Dreams Part 2: The Glorious Story

For Part 1 Dreams: Sowing and Reaping

The snow glows white on the mountain tonight,
not a footprint to be seen.
A kingdom of isolation and it looks like I'm the queen.
The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside.
Couldn't keep it in, Heaven knows I tried.
Don't let them in, don't let them see.
Be the good girl you always have to be.
Conceal don't feel, don't let them know.
Well, now they know! Let It Go  (Elsa) from Disney's "Frozen"

 Lilo: "'Ohana" means "family." "Family" means "no one gets left behind." But if you want to leave, you can. I'll remember you though.
[looking at her picture of her dead parents]
 Lilo: I remember everyone that leaves. From the Disney movie, "Lilo and Stitch" 


Why are movies so appealing to us? Why do we love all the heroes and the villains? Why are the popular movies so "popular"? I think it's because the hero (or heroine) are portrayed as humans just like us, they have "flaws" but they always conquer their "fatal flaw" and come out on top- They discover what they were "made" for. And isn't that what we all desire?

Right now I'm reading "What On Earth Am I Here For? The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. Our whole church (Well mostly) is doing it. Rick says, "People who don't know their purpose try to do too much- and that causes stress, fatigue, and conflict...It is impossible to do everything people want you to do. You have just enough time to do God's will. If you can't get it all done, it means you're trying to do more than God intended for you to do. Purpose-driven living leads to a simpler lifestyle and a saner schedule.....Knowing your purpose focuses your life." I can't wait to go to Joanne's tonight for this small group study!

                                      LOOK! IT'S A TREE!

Having courage is so invigorating and weird. I guess cause I've never had so much before. Writing and therefore studying and thinking about fear has transformed me!

Back in September a facebook app sent me this:

Today, Susan, we believe God wants you to know that ...

family is not a name for a group of people, but the quality of relationships between them.

Relationships grounded in mutual love, trust, caring and forgiveness. In all the ups and all the downs of life. Look closely, - who is really your family, and who in truth are just strangers in for the ride?

 I guess it was about two weeks ago I finally sent my niece a book on dreams and visions that I found at Gottwals book store here in Byron. She had been having very interesting and frightening dreams and I had told her that they do mean something and that she should ask God about them. I had in mind two scriptures to share with her, to write in the cover. One I had already- well kinda- it's in Daniel and says, "...there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets..." Daniel 2:28. then the other one I knew was in the book of Joel and says,
"And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions." Joel 2:28

Both the scriptures I looked for were in chapter 2, verse 28 and I thought that was interesting and thought February 28th is coming up. I wonder?.....And then something very significant DID happen last Friday, February 28th. And what was so weird was that this is something that I thought would simply DEVASTATE me and it DID NOT. In fact, I felt like it freed me! It was so so so so weird! It was a "light bulb" moment for me. Why did I feel so free that I was giddy? My spouse had become my addiction long ago and when I let him go (I didn't try to talk him out of it or call or text him) I was finally free.



But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. I Corinthians 7:15



It's funny how some distance,
makes everything seem small.
And the fears that once controlled me, can't get to me at all
It's time to see what I can do,
to test the limits and break through.
No right, no wrong, no rules for me.
I am free! Elsa
But before the 28th was the 25th and something significant happened on that day also. And you know what? The 25th was a bad day and the 28th was a great day! On the 25th I gave in and gave up and had a pity party. I ran away, just like before it didn't work then and it didn't work now. When will I learn? I've said it myself before: I'm done going to pity parties; BOTH yours and mine but I will pray for you....
I will say one thing for myself though, this time I was crying to the right Person, at least- God. When I cried to him (a mere man) he did what he usually does: NOTHING. Not a word or a touch to comfort me. Which said to me, "Yeah they're all mad at you again and it's your own fault cause you're a bitch"

