You know that you know that you know...

A P.S. has been added as a follow up


Several weeks ago Christine called and invited me to participate in the Prayer Walk / Rally at the Bi-Lo Center on Thursday before Just Give Me Jesus starts on Friday. She said bring your big white flag. My response was this... "let me pray about it... count me in!" Because if there is one thing I love it is praising Jesus and I love it even more when the flag is part of the praise.
My neighbors are probably glad I'm taking it out of the back yard on a field trip. Come to think of it, I bet Ray is too!

I guess it was one day last week I received an email blast from the JGMJ mailers and it too contained an invitation to attend the Thursday event. OMG! That meant that instead of a small intimate group of friends invited by Christine, there could possibly be thousands of women there.
My response was this... "well I'll go and pray and take a fresh bottle of oil." When I closed the email something caught my eye. It said in the subject line "BANNER Prayer Walk". Upon opening the email - there was nothing in the title about any banner. I knew it was referring to the title caption box that held content that I wasn't seeing. But there was that word BANNER.

So my response was this... "Lord. I will gladly wave my banner for you in front of who ever shows up. And if they think I'm crazy, then they will know I am crazy for you!"

And tonight is the night! I am so excited I can hardly wait. I have a fully loaded and charged IPod. I know it will be one of the sweetest dates I have been on in a long time. My beloved is waiting there for me and I am moved to tears.

There is however another side to this story. Many of you have heard of or participated in Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby. One thing that you for sure walk away with from that study is "go to where you see God working and join Him there". Well it is more and more evident that God is working in the city of Greenville. So much so that the Greenville County Sheriff's Department is sending a group to Wellspring Living Atlanta on a fact finding mission. There are groups of women in Greenville ministering to the women who are working on the streets.

My oh my!

I learned years ago before a large white flag ever found its way into my hands that the flag is carried in front of the army as they go into battle. So Lord it is my honor to wave that flag and let the enemy know that YOU have claimed Greenville as your own. That what You are doing there is bigger than JGMJ. YOU and YOU alone know what all this represents.

YOU do Your thing Lord as only YOU can. And we your girlfriends who will be there tonight in answer to your call Love YOU and anticipate what YOU have prepared for us!

P.S. (Positively Sweet!)

When we arrived at the BLC for our prayer walk we were given instructions as to where we could and could not go. Of course where God had specifically instructed me to go was off limits. Center stage because of the work that was still underway.

That was fine for a while. I was quiet content to wave my banner at the main entrance and walk it through each section of seats and the main concourse. I guess I should say that I was the only one privy to the music that accompanied the movements of the flag/banner. I did get a few questioning looks here and there. But then as I finished the processional through the building Travis Cottrell started singing Jesus Saves. It seemed like I had no other course of action but to break the law! Thankfully my friend Ruth McWhite was very near the stage with some of the other main organizers of the event. "Ruth, Jesus needs me to step down there for just a bit." I knew what her reply would be... "Darling, you go right ahead".

I have never had the privilege of pouring out my worship as I did Thursday night. Ann's podium is a simple heavy wooden cross. That was where I was drawn to wave the flag, and thank God for the salvation the cross afforded us all. When the song ended, I threw down the flag and myself as well. Those men working construction probably thought I had died after such a display. My heart was pounding, I was all but gasping for breath. Well, I was gasping for breath! It was a sweet time of prayer to join God in what He has in store.

The true sweetness came during the night for me Thursday night as God awoke me around two to let me know how He saw my act of obedient worship.

More sweetness was added Friday night as JGMJ got underway. There were hundreds of women that came to the cross for salvation.

Thank You Lord, Thank You Lord, Thank You Lord... not only did you call me to the Cross, You met me there; as you did for all those who came last night. You have always and forever will meet any and all who come. Blessed be Your Holy Name... Jesus Christ.

Fill 'er up...

Do you ever feel like you are chasing your tail, running in circles?
Which of course leads to running nowhere as well as running out of gas.

Over the course of the last week, our focus as a board and staff has been to fall on our faces before the Lord. To seek Him with all of our hearts, minds, souls and strengths.

I'm going to stop right here and say... no matter what God has gifted you with, it is for His Glory and His ALONE. Maybe you are working a nine-to-five and feel like you have nothing to offer because your gift is not one mentioned... preaching, teaching, evangelism...
Can I just say - that my friend is a lie!

I had a meeting today with an old friend, Johnny R. I had heard he was the one I needed to sit down with (remember from my last post?) to help us get over all the hurdles that have pretty much immobilized us. A few simple questions, more hard questions. Some I had answers for, some I didn't. But now that I know what the questions are, now I can find the answers.

