high fructose corn syrup:
- * is a factor in heart disease
- * raises blood levels of cholesterol and another type of fat, triglyceride.
- * makes blood cells more prone to clotting
- * and it may also accelerate the aging process
Ayee!
Our body doesn’t recognize this as a natural substance, so it can create real problems because we consume so much of it.
I decided to do my own study. Three weeks ago I started to remove it from my diet. It’s nearly impossible! (more…)
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11:34 am |