In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. Psalm 118

But having an all night cry session in an abandoned ruined rental house did something to me. I felt like noone cared about me- which isn't true- but believing the devil's lies lead to sin. (See Genesis 3:4) So I texted someone who I thought did care about me. What?! OMG! Now I don't even know how to do that thing they call "sexting" so don't even go thinking untrue stuff about me, K?! This was an innocent friendly sort of text. I couldn't even bear to say it was the hubby I had a problem with and I blamed it mostly on my son. The text may have been a tiny tiny tad "flirty". I needed a "fix" real bad- so I "fell off the wagon". Someone reading it wouldn't even guess it was "flirty" at all, except for our secret "code words". But that's over- deleted the number and the texts. Told the hubby again- Why? TBH- I tell him all the time to get a reaction (or try to get one). Does this man feel anything?!  Last Friday I said something about it: Know what? I'm being easier on myself. I need BALANCE. Before I'd make a tiny infraction and beat myself up over it forever. punish myself. I think back in the day, like Martin Luther- they had whips -they'd whip themselves with! Yeah I was like that! And when ever anything is wrong between me and somebody? IT MUST BE ALL MY FAULT- Cause I'm slime right? NO! I'M NOT I AM A CHILD OF THE ONE TRUE KING! It was probably an itsy bitsy tiny tiny infraction- but Thank God for His Grace! I'm forgiving myself and forgetting about it! —

Is there something or someone you're hiding from or running from, because you are fearful? Remember this verse from Deuteronomy 31:6 (MSG) "Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you." From "Hope for the Broken Heart"s facebook page.

 


Then Sunday I had another small setback. It was another temptation for me. This is why I couldn't have bared this before, because I thought I wouldn't be complete without a man in my life. I was finally to the place Katy Perry sings about; I need nothing to complete myself, no.
I Corinthians 10:13 was K-Loves verse of the day Thursday: "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." I write about temptation quite frequently. What I find interesting about this verse is the phrase that says God "will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able". That speaks to me of "humility" which I spoke of in that last link and I also wrote about here. It's saying, "OK there IS a point I wouldn't be able to bear"  And I can testify to this since, although, every time I fight with my husband a cute guy suddenly appears, when I'm at my lowest point they are unavailable for whatever reason- gone- cause I knew I had a "problem" with that person sometimes but sometimes God steps in and makes that person go away. This happened with "Michael" because I wasn't to my lowest point in our "house-building trauma" at the point I met him, that came later and he was gone. And TBH when I get to that "low point" like on the 25th- I'll be like, "Now where'd that guy go?" Thank You Jesus- he's unavailable!

The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.~ Psalm 34:19

The book of Hebrews says of Jesus, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." 4:15 Now THAT says to me that if He was tempted in "all points" as we are that He must have been tempted sexually just as we are.

Sometimes especially when I was at 195-200 lbs. I was like, "What do I have to do for you guys to leave me alone? Dress like an Amish woman?" Because overweight didn't make my "problem" go away like I thought it would. I wouldn't get as many "passes" perhaps but I still wanted them. It didn't solve MY part of the problem- which was the only thing I could change.



Sunday? I didn't even do what I was going to do. This was premeditated flirting which I wanted to do right in front of Bob- how terrible is that? He acts as though he doesn't care because I usually do (when I'm a good girl) but if I flirted back- if I like the guy back then it's not OK. Even though I didn't do it it brought me down that night. When the devil gets us to do his bidding. When we lose our courage and run- we get depressed! I'm finding that courage brings me joy and "The joy of the Lord is my strength" Nehemiah 8:10 Listen to my Bible study about Elijah Was it just a "coincidence" that Elijah got depressed after he ran from Jezebel? I don't think so.

Then on Monday God used my analogies on me: I was feeding my cats and there was an itsy bitsy spider  by the cat food container and I knew God was speaking to me and I immediately swished it before it could run under the fridge. Then I was sorting the laundry again and was annoyed that Teddy keeps throwing his laundry down and mixing it up with ours, so I put his dirty laundry in a basket with a note that read: Teddy, this is dirty- please quit throwing your laundry down the chute- only towels. Thanks! I lifted the basket up and felt something crawl on my hand EKKKKK. It was another itsy bitsy spider about the same color as my hand! And I exclaimed, "Are you kidding me?!" knocked it off my hand and swished it too. 


 It was like God was saying to me, "See Susan there's always gona be someone who will flirt with you, there will always be spiders, dogs or a Can O' Worms just waiting to be opened but didn't you say it was time to take your own advice? Love alone is worth the fight, isn't it? Do you want to be able to say you gave it your best shot? Or do you want to put nails in your marriages coffin?"

