The Reality of God

Summit concluded last night. Since my Freshman year, I have attended because the majority of IWU students go.

I conform. I feel I'm a bad Christian if I don't attend.

Last night I was at Summit for about 10 minutes when I thought I didn't want to be there. So I left.

I had the wrong motivation to go and I didn't want to be forced to be there.

God was in that night and I had an opportunity to have a productive conversation with a couple girls who live in the townhouses.

I talked to them about how I am deeply intimate with God but I seek superficiality in my friendships and relationships simply because I don't trust people.

If God is truly calling me to a speaker for this generation, I must move beyond my fear of being vulnerable and transparent.

I must let people in: to see where I truly am.

That is difficult. I don't want people to see my struggles, to see me in my weakness. All I want them to see is how I am strong in God.

That's all they really need to know. My relationship with God is private and as long as I'm doing okay, then I have no reason to share what God is doing in me.

The fact is, I'm crazy passionate and I want everyone to see that but I don't want (or haven't found a way) to vocalize what God is doing in my life.

For HIS renown,

~Susie

The Peace of God

At the beginning of the semester I learned, at Summit, about the peace of God and now it's coming full circle. Throughout this semester, I have learned what the peace of God looks like in my life.

His peace is real. Before I am at peace with others I must be at peace with Him.

I have realized that His peace isn't something I experience but rather something I live in daily. I understand His peace in a new way.

Also growth that takes place in my life sometimes can't be measured. Also, moments of weakness turn into strength.

Always <3 + All for HIS glory

Prisons

I love when I have revelations in my life. A moment where I say to myself, "Whoa! This is profound." And then I begin a journey that changes my life.

A couple days ago I was consumed with all this guilt, shame, and brokenness. It was almost unbearable and unimaginable.  

Then my thoughts drifted back to what I learned at Summit. Jesus came to absorb my pain. I can choose to stop feeling that way. I can choose to say, "This pain has no place in my life because all the pain of the world Jesus took upon Himself. I never have to live in it."

Then God removed it from my life. Now all I feel is freedom.

Another profound truth I learned tonight is how much control I let others have over me. Some people in my life over the years have influenced me way too much. Letting people control how and what I feel is a prison that I need to be set free from desperately.

I confess I don't know what this means for my life. But I know one thing: only good can come of this new realization about my life.

Always <3

All for HIS glory

Foundations

It's almost been a week since the beginning of Summit. Going into it, I had absolutely no expectations. I didn't want to end up on another "spiritual high" afterward. I was skeptical thinking, "It's another Summit. Big deal."

It's often when I don't psych myself up for events, God proves Himself and works in my life more than I thought He would.

When I was a Freshman here at IWU, I would get crazy excited about Summit, it was annoying.

Now as I prepare to graduate (in December of this year), the Summit experience has grown a little old.

However, as an effort to be supportive of my brothers and sisters in Christ, I go.

However Summit was better than I thought it would be; during the week, I learned five (5) aspects of what Jesus did for me on the cross:

(1)Jesus paid a price.

(2) Jesus made peace.

(3) Jesus absorbed our pain & took our place.

(4) Jesus won.

AND

(5) Jesus drank the cup and satisfied the wrath of God.

These aspects provide a foundation as to what God wants to continue to teach me as I go on with Him.

I am thankful for Summit.

Always <3 + All for His glory

Spring Summit [2012]: Let the Soul Searching Commence...(Day 3)

Summit is always so AMAZING! Yay God! I give a shout out to Him.

On a more serious note, tonight's message was centered on surrender to God. Now I have thought for the past couple months that I have completely surrendered to Him (since I said "yes" to Him). I don't know what the "cup" God has for me holds. I have learned to only take one day at a time and not to plan too far into the future.

Tonight was challenging and in the most simplistic way to say this is I need to do some soul searching, to make sense of what I had just learned.

I'm ready for all God has for me. I just need Him to show me clearly. Growth is a process. I wish I had all the answers right now so I could just go with God.

But for now, I just take life one step and one day at a time.

All for HIS glory + Always <3

We Are All One: Spring Summit [2012] Day 2

I just have to say Summit this year has been an encouragement to my faith. :-) Today the message was about how Jesus paid the price and how He made peace. Most importantly, peace with God precedes peace with others. In the simplest terms, reconciliation is the presence of peace.

Colossians 1:19-20 states that I am "at one" with God and others.

Additionally, I am free for God. I can be used to buy the freedom for others and seek redemption for them.