So maybe you have a gift of knowing what to ask, knowing how to fit a puzzle together, or something that seems so far off the beaten path from an evangelist, a prophet... put yourself out there, because if God created it in you - it is for Him. I pray that you will discover a few new possibilities beyond that nine-to-five!


So fill'er up, no more running around in circles, no more running on empty.

Yes, please fill'er up and I think I'll have the PREMIUM this time!

Battle Hymns of the day!

Open my eyes that i may see
glimpses of truth Thou hast for me.
Place in my hand the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for Thee
Ready my God, Thy will to see
Open my eyes illumine me Spirit Divine!

Open my ears that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear.
And while the wave notes fall on my ear
Everything false will disappear.

Silently now I wait for Thee
Ready my God, Thy will to see
Open my ears illumine me Spirit Divine!

Open my mouth, and let me bear,
Gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my heart, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Sometimes (OK, a lot of times) while getting bogged down in the trenches of trying to move this mountain, which seems like such a daunting task. A small, but forward step comes along and wouldn't you know it so then does a huge load of discouragement. Mostly the discouragement comes in my own mind. Probably because the only thing I usually see is what progress I, myself am making.

But then... (BUT GOD) out of nowhere I get an email or a phone call that sounds something like this...

"I recently had a call from the Greenville County Sheriff's Office wanting to know where they could send prostitutes when they want to get out of this lifestyle."

"We are going to come along side Wellspring this year because we believe in the mission. Our gift should be around $5,000."

"I would gladly open my home to you for luncheons, teas or whatever to help you get the word out."

"You should talk to so and so or such and such." (Just so happens that the so and so and such and such that was recommended to me by TWO different people is someone I already know... someone I have ministered with in the past, both here and in the Philippines)."

So, Mr. Doubt.... I have to BELIEVE! No matter how inadequate I feel, or how small my steps seem to be...I will continue to walk in the shadow of my MIGHTY BIG GOD! Basking in the rippling effect of His Glory and His alone.

Lead on, O King eternal,
The day of march has come
Henceforth in fields
of conquest
They tents shall be our home.

Through days of
preparation
Thy grace has made us strong,
And now, O King eternal,
We lift our battle song.

Lead on, O King eternal,
Till sin's
fierce war shall cease.
And holiness shall whisper
The sweet amen of
peace.

For not with swords loud clashing,
Nor roll of stirring
drums,
With deeds of love and mercy,
The heavenly kingdom comes.

Lead on, O King eternal,
We follow, not with fears.
For gladness
breaks like morning
Where'er Thy face appears.

Thy cross is lifted
o'er us;
We journey in its light.
The crown awaits the conquest,
Lead on, O God of might.

Join in and sing our song! It may spur you on to victory as well.

(No music on MyPlaylist to accompany the two quoted here!!!)

Grants and such

I was sharing with Martha today about grants and such at our inaugural prayer meeting. Realizing what a booger they can be. Being at MTCC over the years I have seen them come and go. Each perhaps intertwined with another, but no matter how related they may be, they each have their own grueling set of hoops to jump through.

On one of my visits to Atlanta, I had asked Mary Frances if they wrote a lot of grants. Her answer was a real shocker to me. "No, none." It was almost unthinkable that a non-profit could survive or be sustained without them... for such is the way of the world.

But thanks be to our Lord... we are not of that mindset.

I have given it a try or two, or three or more. God did bless us and encourage our hearts greatly when we received almost $10,000 from the Spartanburg Christian Community Foundation for Bibles and other materials in 2007.

So, as Martha and I were sharing before we started praying, she pulled out her Fasting Journal by Franklin Jentzen, turned to the back and started reading. We each had our pens and new journals for the journey (provided by Martha) ready and that's when it happened.

After she finished reading, I realized we had what amounts to our first grant request (working under our own 501c3).

Maybe if God has called you to something much bigger than yourself, you can use our grant formula. For sure I will let you know how it turns out for us!

GRANT us your favor.
GRANT us courage.
GRANT us clearly understood words.
GRANT us "Saving" grace (when God comes in and saves the day).
GRANT us a belief in the impossible.
GRANT us humility.
GRANT us faith.
GRANT us PUSHing power (to pray or praise until something happens).
GRANT us open doors.
GRANT us Your Strength and not our own.
GRANT us light for the pathway.
GRANT us DONE!

So that shall be our request for this day and this time.