But God what about my story? He blew it all to bits! I can't write about You restoring our marriage if our marriage is down the drain. God what do I do now?
"Susan, what did I tell you to do?"
 You said to send it in to.....Is that really what You said God?
"Yes".
What do I tell them?
"Tell the truth Susan."
God I'm stuck on chapter 2 on virtue because I don't know how much to tell.
"Tell the truth, Susan. The whole truth and nothing but the truth."
 God, I'm scared.
"You know we've already talked about that, read your scriptures over again every day if you have to. Everything happens for a reason Susan. The story's not over yet. It's 'stranger than fiction'- they're gona love it, Susan, I promise you."
But God what can I tell them about the ending?
"It's a surprise Susan, don't 'spoil' it!"

The other day I heard this new Steven Curtis Chapman song on the radio:

Lay your head down tonight
Take a rest from the fight
Don’t try to figure it out
Just listen to what I’m whispering to your heart
‘Cause I know this is not
Anything like you thought
The story of your life was gonna be
And it feels like the end has started closing in on you
But it’s just not true
There’s so much of the story that’s still yet to unfold

Steven Curtis Chapman- Glorious Unfolding


All this controversy with Katy Perry at the Grammys- wow- am I sorry I mentioned her? No, because her stuff continues to just "go" with what I'm writing, like she says,
Make me your Aphrodite
Make me your one and only...Katy Perry, "Dark Horse"
It would be kinda nice to be treated like a "god" wouldn't it? But the ten commandments say You shall have no other gods before Me

"If you become a necessity (like a "god"?) to someone else’s life, you are out of God’s will." Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost for His Highest”



Just like the band Switchfoot's name I didn't even know what a "dark horse" was- so I looked it up:

 A dark horse is a little-known person or thing that emerges to prominence, especially in a competition of some sort or a contestant that seems unlikely to succeed.

Switchfoot also has a song about "Dark Horses";
We’re singing…
Hey, you can’t count us out
We’ve been running up against the crowd
Yeah, we are the dark horses
We’re singing…
Wait, don’t care what they say
We know we’ll find a way
Yeah! We are the dark horses


I was reading while walking on the treadmill the other day and THIS jumped out at me, "I believe in me. I'm no longer afraid. I can cope regardless of the outcome. I know something I'm not talking about. I've had my day of sorrow and I'm through crying. God and I can handle whatever life puts in the path."

"By making it clear that there are limits to what you will tolerate, you are showing self-respect and confidence"




Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15

Ours is the Savior who sings of us, of the woman who won't walk away from the unjust judge, the woman who will not walk away from the call, from the plea, the women who never give up, who just keep on keeping on — and He says she is honored and His, the woman who just keeps going and giving and believing in grace. Ann Voscamp

“Arise, and do not be afraid.” Jesus (Mark 17:7)

Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage, and do it. Ezra 10:4

You'll never see me cry. Elsa From the Disney movie, "Frozen"

Refrain your voice from weeping, And your eyes from tears; For your work shall be rewarded, says the LORD, And they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future, says the LORD, That your children shall come back to their own border. Jeremiah 31:16-17 

 
Let it go, let it go.
And I'll rise like the break of dawn.
Let it go, let it go
That perfect girl is gone
Here I stand, in the light of day.
Let the storm rage on!
The cold never bothered me anyway
"Let it Go" From the Disney movie, "Frozen"

I'm going down,
Follow if you want, I won't just hang around,
Like you'll show me where to go,
I'm already out of foolproof ideas, so don't ask me how
To get started, it's all uncharted...Sara Bareilles

I don't know what's going to happen, but that's OK. I'm accepting the fact that my family maybe broken. I can only do my part, I'm not doing his anymore. I'm not going to enable his passivity and irresponsibility. Since I am the head of this house, the queen of my castle, then I'm not going to allow someone coming in here undermining my authority and shaming me into submission!

Stitch: This is my family. I found it, all on my own. Is little, and broken, but still good. Yeah, still good.  From the Disney movie, "Lilo and Stitch" 

As I said in Why I Hate/Love Men the Disney princess I really want to be is Merida from the movie, "Brave". Perhaps my "Fate" is changing?

Deep waters hold reflections
Of times lost long ago
I will hear their every story
Take hold of my own dream
Be as strong as the seas are stormy
And proud as an eagle's scream
I will ride, I will fly
Chase the wind and touch the sky 

Touch the Sky From the Disney movie, "Brave"



I'm reposting an old poem from Cats and Dogs
because it goes so well and this has been my life for the past 27 years but keep reading because my new poem is at the bottom.