Tomorrow is the conclusion of Summit week. And the ways God moves makes me joyful (not to be cheesy or anything.) I am expectant to how He is going to work. :-)

All for His glory + Always <3

Spring Summit [2012]: Day One

Today is the first day of IWU's Summit. Honestly, I'm not that too excited about it. I've moved beyond the "spiritual highs" and emotional highs events like this tend to bring. But I like to support my brothers and sisters in Christ in their journey, so I attend.

Since I've gotten back to school, I've been discouraged in my faith- not complacent or apathetic- just how I get sometimes when nothing is really happening that is making me want to spend time with God. That sounds worse that it actually is

That changed tonight. I recognize I need to spend time with God if I truly want to know His will for my life.

Back to Summit:

The verse that we're concentrating on this week is 1 Peter 2:21: "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."

Jesus came to absorb my pain and to take my place. Because of Jesus absorbing my pain, I never have to live in it.

Those simple concepts are all it took to get me back into motivation to do my devotions. It has taken me the last few years to get to a place of complete surrender where I said "yes" to God and now I want to follow Him into whatever He sees for my life.

I love the fact that it's not about me any more. It's all about Him. My life is never going back to where it was when I started at IWU as a freshman. I glorify God in that lasting change.

As always,

All for His glory + Always <3

One Heart, One Voice, and One Passion

I am back at IWU.

Yay!

I am excited for what God has for me and the students on this campus this year.

I just got back from Summit and I want to share a passage with you:

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of your Lord Jesus Christ." ~Romans 15:5-6

Everyone is different but those who are Christians share this in common: we are all one. When we come together as a community, it encourages us and makes us whole. I believe we were (and are) created to do life with others. I pray that the way I carry myself will invite others in, that I won't be so focused on myself that I fail to see the needs around me.

Summit concludes tomorrow and I am expectant as to how God will show up in the lives of my sisters + brothers in Christ.

Always <3 + All for His glory

Communion verses Competence

Late last night I was journaling (something all too common in my life), and I had a spiritual breakthrough.

Kind of.

I was asking "Why can't I understand God? Why don't I understand the ways He works in my life?"

Then it hit me: I will never understand God because if I understood Him, that would put me equal with Him, and then I would lose my need for Him in my life.

I was also reminded of the sovereignty of God: He is above all. I then journaled a prayer that said "God, help me get over myself and the need to understand You."

Talk about a crash course in humility.

Randomly I thought about Summit in the fall of 2009; and how the speaker talked about communion with God

verses

competence for God.

Communion focuses on everything God is: gracious, merciful, loving, etc., while competence is dependent on me: what I do to earn "spiritual status".

This is something I needed to think about because so many times I simply don't commune with God, I am way too dependent on my abilities to move forward in faith.

All for His glory,

Always <3

Moments Can Change into Movements

This past weekend was Fusion youth conference here at Indiana Wesleyan University. On Friday, in chapel, the speaker talked about how conferences like Fusion is just a moment in time.

Here then gone.

This year I had the honor of hosting 2 students.

That was just a moment but it had eternal implications.

This made me think back to my days when I went on youth conferences which were just moments but they changed into movements where God changed my life.

I also thought about Summit here, how it's a moment but it changes into growth...a movement.

I have "moments" in my devotional life that slowly change into a God movement.

Moments can last into eternity.

peace :-)

Water Sources

Last time I wrote about Summit and how the speaker spoke on water sources. Well, I kept learning that the week following Summit.

Isaiah 12:3 states "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation."

The key phrase that stuck out to me is "...wells of salvation," the key word being "wells."

Then I realized I must dig deep in order to get water stored in wells. Also, "water" is metaphoric. When I make an effort, I will draw "water" from deep within where salvation is rich, pure, and constant. With wells, I can't see the depth, how far they go. The same is true with my relationship with God: I can never see how deep I can possibly go.

Going along with "water" I'm reading this book by Neil T. Anderson, "Victory Over the Darkness" and a phrase caught my attention: "spiritual growth in the Christian life requires a relationship with God who is the fountain of spiritual life..." This re-emphasized the focus of Summit: how I need to be a "drinking fountain" Christian.

Psalm 36:9 also came to mind: "For with you is the fountain of life, in your light we see light."

In those times when I'm "spiritually" thirsty, all I need to do is look toward God who will satisfy my soul. I have found that the more God reveals to me, the deeper I go.

I also asked, "what is significant about God being the "fountain of spiritual life?"

Fountains are consistent, purifying, and constant. I can go to a fountain (and approach God) at any time and be completely satisfied. This amazes me.

