Back Roads in Berkshires
photography by Susan House
Originally uploaded by susan.house

Friends, I’m sorry I haven’t posted lately. Part of the reason is I just haven’t felt inspired lately. I’m in the process of moving unexpectedly and my life has been in a turmoil. It is in this turmoil though that I’ve learned a very important lesson I would like to share with you.

Yesterday, I felt I was wronged. Now, when you feel you are wronged you have a choice to make. You can handle it in your flesh or you can hand it over to God. Well, I handled it in my flesh. When I profess to be a Christian, I have an awesome responsibility. I am representing Christ to others.

In our local newspaper yesterday, there was an article about a resident who is or was the beautician for former First Lady Barbara Bush. She mentioned some advice Mrs. Bush had given her one time was: “Would this ____ make a difference in five years?” All night this has gnawed at me. I must say, this wrong in five years will be forgotten. However, my actions may not be forgotten by the person(s) who I felt wronged me. These people know I am a Christian and I must be totally honest and say my actions did NOT bring God any glory. Even worse, my actions could have affected and effected someone’s eternity!!

Friends, whether we are having good times or difficult times we must remember ALWAYS, we are Christ’s representative. As His representative, are we bringing glory to Him? Are we affecting someone’s eternity in a positive or negative way? The problem may not mean anything to us in five years but it could effect someone’s eternity. Isaiah 30:21 tell us “Whether I move to the right or to the left your ears will hear a voice saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.” When we haven’t handled a situation in a manner that brings glory to God; the only action we can take is asking forgiveness. Forgiveness not only from God but also from the one WE wronged by our actions. Excuse me while I go eat some humble pie.

Okay, I can’t help it. I received another email today and it just made too many good points. I just had to share it with you and I hope it makes you stop, think, and take action just like me. That’s what it’s all about, living our faith rather than just talking about it. Yesterday I was so moved by a friend’s response when I asked her to join us for Thanksgiving dinner I wanted to cry. She told me I was the first person in three years to invite her for Thanksgiving dinner. Let’s stop and meditate on the simple actions we can take that will show others Jesus is walking with us and we are His disciples.

Letter from Jesus about Christmas –
 
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. 

 How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don’t care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
 
Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn’t be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
 
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 – 8.
 
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:
 
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.
 
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

 
3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don’t you write and tell him that you’ll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up… It will be nice hearing from you again.
 
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can’t afford and they don’t need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
 
5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
 
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless?  Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.
 
7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren’t allowed to wish you a “Merry Christmas” that doesn’t keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn’t make so much money on that day they’d close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families
 
8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary– especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.
 
9. Here’s a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no “Christmas” tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don’t know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.
 
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.
 
Don’t forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I’ll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I’ll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :

I LOVE YOU, 

JESUS

Originally uploaded by susan.house

Welcome to Scrapbook News and Review Magazine’s A Faith Perspective Thankful for Friends Faith Blog Hop. Today, we’re out in force on the internet — showing our faith and giving the glory to God. United, we stand as Christian paper crafters and blog owners to make a presence on the internet for all to see. We’re celebrating the theme of friends and we’re happy to share our projects with you based on the verse:
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. ” Ecc4:9-10a
If you’re just joining in on the fun, you can find the start of the train here:  First, we would like to take a moment to thank our generous co-sponsors: Layers of Color Stamps, Gina K Designs Stamps and Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps. Together with Scrapbook News and Review Magazine, these companies have donated some wonderful prizes for today’s blog hop.
Prizes? Oh, yeah! There will be three lucky grand prize winners for today’s event.
To enter, simply hop to the blogs of all of the participating staff members of Scrapbook News and Review Magazine, take note of the staff member’s name, and leave a comment on their posts. Then send us an email at
games@scrapbooknewsandreview.com listing each of the staff members who participated in today’s hop. It’s that easy. All entries must be received by Monday, November 16, 2009 at 12 noon, EST and three winners will be randomly chosen to win.
What are the prizes?

One $100 gift certificate from Layers of Color Stamps AND a 6 month subscription to Scrapbook News and Review Magazine.
One basket of goodies — four stamp sets from Gina K Designs and a 6 month subscription to Scrapbook News and Review Magazine.
One set of digital stamps from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps and a 3 month subscription to Scrapbook News and Review Magazine.
In addition, every participating staff member of Scrapbook News and Review Magazine will offer a free one-month subscription to the magazine to one of their lucky visitors by simply leaving a comment on their blog. That’s a lot of chances to win, so let’s get to the Hop!