The Woman You gave me....
You tell us to dress modestly?
Yet my man looks at pornography?
Get a job!
No, stay at home!
You're damned either way!
Fry the bacon up in a pan,
Make you feel like a man,
It's his world you know?
Have your babies naturally,
Nurse them, it's more healthy, see?
Never say, "What about me?"
Live your life selflessly-
Barefoot, pregnant,
And when you're not you should be rail thin,
So you only cook for him,
Shut the door, come right back in,
Car pool, help out everyone, volunteer, yeah it's so fun!
Yet you're always on the run,
Tired, exhausted, disillusioned,
A desperate plea, "Lord help!"
"ENOUGH!" He says, "Peace be still!"
Who are you living for? Them or Me?
Do you want to be made free?
Guard your heart, it belongs to Me!
You give respect, now demand it back,
Don't dwell on all the things you lack,
You are perfect to me!
Teach your kids, your husband too,
One person can't do it all for you,
To be healthy and sane you must have boundaries,
God's yoke is easy and light!
It's not restrictive and tight!
He leads you on the path that's right,
Because YOU ARE PRECIOUS IN HIS SIGHT!

The song that inspired the poem: Pink- Perfect

Resurrection
Oh no it's dead!
I killed it
What do I do?
God? Are You here?
I AM
It was beaten down so long
Thunder rumbling
Castles crumbling
Like a storm or a breeze.
I could so easily freeze.
But no I melt
At the thought of One Who loves so much
So much more than just a teenage crush
He freed me
So I fall to my knees
He's the only One I want to please
My Maker is my husband
He even heals Stockholm Syndrome
I don't believe in lies
Little girl ARISE
And the story has only just begun
Now take the ball and run


For Part 3 On Dreams See: Dream Home

An Open and Shut Case

For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. James 3:2

Like I've said before, my mind is a swarm, I have so many ideas about what to write. So, how do I decide where to start? Well, it will just keep on coming up, like "word vomit" until I can no longer hold it back. (Jeremiah 20:9) In the book of Job, chapter 33, it says,

"For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it." (Job 33:14) Yet the Apostle Paul says in I Corinthians 2 that now we can understand it, because we have the Holy Spirit! So God will bring up the thing I should write about in different ways, like (#1) in His word, the Bible:

The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. Isaiah 50:4

“Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” Exodus 4:11

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven.....A time to keep silence, And a time to speak....Ecclesiastes :1 & 7




I had thought about writing on the mouth on more than one occasion. Joyce Meyer has so many wonderful Biblical resources - one book that I've read is called, "Me and My Big Mouth".

 And the Bible has so so much to say about your mouth! There's a great resource I've mentioned before called, BibleGateway and you can go there and click on Keyword Search, choose what version of the Bible you'd like (I like the New King James or The Amplified, a great modern translation is The Message) and you can put in any word and it will look up where it is in that particular translation. How cool is that?


Right now, I am in the middle of writing many different things (my first speech for adults, my book, my blog). A couple of months ago Brother Jerry was preaching from the book of Acts. In Acts 8 is a story about Phillip being told to go talk to an Ethiopian eunuch who was reading in the book of Isaiah. Phillip explained to him how Isaiah 53 (also many other places in the Old Testament) was foretelling of Jesus. I've read this many times before but this time verse 35 stood out to me, it says, "Then Philip opened his mouth..." and then I thought, wait a minute, these verses just also said something about the opposite! The verse in Isaiah 53 says,

"...So He opened not His mouth...." (Isaiah 53:7, Acts 8:32)

And when I looked it up in Isaiah, I noticed it says it twice in verse 7!: "He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth."

There's much to be said about keeping our mouths shut in the Bible. Once I put in my status: Therefore he who is prudent will keep silence in such a time, for it is an evil time. Amos 5:13 Could I possibly keep my big mouth shut??? For once???

