Are U Up for the Challenge?

Mary & Martha’s story has been one of my favorite stories in the Bible. Mary discovered that quality time with Jesus was much better than making a fuss over a perfect dinner party. This story tells us how meaningful our relationship is with Jesus, including family, friends, and everyone we meet—quality time talking, listening, spending time together, not trying to impress or show off—having authentic, lasting relationships instead of picture-perfect gathering!

“As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭10:38-42‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.10.38-42.NLT

bible.com/bible/1588/isa.55.1-2.AMP

Jesus say, “But whoever drinks the water that I give him will never be thirsty again. But the water that I give him will become in him a spring of water (satisfying his thirst for God) welling up (continually flowing, bubbling within him) to eternal life. John 4:14 Amp Bible

““Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy grain and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost [simply accept it as a gift from God]. Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, And your earnings for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight in abundance.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55:1-2‬ ‭AMP‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1588/isa.55.1-2.AMP

Jesus gave us two powerful bits of advice for times of testing and temptation. Being a man who experienced temptation himself, he knew exactly what we needed in order to overcome. Remember, Jesus didn’t breeze through temptation because he was God. He came as a man in order to show us what we could do with God’s help.

When you’re going through a particularly rough season of temptation, doubt, fear, sickness, etc., it’s vital that you feed your spirit. First, Jesus said, “Keep alert.” That means, pay attention when the enemy is luring you into sin, confusion, doubt, etc. Second, he said to pray. The moment you notice you’re being tempted, run to the Lord. Turn off the distractions of TV, the internet, and cellphones and spend time in his presence. Strengthen yourself in the Lord by feeding your spirit, and you’ll find you’ve made it through times of testing with his grace.

Jesus, thank you for loving me when my faith is weak. I surrender my life to you afresh and ask that you fill me with strength and grace. I want nothing in me to contradict the holiness of walking with you. Wrap me in your presence as I choose to overcome.

From “Ever Present Love” written by Brian Simmons and Gretchen RodriguezMark 14:38

The Passion Translation

“Keep alert and pray that you’ll be spared from this time of testing. For your spirit is eager enough, but your humanity is feeble.”

Happy Anniversary ❤️❤️ to us. Fifty-three years On 2.22.22, God is good and has blessed our lives tremendously. He has brought us through the valley of death, storms of life, over mountains too high for us to climb alone, And He carried us when we thought we couldn’t go any further. Yes, he abundantly blessed us through good times and challenging times. Jesus is the center of our marriage. The foundation it is built on and the third cord that makes our union strong.

In Ecclesiastes 4:12, the Bible tells us that “though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” The Cord of Three Strands represents God, the groom, and the bride – braiding these three strands symbolizes the joining of one man, one woman, and God in marriage.

Thank you, Lord, for blessing our marriage. 🙏❤️🙏

May you begin to see your setbacks as temporary, your delays as detours, and your heartbreaks as opportunities to experience God’s precious, powerful healing. May God give you glimpses of glory, insights into His excellent plan for you. The times we’re in are not a surprise to Him. He not only saw this coming, He positioned you on the earth for such a time as this. How might He shine His light in and through you? Be assured that He is near, right beside you. His right hand upholds you. He’ll never let you go. May the Holy Spirit help you see with supernatural insight so that you won’t be deceived by the enemy of your soul, or by your past painful filters, or by your fears of the future. Right here–in this place–may your divine perspective hugely inspire your faith steps. Rest when He says rest. And pray like there’s a God in heaven because there is, and He moves when you pray! You are mighty in God, and He is mighty in you. Susielarson.com

2 Kings 6:16 (NIV) ~ “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

bible.com/bible/116/php.4.7.NLT

“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/116/php.4.7.NLT

When I read the verses below, I thought what a life of health issues my husband and I had experienced the past few years. I know we are no different than anyone else. The entire world is struggling with life’s storms. No matter what mountain of problems is before us, God is more sovereign than our circumstances. He has brought us through Covid, back surgery, broken wrist, cancer, kidney failure, heart stents, and a shattered knee. We know where our hope is. It is Jesus, the one that calms the stormy sea and brings us through victoriously.

“Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭107:28-31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.107.28-31.NKJV

Gary has always said, “Karen, God will bring us through this, he always has and he always will.” I love that my husband’s faith is displayed in good times and in times of struggles. ❤️

bible.com/bible/114/1ch.29.13.NKJV

“Therefore David blessed the Lord before all the assembly; and David said: “Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. “Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name.”

‭‭I Chronicles‬ ‭29:10-13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/114/1ch.29.13.NKJV

May you determine to travel lighter starting now. Refuse to pick up old baggage and bad habits just because life is hard. You don’t need them now and won’t want them once this crisis passes. March into your next season with clarity, purpose, and conviction. Be ruthless when the enemy taunts you with fear and anxiety; shut him down immediately. Be responsive when the Holy Spirit speaks to you about your life, your habits, and your default settings. Jesus has something precious and profound to teach you in this season; something you could acquire no other way. So listen to Him. Do what He says. Fling aside your own self-condemning thoughts and wrap yourself up in God’s beautiful grace and righteousness. May you march on from here, full of faith, empowered by grace, and awakened by God’s love. Walk as one who’s been spoken for by God above. May your latter days be far more blessed than your former days. Jesus is always up to something new. Bless you! Susielarson.com

Job 8:7 NLT ~ And though you started with little, you will end with much.

“This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭13:11-14‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.13.11-14.NLT