Simply Susan

Good News

Susan Davis — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:55:34 +0000

After choosing to submit to God’s authority in my life and the wave of love that followed, one of the best changes for me came in a new found freedom to share the good news of the gospel with people. I accepted Jesus as my Savior 30 years ago, and have consistently struggled with seizing up and not having a clue what to say when it came to telling others about new life in Him. That was the big motivator to take the Navigator’s Bible study when it was offered at our church. I wanted to speak about the good news of God’s grace and salvation found in Jesus, but I didn’t know where to begin.

Well, Navigator’s is really clear. After memorizing about 25 Bible verses related to salvation and God reaching out to people, it all gets put together in a single illustration called “The Bridge to Life.”

Romanced

Susan Davis — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:56:58 +0000

On September 14, 2008 I wrote in my journal, “God has brought healing to my soul, freedom to my spirit – now I’m living to see where it all goes. I am loved [!!] is the craziest new truth for me; and I have put myself under God’s authority – an amazing place of freedom.”

In the newness of this love, I did something that was completely out of character for me...

The Song of a Heart Set Free

Susan Davis — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:29:13 +0000

To know I was loved was an entirely brand-new experience for me. It wasn’t for lack of people in my life saying they loved me… I know Tim loves me, my kids often say they love me, my in-laws are truly incredible, and significantly more than my own parents would verbalize their love for me. Yet, and I imagine many of you understand, as I heard the words my heart always qualified it in some way.

Now, even if nobody else said a thing, my heart was transported by the complete security and assurance of being truly loved. Then to think that this love was coming from God Himself – Almighty, Creator, Redeemer – well, that just pushed me right over the top. This was when I first noticed everything changing…

A Heart Set Free!

Susan Davis — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:36:04 +0000

In his introduction to the book of Galatians Eugene Peterson, writer of The Message, states: “Through Jesus, Paul learned that God was not an impersonal force to be used to make people behave in certain prescribed ways, but a personal Savior who set us free to live a free life. God did not coerce us from without, but set us free from within.”

I’m so hesitant to write today – Peterson’s words exactly describe my experience. I’ve been completely set free from within, and that has changed everything for me. Yet I know so many who have had life hit them remarkably hard.

Freedom Begins!

Susan Davis — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:39:25 +0000

I began the Breaking Free Bible study in January of 2008. Life was generally good, but on the inside of me I was struggling – struggling with depression, struggling with being unreasonably frustrated with my husband, struggling with making suppers, struggling with housework, struggling with being consistent in spending time with God, struggling with life.

I had no expectations going into the study – perhaps indicative of another broken place in my heart from childhood – but I knew my only hope of anything better in life was in God’s Word. I knew I had to read it and let God have access to everything in my heart. I was more than ready to do that.