In Isaiah 53, Jesus is compared to a lamb as He is in other places in the Bible but what about the places where He's referred to as a lion? Like in Revelation 5? In verse 5 He's called a lion and in verse 6 He's called a lamb. In my "Enjoying Everyday Life" Bible, Joyce Meyer has a note in Revelation about this titled, "lion or lamb?". Joyce says, "Throughout the Gospels, Jesus seems to act in two contrasting ways." She says how in Matthew 27 He confronts the money changers in the temple with "lion-like intensity". I also remember Him calling the scribes and Pharisees a "brood of vipers", now that's not very lamb-like!

In John chapter 8 He's speaking to some people who claim to follow God because of their nationality:
"I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father....You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (John 8:38 & 44)
 
Joyce goes on to say, "What are we to learn from His communication patterns? He was a lion when He needed to be and yet always a lamb- He never sinned or failed to be excellent in speech." Jesus was BALANCED. Just like it says to be in the verse I quoted before in Cougars, Cages and Confessions about that faux lion, Satan: Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. I Peter 5:8 (Amplified)


So, how do we know when to speak and when to shut it? I think we need to learn to "Walk in the Spirit" like it says in Galatians. Also ask yourself, "What's my motivation?" to bring glory and honor to Christ?- then say it! Or don't- depending on which would honor Him. Are you afraid? That's Satan! He's trying to shut you up! Or make your life speak so loudly that noone listens to your words!

Say what you wanna say And let the words fall out- Honestly, I wanna see you be brave...Sara Barielles

Once I put this in my status: Do you ever obsess about "What should I say?" I do this all the time! Anyways, I was doing it again yesterday and when I was doing my (Tammy Melton) Bible study, she said to look up John 12:12 but I accidentally/Providentially turned to Luke 12:12: "For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say." :-)

Also if we keep busy Praising the Name of Jesus, then Satan won't be able to distract us so easily.

In his book, "Epic: The Story God is Telling" John Eldredge explains how all the stories and movies we love are from the Bible and based on God's story of redemption! The conflict or the problem, then the battle of good vs. evil and the ultimate triumph of good.


I've already compared myself to the little mermaid and said that in the Bible Christians are called God's sons and daughters and He is the King, therefore we are His princes and princesses. I wrote about this before many times, one place is on my website: Jamie's Bible

The Little Mermaid is a Disney movie based on the Danish fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson. In the movie, Ariel, the mermaid falls in love with a human (Prince Eric), has a fight with her father and so goes to the sea witch for help. Ariel represents us, her father God and the sea witch represents the devil. Ultimately, her prince defeats the sea witch and her father has a change of heart and turns her into a human. And they live happily ever after!

But before all that the sea witch takes Ariel's voice in payment for making her human. This reminds me of how Satan wants to steal Christians "voices" through sin. I heard the saying, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay.”

URSULA (The Sea Witch)

Oh, and there is one more thing.
We haven't discussed the subject of payment.

ARIEL
But I don't have-

URSULA
I'm not asking much, just a token really, a trifle!
What I want from you is - your voice.

ARIEL
But without my voice, how can I-

URSULA
You'll have your looks, your pretty face.
And don't underestimate the importance of body language, ha!

Then URSULA says,
Now, sing!

Let's sing and speak for our King not for Satan!

Sing, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem! Zephaniah 3:14

If you return, Then I will bring you back; You shall stand before Me; If you take out the precious from the vile, You shall be as My mouth. Jeremiah 15:19

Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!

Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth...

1 Chronicles 16:7-12

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. I Corinthians 2:4-5

“Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry." “Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith." Habakkuk :2-4


The plans of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the [wise] answer of the tongue. Proverbs 16:1

In my "Everyday Life Bible", Joyce Myer says, "God promises if we open our mouths, He will fill them (See Psalm 81:10), and Jesus promises to give us words and wisdom that none of our adversaries will be able to resist or contradict (See Luke 21:15)."



Here's another (very) short blog post on Words

Running, Remembering & My Redeemer

                        

Julia Roberts from the movie, "Runaway Bride"


Oh that I had wings like a dove, I’d fly away and be at peace! Indeed, I would wander far off, And remain in the wilderness. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest. David (Psalm 55:6-8)


This is not what I asked
Not what I prayed for
Are you listening now?
'Cause all that I've built,
All that I've bled for
Is coming undone

But what if it had to be broken
Before my heart could be open?