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. ” Ecc4:9-10a

Welcome to my blog.  My name is Susan and since I host a devotional blog,  I would like to share a few thoughts with you on friendship.  On June 18th, a strong wind toppled part of a Live Oak tree over on my motor home. Actually, it was a third of the tree equivalent to a tree approximately a foot in diameter. It totaled my unit and shut the door to living full-time in my RV. I had travelled cross-country and put approximately 20-25 thousand miles on it. Some alone and some with my mother.

I was in my unit when the tree fell on it and fortunately wasn’t injured. Immediately, God not only made sure I knew He had the situation under control; but also, had one of my closest friends on her way to me. You see, if I had paid my rent that day, I would have automatically committed to a year lease for the site I was occupying. Immediately I knew God had something different and He knew I was going to need the strength of my dear sister in Christ (on the right in this picture) and the help of all my dear friends (the one on the left hosted a surprise housewarming shower for me) to get me through the next few weeks. So, He had her on her way to me and she arrived just minutes after my world literally came crashing down around me.

Over the next few days and weeks, God showed me over and over the importance of friends banding together in times of distress and “if one falls down, his friend(s) can help him up”. It was from the many friends God has blessed me with that I received the strength to look Satan in the eye and say, “God is and always will be my Lord, my Savior, my God, and most importantly my Friend. There is nothing you can do to me that will cause me to deny Him.” For John 15:15 Jesus tells us: “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends…”

Thank you for dropping in, and I invite you to stop back often.  It is now time for me to send you to the next blog along the trail. You will be visiting Vicki at http://stampedsmiles.blogspot.com .

On this morning after the terrible tragedy at Ft. Hood I wish I could pour out words of comfort to all who have been affected. Words at times are so inadequate. To tell ones we know what they’re going through at this time is a lie unless you’ve lost a loved one this way or had a loved one injured in a senseless way such as this. However, there is One who does know what you are going through, and He does understand, and He is crying with you. Allow Him to say a few words to you:

Deuteronomy 33:12: “Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders.”

Phillipians 4:6-7: “Don’t be anxious about anything, in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.”

Isaiah 54:10: “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”

Deuteronomy 31: 6,8: “Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you: He will never forsake you…The Lord HImself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. DO NOT BE AFRAID; DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED.(emphasis mine)”

As I sit her and watch the sun rising these words out of Isaiah still hold true:

“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear…”

As my pastor Dan Jackson said in a sermon once: “It is not important how far you can see into the future, it is only important how far Jesus can see into the future.”

Rest in His arms and let Him hold you now. He will carry you through this terrible time.

Our Father

Originally uploaded by susan.house

As you know, I’ve been dealing with some minor but painful health issues this week. I’ve come to look on this as a real blessing because I’ve learned some very interesting things about my relationship with God and I’ve learned some very important truths about Our Heavenly Father.

First, once again, I needed to reaffirm God is my Father, He is who He says He is, He can do what He says He can do, and I am who He says I am, the daughter of the one True, Living God.

Second, I’ve learned once again, that as my Father, He wants only the best for me. The same way, either our parents or ones of us who are parents want the best for our children. This means even in painful situations if we must remain in the pain a little longer, that’s what will happen. You see, unlike our parental abilities, He knows our future and knows what is best. Attempting to tell Him how to do and what to do will do no good. After all, He created the heavens and the earth, do we really think we can solve the problem better than He can?

Third, I’ve learned it makes no difference if you’re not telling Him what to do or how to fix it or if your family and friends are giving Him the solution; the answer is still the same. God will do what’s best for you and your situation. Remember as children when we wanted to do something with our friends and our parents said no? Then, our friends would ask them and the answer would still be the same. The same holds true here. You are God’s beloved child and no matter what, He is going to do what is best for you.

Finally, once again, I’ve learned it’s in God’s perfect timing. Praise God!!! I’m still in the pain but hopefully, later today the problem will be resolved. Do I know this for sure? No, I will only learn that in God’s perfect timing.

Frog/Fear

Originally uploaded by susan.house

What do these two things have in common? Well, looking at the picture, it may seem as though the frog may have a great deal to fear. So many times we have been in the same position as this little guy; seeming to be hanging on for dear life and our future not looking very hopeful. In a Beth Moore study I’m doing on Esther she spent two sessions talking about fear and how to overcome fear in our lives once and for all. Sounds great doesn’t it? Well, it’s totally and completely possible. A relationship with Jesus Christ is the answer. By accepting the salvation He has for you if you’re not a follower and getting to know Him more if you are a follower.

Okay, what does fear and frog have in common. They both deal with our relationship to God and whether we truly believe He can do what He says He can do. You see, they are an acrostic for: Faith Expressed Against Reality and Forever Relying On God. Now, before you tell me I have the first acrostic wrong, this is my take on it. Everytime we are faced with something that creates fear in us, it is because we are not forever relying on God.