And before I forget, Martha sent me this after she returned home...
GRANT: to give what is asked, to allow; to give or confer (as a right of
ownership) by formal act or by writing to agree... This
is the best part... a gift, especially land or rights given by a
government, or a gift of money.

I'll be sharing more about unique ways that you can pray for Wellspring if you have a heart and mind to. And please if God leads you to pray in another way... let me know!

And before i forget... if you are tired and thirsty and looking for some refreshment, you too can experience the GREAT MOUNTAIN of GOD... aka THE COVE... with MARTHA... Duncan First has space available for their March 5th & 6th ladies retreat. You may never be the same. You know according to His WORD... He likes to GRANT things on those mountains! For more info 439-7528.

See you soon!

Father Knows Best.... really HE does!

Many of you my age will remember that TV show from way back in the day. I couldn't tell you everyone that starred in it, well I can only name one - Danny Thomas.
Oh well, on with the story for today.

Remember how I have fought the Lord concerning the Cove the past few years because I thought I knew what was best for me? This year I didn't fight at all, and the truth is from the time I came back last year, I knew I wouldn't fight Him any more on this. Too bad that may not be the case for all my "yet to comes"!

I was right on the one thing I had guessed He had planned for the weekend. It was indeed my commissioning service for the Wellspring call. I tasted the sweetness of realizing that He indeed does know best... in all things.

One of the last things we did was the actual commissioning. The laying on of hands and words tenderly spoken in love. As each woman came up and prayed over me, they also read God's Word that He had given for the occasion. To hear these women that I had fought so hard against was very humbling. To realize that for whatever reason, this was indeed a case of Father Knows Best. To be honest, I cannot imagine a more fitting group to share the occasion with.

I thought of an old rhyme after I got home...

Make new friends, but keep the old
Some are silver and some are gold

...now it's just a little bit harder to tell the old from the new!

It has really caused me to stop and ask what other things in my life am I holding onto because I think I know best? I pray Thee Lord Jesus... loosen my grip and help me to trust you more and more each day.

There was a lot more that happened on that Great Mountain of God... but those will be other stories for other days. Days after my heart and head have processed them all!

Happy Birthday Mable!

January 6th I will celebrate my first year as Mable High. It's been a great year with many affirmations and promises for what is yet to come.

So, what am I doing with myself these first days of the new year? Resting, organizing and cleaning. Getting geared up for whatever God has in store. I know He has some amazing things, things I have never even thought about, dreamed about or even prayed about. How do I know... because that's just Who He is and just how He operates.

I am not planning on stepping into the Wellspring new year until I return from The Cove. The Cove.... I can hardly wait! Several years ago, Martha Gillen and I were heading back home from a speaking engagement in Laurens. As I shared my Ecuador mountain story, Martha was very moved. In a few days I found myself her guest for lunch. As we sat and talked, she shared the story of "the mountain of God". She and the small group God had assembled had been the previous year and this year, God had invited me. She had heard Him say "invite Susan" and had actually invited another friend that she thought He was talking about. Her friend prayed and said that she didn't feel like it was supposed to be her. When I shared my story she knew that I was the intended Susan.


When we arrived at the conference room where we would be meeting, we all saw that Martha had made each of us a box that told the stories of our lives. I was most impressed because at that time I barely knew Martha.

You might remember that last year we were to actually take a pair of dancing shoes for an evening with the Lord in the Chapel at The Cove. You might also remember that I have gone not so whole hearted the past two years. But after it was all said and done, I am so glad that I was there. From the time I came back off that mountain last year,I have anxiously waited this January's trip. We hadn't been back even a week it seemed when Martha was already asking questions and giving assignments for the new year. As emails started whirling back and forth I told her if she had any extra spots, I would love for Christine, Madonna and Tracy to be invited. I also included that as much as I would love to have them there, I knew it was God's place to do the inviting... not mine. Her response, God had already told her to invite them and my response was her confirmation. Now the real kicker to this years trip...
God has made the theme, the topic... Wellspring Living SC.

That's right, Wellspring LivingSC!

I don't let myself think about it too much or too often. I can hardly imagine what God has planned. I do believe it will be my commissioning service for the mission He has called me to. That's the real reason I'm not jumping into a lot of stuff before the 15th. I certainly don't want to get in front of Him on this one!

The only thing I am thinking about... which song do I want to offer to the Lord in the chapel this year as my wave offering.

You can bet that you will hear about it all in the days that follow our trip!

In the meantime, I hope and pray that you and your family are well on these cold, cold days.