Maybe the shattered parts
Are the places where Your love starts
And now I am closer to where You are
With every beat of my broken heart
Every Beat of my broken heart .....Hawk Nelson


Writer's block? What's that? What I have is....hmmmmm? What to call it? "Writer's avalanche"? "Writer's overflow"?:


My heart is overflowing with a good theme;
I recite my composition concerning the King;
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Psalm 45:1


My mind is a swarm, a runaway pony. I wrote about that before: An Unquiet Mind


My problem is having the time and discipline to sit down and organize my thoughts. Come on Susan! FOCUS! Lord, what should I write? I ask. Is this to blog about? Is this for the book? Sometimes I even say, "Lord, I don't want to tell them THAT, do I have to?" Like some posts I've wrote already, I hesitate to even "share" again! Like can I "delete" that Lord? Or at least let it remain "buried" in my archives. God says, "No, there was a reason I had you write that and you need to REMEMBER"

For instance, He's the King of my heart: The King of Hearts


Vulnerability. Humility. Accountability = Victory! How IRONIC! Another True Story: Oh The Irony!


He loves me!: He Loves You Snow Much More


Stop cliff hanging! Cliff Hangers, Pot Stirrers and the Itsy Bitsy Spider


Bob and I were "meant to be": Love Story



I am forgetful- my kids know this- so they remind me about things they want me to remember. Many times I'll write on my hand what I need to remember; like that I have laundry to put in the washer or dryer, that I have to go to the store or pay a bill etc. It's absolutely terrible when I forget to pick up my kid from somewhere! I mean what kind of mother forgets her child?! This is also in the Bible: Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Isaiah 49:15

I remember once having three Rs on my hand for; Recycling, Returning the library books and...I can't remember what the third one was. lol


But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me.” Isaiah 49:14



A couple Saturdays ago I was hopelessly forlorn (I was crying) and driving on and on into the night. Why?! I forgot....all God has said to me!


I can barely stand right now.
Everything is crashing down,
And I wonder where You are.

I try to find the words to pray.
I don't always know what to say,
But You're the one that can hear my heart.

The Afters, "Broken Hallelujah"



I was listening to the Devil's lies and taunts, "No one cares about you" "Look no one's even calling you or texting you." "Your family doesn't care about you or even misses you and you don't even have any friends" "None of your children respect you. They think you're an idiot" "There's no hope" "You'll never publish a book, ha, your gona go bankrupt" "Your children are mine" The devil is a LIAR. I was also listening to the wrong music which was discouraging me. Yeah, Bob's just gona stand there and watch me burn cause I like the way it hurts! (Rihanna & Eminem). Why am I listening to that?! I drove north and was going to turn around if someone called me, no one called. I got to Marietta and thankfully, "came to my senses" realized my head was in the wrong place, turned around and headed home, thankful that Bob and I are NOT like Rihanna and Eminem otherwise our house would've burnt down long ago!



How can I forget all the wonderful words- That I really believe are from God to me? Why was I in my closet a few weeks ago? Curled up in a ball, crying?


You know the things that have brought me here.
You know the story of every tear.
‘Cause You've been here from the very start.
(The Afters)


Just because my son was smoking cigarettes which reminded me of my brothers. Because I FORGOT the verse He gave me says:

Refrain your voice from weeping,

And your eyes from tears;

For your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord,

And they shall come back from the land of the enemy.

There is hope in your future, says the Lord,

That your children shall come back to their own border. Jeremiah 31:16-17



I feel I can relate to David (see verse above) in the Bible or Jeremiah who was called "The weeping prophet":


See, Lord, how distressed I am! I am in torment within,
and in my heart I am disturbed, for I have been most rebellious. Outside, the sword bereaves; inside, there is only death. Lamentations 1:20


He has hedged me in so that I cannot get out; He has made my chain heavy.
Even when I cry and shout, He shuts out my prayer. He has blocked my ways with hewn stone; He has made my paths crooked. Lamentations 3:7-9


Remember my affliction and roaming, The wormwood and the gall. My soul still remembers And sinks within me. This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Lamentations 3: 19-21


You know what forgetting about God does to me? It makes me lose my hope! Some years ago I bought some Superman S earrings at Six Flaggs. I didn't buy them because I think I'm super but because there are two S's for "Susan Story" I do strive to do my best at what I do, which is being a good wife and mother. I've been wearing those earrings lately, since seeing the "Man of Steel" movie and hearing that it's not an S- it's a symbol of HOPE.





