Speaking Topics
He Restores:
Difficult seasons take a toll on the soul. What happens in our soul happens in our cells. Allowing things like fear, worry, anger, or insecurity to linger within us for too long profoundly impacts our health and our faith perspective. Jesus cares about the human condition. He cares deeply about the health of your soul and the state of your heart; scripture tells us that God restores our soul. This isn't a one-time event. Life hurts us, and Jesus heals us. He leads us through the valleys and the storms to places of renewal and restoration. When we trust God with the hurts and losses buried in our souls, we walk in the freedom we never dreamed possible. Psalm 23:3 ~ He restores my soul...
She is loved:
Would you live differently if you knew that your identity was not up for grabs or changeable with popular opinion? Would you take more risks? Love more freely? Believe more boldly? Jesus is already sold on the idea of you! In Christ Jesus, we are made brand new, through and through. And when we understand who and Whose we are, we stop living in reaction to our fears and insecurities and start living in response to the finished work of Christ. Everything changes when we believe the truth about who we are. Ephesians 3:18-19 ~ And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
(Susie’s ‘Uncommon Woman Message)
I know Him:
It’s all too easy to waver between two mindsets: Can I trust God? I can trust Him! Will He come through for me? I’m pretty sure He will. But what if He doesn’t? God doesn’t have to do what we think He should do, but He will most certainly do what He’s promised to do. No matter how long you’ve walked with God, there’s so much more of Him to know and experience. How much more confidently might we go through life if we knew in whom we believed and trusted that He will guard what we've entrusted to Him? The devil wants us to waver between two opinions. God wants us to live with a faith-filled assurance that He is who He says He is and He will keep His promises to us. When trials come and the devil taunts, raise your shield and say, "I know my God! And I will trust Him!"
She is free:
How do we walk free when all we've known is captivity? Let’s talk about how to recover the land the enemy has stolen and how to stand boldly in the freedom Jesus secured for us. The Bible says the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus intends to give us life abundantly. He invites us to lay hold of our God-given freedom, but the enemy doesn't surrender territory lightly. We must contend for it, but overwhelming victory belongs to us because we belong to Jesus. John 10:10 ~ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
(Susie’s Freedom Message)
He Rewards:
John Burke once said, Most Christians know so little about heaven that they're more excited about retirement than they are about eternity. How do we make this life count if we think so little about heaven? And why does it matter since we're saved by grace? We have this one life. How we live here directly impacts how we will live there…in heaven. Jesus often spoke about stewardship because He loves us and wants us to reap a harvest when it's all said and done. We'll explore the kind of life that God rewards. Jesus lives! May we live like heaven is real because it is! Revelation 22:12 ~ “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done."
She is transformed:
How do we grow in our walk with Christ? It’s through the healings and dealings of God. As we allow Him to heal the deep hurts from our past—the ones that rob us of our joy and steal our perspective—we will dare to trust Him with our future. By looking at Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well, we’ll find the courage to be real with Jesus so He can redeem our story. Jesus has more for us! Ephesians 3:16-17 (and John 4) ~ I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
(Susie’s Staying by the Well Message)
She’s an heir:
The Bible tells us that in Christ Jesus, we are heirs of God, joint-heirs with Christ! But so often, we think and pray like orphans. Or, we vacillate between two mindsets depending on our own spiritual performance. We beg and plead and allow our disappointments to mark our lives to the point of unbelief. How do we remember who we are in Christ Jesus? What if we really understood what Jesus accomplished on the cross? What if we approached life like an heir, especially when hardships come and threaten to steal our joy? Our perspective on our adoption into the royal family of God changes everything. Romans 8:17 ~ And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
(One of the messages from Susie’s book, ‘Your Powerful Prayers’)
She is Called:
Do you believe that God created you for a purpose? Does it seem that once you awaken to this idea that you hit one roadblock after another? When it comes to walking out our God-given assignment, how do we navigate enemy opposition, the reality of our fears, and the timing of God to lay hold of HIs best purposes for us? The days are growing eviler, but we have every reason for faith. God is busy and active in our world, and He will profoundly use those who are willing to take hold of His promises and walk them out in their everyday lives. It's impossible to please God without faith. Get ready for a time to be challenged and motivated to become and accomplish everything God intended for you since the beginning of time! *Ephesians 3:20-21~ Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
(Susie’s ‘Your Beautiful Purpose’ Message)
She is Wise:
The culture around us seems to be swirling out of control. Add to the mix our own daily battles, and you realize that it only takes a moment for us to lose our footing, joy, and perspective. Using WISE as an acronym, Susie unpacks four critical strategies for keeping perspective and navigating through life with a heart of wisdom. (W: Worship, I: Intimacy/Identity, S: Scripture, E: Eternity) Proverbs 9:10 ~ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
(One of the messages from Susie’s book, ‘Your Sacred Yes’)
Say Yes to God’s Best:
It's so easy to give away our time to things un-appointed by God. We commit to something because it's a good cause or there's a great need. Or maybe because no one else will help out. The result? The days blur together, and we find ourselves overworked and underjoyed, desperate for a faith awakening. Here's a critical point: all of our racing and rushing not only makes us tired, but it also makes us vulnerable. We tend to take shortcuts, lose focus, and unknowingly open the door for the enemy to lead us astray. God's will for us always involves a measure of rest and reflection. We bear fruit in this life to the degree that we abide in the Vine, follow Jesus' lead, and do what He says. His will for us is our best-case scenario. Will you say yes to the One who will rejuvenate your soul?Psalm 90:12 ~ Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
(Susie's 'Your Sacred Yes' message)
Christmas Message: Comfort & Joy
The holiday season is supposed to inspire fresh gratitude, deep wonder, and a renewed sense of God's great love for us. Jesus entered the womb of a teenage girl in poverty to meet us in the places of our most profound need and to bring redemption and freedom there. So why do we get so caught up with the notion that our holidays need to resemble the three-minute commercials or glossy magazine covers? The word "Selah" appears many times in the Bible – it is a call for us to pause…and take it in. True joy happens in our Christmas season when we look for a find Jesus amidst our story. When we acknowledge the God-who-is-with us in every hardship, in every blessing, we approach our holidays with a new measure of faith. We shift from the obsessive need for a polished presentation to a deep desire to experience God no matter where life finds us this season. Jesus beautifully illustrated this very point; by the way, He came to us. Come and enjoy a message that will make you laugh, warm your heart, and encourage you this season. Isaiah 9:6 ~ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Intimacy with God:
True intimacy is linked with familiarity, warmth, affection, and confidence. As the days grow evil and the times more chaotic, God invites us to be continually refreshed in His presence. What are the hindrances to intimacy with God, and how do we overcome them? Nothing speaks peace to a world in need like a soul that knows how to rest in God. And nothing will bless our own lives more than the firm belief that God cherishes us. Even in hard times, we have more than enough because we have Him. Zephaniah 3:17 ~ The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Living the Promised Life:
The Bible tells us that we have access to every spiritual blessing and that overwhelming victory is ours in Christ Jesus. We are promised abounding grace and peace at all times in every season. God tells us that all of His promises are true, and they are for us because we belong to Him! The days are growing eviler, but we have every reason for faith. God is busy and active in our world, and He will profoundly use those who are willing to take hold of His promises and walk them out in their everyday lives. It's impossible to please God without faith. Get ready to be challenged and motivated to take hold of all that's been offered to you in God's Word! 2 Peter 1:4 ~ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.