The truth spoken at Summit flooded into my life long after the week ended. I'm a Communication Studies major where I recently learned about marketing and "branding."

That also applied to my devotional life: I had an image ("brand") of fountains stuck in my head and I love it.

Eventually I will move on to a different image but for now I'll enjoy this image of fountains.

Peace :-)

Spring Summit 2011

A "summit" is the highest point or degree.

That's an obvious definition. When someone says the word "summit," I automatically think of a mountain's peak.

This past week (January 17th-19th) was IWU's spiritual emphasis week (Summit). I have attended many Summits, this one was by far the most life changing.

The speaker challenged me in many areas.

First off, going into Summit week I wrote this in my journal: "Summit is on the brink...no matter what happens, no matter how God works this coming week, it changes nothing about the nature and character of God. Let it not be about the "experience" or "spiritual high" but also the lasting change He would bring upon our lives. I wanted Summit to be all for the glory of God. "

Summit truly was all for his glory.

I could write about past Summits but that is irrelevant now.

One of the services was from Ephesians 4:29:

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs that it may benefit those who listen."

This is one of those verses I try to live by. I want to encourage others by what I say.

I also learned about being low and humble before a holy God. Every day I can walk in pride or humility.

Another thing I learned was 5 life patterns to live by:

1) chastity: learn to control our physical appetites to glorify God. This is not just about sex, but all our physical appetites.

2) poverty: Learn to hold on to our earthly possessions lightly.

3) obedience: Respect and submit to those in authority over us.

4) stability: Be content in the place God has put us. Let's stop and ask God where he wants us to be.

5) conversion of manners: Live in such a way that our faith in Christ is evident to others.

"pray and work"

The last Summit service was on water sources and how they can relate to the types of Christians there are.

"What if the thirsty world came to you looking for a drink...what kind of living water would you be?"

"Downspout Christians"

-gushes during showers of blessing

-but goes dry when the heat's on, never really available when thirsty people need it.

The problem with this is inconsistency.

"Swamp Christians"

-once filled with fresh living water

-now the water is old and stagnant

-a breeding ground for "creepy crawlies"

-not appealing to a thirsty world.

The problem with this is stagnation and impurity.

"Water pump Christians"

-living water is there and it's pure

-but it's buried deep beneath the surface.

-available only on demand

-requires effort by others to get it.

The problem with this is inaccessibility.

and finally,

"Drinking fountain Christians"

-The living water is there

-It flows freely from one's life

-fresh and pure each day

-constant and consistent

-satisfies the thirst of others

The blessing is purity and consistency.

God brought conviction in my life through this service:

I'm a "hidden" Christian where I keep what I'm learning beneath the surface because I care what others think of me. I also think, "Do they really need to know how I'm growing?" So I just keep it locked up inside me. The water is starting to flow again...

I wrote this in my journal too: "The world is thirsty for grace, for something real.

God is real. He is alive in millions of people across the world. Christians are the "drinking fountains" of the earth.

One thing I appreciated about this past summit was that it was real and I'm still reflecting on what I learned.

I'm still climbing down from the "Summit" peak and I want to be consistently growing in my life with God so that it brings satisfaction to those around me.

peace-

It's All About Perspective...

I have had a hard semester.

This semester started out well with Summit and it's focus being revival...

Regardless of how awesome that week was way back in September, I was dwelling on situations that were going on at home.

Sure, I kept myself busy with everything but spiritually I was dying.

I did my devotions once in a while, but it was never enough to sustain me.

To make a long story short, God changed my life and when I view my situations from God's perspective, I won't be such a 'downer' and then bad circumstances won't seem as 'severe.'

I learned that it's all about the perspective I have

peace-

Summit Week

Hello. It's me again. Aren't you excited? I am because I just had an amazing week :-)

This past week at my school, Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU),  we had what's called spiritual emphasis week (otherwise known as Summit).

This event is held twice a year at the beginning of each semester; and each semester is completely different. Honestly, I wasn't that excited about it because I feared Summit would lead me to experience another 'spiritual high.' I'm not against emotional highs but I wanted something more; something that would last beyond a week.

Well, I got what I wanted :-)

This time Summit was focused on being 'ablaze for Christ', revival, and being passionate for God. I've been a part of youth groups in middle school and high school where I was dependent on spiritual highs as a means for deeper growth. Over the years, I have developed a deeper passion for God and it grows stronger each day.

So, in closing, I ask you, what's your passion?

Who are you passionate for? Or about?

peace-