Beth Moore stated in her DVD session to create a scenario where you ask “What if such and such happens then what will you do?” She finally points out that no matter what your “what if” is, your “then” will always be God. I truly believe this, when my motor home which I lived in was totalled the answer was God. As my relationship with God has grown closer and closer, I have discovered when my answer is God, my fear is gone. However, the other night when I developed a health condition that would require medication that caused great pain in my knee for several months the last time this happened, fear overtook me. That fear lasted until the next morning when I was in the church sanctuary preparing to listen to Beth Moore when the words “What if, then God” raced through my mind. Once I affirmed that what if the doctor gave me the same or similar medication then God will be there to either prevent the medication from harming me or God will be there to walk me through it; my peace returned. No matter what you’re facing, the answer is God. So, you see, when Faith Expressed Against Reality you are Forever Relying on God.

Pumpkins/Christians

Originally uploaded by susan.house

This was sent to me in an email. I know it’s been around and many have seen it, but sometimes we need a reminder. Have a good day!!

A woman was asked by a coworker,
‘What is it like to be a Christian?’

The coworker replied, ‘It is like being a pumpkin.’
God picks you from the patch, brings you in,
and washes all the dirt off of you.
Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.

He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed.

Then He carves you a new smiling face and
puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.’

Full Bloom

Originally uploaded by susan.house

Sorry that it has been so long since my last post but I’ve been touring the Berkshires with my brother and sister-in-law. The color has been absolutely perfect.

One day, we stopped in one of the little towns and after shopping we stopped in a restaurant for lunch. Before we left the waitress asked us where we were going and my brother told her the direction we were headed. She quickly responded, “Oh, that’s good. The mountains are in full bloom in that direction.”
While pondering the “full bloom” statement, it made me question, “Am I, as a Christian, in ‘full bloom’? “Am I flourishing where God has planted me? Am I doing everything I can to help my church be in “full bloom”?

As Christians, it is important for each one of us to do all we can to flourish where God has planted us. Daily time spent with God, studying His Word, fixing dinner for a sick friend, sending a card to a shut-in to let the person know he/she is not forgotten, praying for others, praying for our pastors, thanking Him when we see His hand in our life; these are all ways we can help our churches and ourselves appear in “full bloom”.

IMG_2664a

Originally uploaded by susan.house

Listening to Satan’s lies, I thought my sins so bad You couldn’t forgive,
With outstretched arms You called to me,
You said those words not one of us deserves,
“I love you, Child, please be Mine.”

With heavy heart and ohl so bleak,
I cried, “I can’t!! I can’t!! You see, I’ve sinned so bad, there’s no hope for me.
If You only knew, You couldn’t, You wouldn’t love me.”
“My child, I know! I can, I do, I am!”

With cautious heart I cried, “I love You Lord! You died for Me;
but, more importantly, You beat death’s sting, You rose for me!”

When everywhere I turn, people say, “You can’t!”
Lord, You say, “You can! You will!
So all will see, ‘I can, I do, I am!”

When the world turns upside down, inside out, and
all around it is so dark, You are the Light that guides us
back from hell to heaven itself so all will see,
“I can, I do, I am!”

Tell the people so all will see,
“I can, I do, I am!”

My Flag ZNP

Originally uploaded by susan.house

2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their Land.”

Recently I’ve been receiving emails using this verse, asking me to pray for our nation so our land will be healed. I’m in total agreement that our land needs to be healed; but, some of the emails I’ve received makes this verse sound like a magic potion. If we pray, God will forgive, and our land will be healed. Unfortunately, it’s going to take more than prayer to heal this land.

Many people believe these words were spoken to the people of Israel at a time when they were rebelling. However, this is NOT true. These words were spoken to Solomon when he had completed the building of God’s Temple and Solomon was preparing to dedicate the Temple. God knew Israel would eventually sin as a nation and He was telling Solomon how the nation of Israel could find redemption. Today, the same thing holds true for any nation or any person. First, we must recognize our wickedness; then we must seek God, confess our sins, “turn from (our) wicked ways”. When we do these three things, God promises us He will hear us, forgive us, and most importantly, heal us.

When my children were little and one of them was misbehaving badly, I would send he/she to his/her room to think about his/her actions; hopefully, see the errors of his/her behavior so she/he could come to me, turn from his/her wicked way, and tell me he/she was sorry. Only then could I tell the child he/she was forgiven and all was well. Little did I know, I was using the same formula God had given Solomon so long ago so each one of us or as a nation so we could fellowship with Him. Our nation will be healed when one by one we recognize the wickedness of our way, seek God’s face, ask forgiveness, change from our wicked ways, and we RECEIVE His forgivenesss and one by one we RECEIVE His healing.