I've learned something from my night I spent running away. I should've stayed home and read my own blog! Running



Also Seven Steps to Victory: But What if I Stumble? Because this is warfare! Duh!



I did start jogging again when I became stressed. Bob is OK with it, as long as I stretch first and my feet are OK. And when I jog I listen to music, praise music, some secular (positive) music, just the good stuff. I realized that whatever you are struggling with, be it alcohol or drugs, food, sex...if you are "Cliff hanging" (See my post-the link is above) and the crisis comes (The STRESS), there's a good chance of you falling off that cliff! I am thankful that God says He won't let you be tempted beyond what you are able to bear. (I Corinthians 10:13) And He answers my prayer when I say, "God, every time I see that person, I say (or do) the wrong thing and if I'm gona do that Lord, let me NOT see them." Amen. And I'm also glad He forgives me when I mess up. (I John 1:9)



The other night I noticed what I see when I run to the corner is something else I need to remember: THE TREE! Worn and the Seven Story Tree






The Bible has tons to say about what we are to REMEMBER and what we are to FORGET. Here are just a few of the many verses about it:


Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.” Genesis 41:51 Note: God later has Joseph purposely REMEMBER "his father's house" yet FORGIVE his brother's for selling him into slavery.(See: Genesis 50)


And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:18


And you forget the Lord your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens And laid the foundations of the earth; You have feared continually every day Because of the fury of the oppressor, When he has prepared to destroy. Isaiah 51:13


Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. Isaiah 54:4


Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number. Jeremiah 2:32


I got this from Francis AnFuso:


Habits That Will Change Your Life

Here are three habits that will change your life: First, come into God’s presence every day. The key to an effective prayer life is to “just show up.” And when you show up, stay there long enough to create a memory. Satan can’t steal a memory of God’s presence. Second, read the Word of God, the Bible, consistently. Ask God to open the eyes of your understanding so that what your head reads, impacts your heart. And number three. Plan your day. List seven things that you’re committed to do today. Why? Because structure creates growth! The Bible says, “…continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of…you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:14-15, NKJV)



I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. Psalm 119:16


You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word. Psalm 119:114


When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches,
For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63: 6-8


So on that Sunday morning as the sun was rising, I pulled my sequoia into my garage, went upstairs and went to bed, REPEATEDLY telling myself I needed to FORGET the Devil's lies and REMEMBER MY REDEEMER:


Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”


The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.
It is good for a man to bear
The yoke in his youth.

Let him sit alone and keep silent,
Because God has laid it on him;
Let him put his mouth in the dust—
There may yet be hope. Lamentations 3:22-33


Surely they may forget,
Yet I will not forget you.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
Your walls are continually before Me. Isaiah 49:15-16


For I will contend with him who contends with you,
And I will save your children...

All flesh shall know
That I, the Lord, am your Savior,
And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. Isaiah 49:25-26


Broken Person

Why am I always drawn to you?
Cause I'm a broken person too?
Why do I think that I can fix you?
You just hurt me and I hurt you too
Manipulation, lies and games...
I no longer want to play.
I'm learning about myself from day to day
My Great Physician heals all ills
He even created doctors who prescribe pills
He loves you just the way you are
He loves you with all your scars
He was broken for our sin
But you have to let Him in
He can heal your broken heart
But you must give Him every part

For all these poems and more buy my first book! "The Seven Story Tree; A book of Poetry"

The Prodigal

Of course this is all my fault,
Eve had two sons, one killed the other,
She must have been a terrible mother!
Esau was his father's favorite,
But Jacob was a "Mama's boy"
Of course they didn't get along,
Leave them alone and they'll come home,
Jacob did but his mom was gone,
Having favorites is not wise,
Just read about Joseph (Genesis 37:4)
He was despised,
Train them up in the way they should go,
Your work shall be rewarded,
Trust God with them,
He loves them even more than you.
Don't give in to wrong behavior,
Love must be tough.
Show them you love them enough to say, "No"
When they are old they will not depart.
Keep loving Him with all your heart.
God had a prodigal son too,
Didn't you know that son was you!


I wrote a poem later called, "Remember the Redeemer's Rainbow" which goes well with this post; See: Video Bible Study-Storms Part II