I hope you’ll check out a great article on cbn.com today. I was interviewed by Belinda Elliot of Christian Broadcasting Network and it ran as a feature on their site.
Here is an excertp: (more…)
If you notice a few glitches over the next several days, I hope you’ll be patient with me. The Swank team is redesigning my site. It’s going to be beautiful, but we may have some birthing pains along the way.
Suzie
My Story
by Amanda Grogan
Newlywed, Believer, Chi Alpha Ministries: NSU University
Today has been one of those days where I have done a lot of talking to my father in heaven in addition to those around me.
I am a firm believer that absolutely nothing happens in God’s world by mistake. So why is that every time something happens, the human part of me stops to think why is this happening?
Eventually, I realize that things occur because nothing happens in God’s world by mistake. So where am I going with this? Well, I believe that many years ago, my heavenly father began to write a story on the tablet of my heart. Throughout the course of my life, I have faced many obstacles. Some worse than others, some self-imposed, and some well…who knows but regardless, these obstacles have become a huge part of the woman I have become today.
Maybe it started when was a child and lived in a really disfunctional family that finally resulted in my parent’s divorce, losing loved ones in my life to death and/or distance, or maybe just the trials of everyday life, but I believe that the never-ending theme throughout my story is the idea of overcoming.
My good friend, Allison, shared this on her Boomer Babes Rock blog today:
“I was recently in a meeting with a group of dynamic authors and speakers. One of them asked for feedback on a Mother’s Day message she was giving. She wanted to keep her presentation upbeat and exciting. I could understand that. She was focusing on all the mothers who were going to have a lovely day. Yet, when I asked her the following question, I could immediately see that I threw her a curve ball.
What about the mothers in the audience whose hearts are breaking because they may have lost a child, or their child is in bondage to an addiction, or, like my son, might be in prison?” (more…)
Have I ever realized that I can bring to God things which are of value to Him . . . Not Divine, colossal things which could be recorded as marvelous, but ordinary, simple human things which will give evidence to God that I am abandoned to Him?” — Oswald Chambers
I started a small group. It is filled with a diverse group of friends, church family, and people from the community who have a desire to write or speak. I plan to teach the basics: how to brainstorm, how to use life experience, how to approach editors, how to tighten your outline or mss, but first I hope to set a foundation.This quote is a perfect example of that foundation. Not just a foundation, but a rock. A sturdy place where we can bring ourselves, our smallest gifts and talents, and watch Him make them great or applicable in his timing and plan. I will never be anything but ordinary in my own efforts, but when I invite God to be the fire and breath and heart of what I do, it goes places I never anticipated, and does a work I could not do on my own.
The response to the group has taught me a lot. Darrin is 31, and he’s discovering he’s very talented. He was once addicted to pornography and the addiction almost cost him his life. (Read his story here.) He wrote a piece called “Eleven” the other night, and it’s powerful. His excitement over this new venture is infectious.
But in addition to the writing, we are also finding friendship. Kari, Gloria, Doris, Karen, Rocky, Lisa, and others are coming together and sharing their lives.
I’m glad to be a part. . .
I’m reading an interesting book right now titled “Who Stole My Church?” by Gordon McDonald.
I first thought it was nonfiction, but surprisingly it’s fiction–sort of. I recognize the characters in it. In fact, I go to church with some. I’ve run across them as I’ve ministered. Good people. Backbone of their local churches.
Not sure what to do with the changes in their church, or the way that Christ is presented, or what in the world the words “postmodern” or “emerging church” means anyway.
I’m reading with an open mind, and actually liking this book a lot. There is no agenda, but rather a good conversation between sincere people trying to figure out what the church should/could/can/does look like and why that is important.
Suz
Our work begins where God’s grace has laid the foundation; we are not to save souls, but to disciple them. Salvation and sanctification are the work of God’s sovereign grace; our work as His disciples is to disciple lives until they are wholly yielded to God. One life wholly devoted to God is of more value to God than one hundred lives simply awakened by His Spirit. ~ Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
I found this great in-depth article on Crosswalk.com over the practical steps in my book, The Mom I Want to Be
Become the Mom You Want to Be
Whitney Hopler
Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
Editor’s Note: The following is a report on the practical applications of T. Suzanne Eller’s book, The Mom I Want to Be: Rising Above Your Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future, (Harvest House Publishers, 2006).
You want to give your very best to your children. But if your own parents were inconsistent while you were growing up – or if they neglected or even abused you – you may never have learned how to be the kind of mom you want to be.
No matter what problems you experienced growing up, though, you don’t have to repeat your parents’ mistakes. God will help you become a healthy mom who can rise above the past to leave a legacy of love for your children.
Here’s how you can become the mom you want to be:
Over 70 small groups have launched in the last 30 days in my home church.
Our pastor thought it would be a great way to shut the “back door” of the church, losing people because they haven’t connected with friendships or they are struggling and don’t know how to share that with others in a big church setting.
We have groups for scrapbookers, quilters, hikers, fitness, Bible study, choir, fishing, married w/young children, married w/no children, parents of teens, seniors, etc. . . . and my group is for people who have a desire to write and/or speak. (more…)
T. Suzanne Eller
Believing that God redeems our life stories, Suzanne teaches you how to give every chapter of your life to a relevant and life-changing Savior.
