My New Home

Well, I'm almost settled in my new home. God has introduced me to some really amazing people and I'm excited to be here!

That doesn't mean I don't miss my old friends, but they will be FOREVER friends!

I remain extremely blessed!

Book Review - Essentials of the Heart

I have pondered for hours on how I want to write this review. I would love to provide a summary of the highlights of the book, but don’t want YOU to miss all the awesome information in-between! So, I thought the best thing to do would be to provide “snippets” from my bended pages and highlights throughout the book. Honestly, I have so many marks/page turns, the book is a mess!

I also wanted to include a special “thank you note” to the author. When I received this book in the mail (which is so exciting for my entire family – if I don’t get home right after work, I can COUNT on one of my girls opening the package! Then I have to scream out, when I see the empty package sitting on the table, WHERE’S MY BOOK!!!!!), the author included a very special second book in the package. The title of the book is Grammy’s Favorite Gift and I hope to read it to a very special someone in the next couple of years! My wonderful son of 27 years is getting married on March 11th and their prayer is to be blessed with children-to which I will be an extremely involved grandmother!

On to the quotes:
“Whether God chose to save them or not, they would not abandon God, and their life would count for him no matter what it cost.”
“No matter what the Lord allows or doesn’t allow that you would have the resolve that your life would count for him!”
“Trust is an assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.”
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” – Hebrews 11:1
“When you faith is based on the character of whom and what God is, then our faith graows.”
“When God leads me to a place in my life where there seems to be no way out, it is there that I can see the power of God at work in my life.”
“So I have a decision to make. Do I focus on my circumstances, or do I focus on the Lord?”
“Focusing on God brings peace that no one understands, especially the world.”
“…my life is for the purpose of bringing glory to God.”
“…my life needs to have an eternal perspective.”
“I live my life with an eternal perspective, then I know that my life has purpose beyond the here and now.”
“Have you ever noticed that when suffering happens, God’s sovereignty becomes an issue?” (I even have a BOLD note beside this one – HOW TRUE!)

I could go on and on – but I don’t want you to get bored (or discouraged because of me!). So please, do yourself a favor and enter to win your own copy here: http://christianspeakerservices1.wordpress.com/blog
If you don’t win, purchase a copy. You won’t be sorry!

Now, for an interview with the author:
Susan, you and your husband serve as Christian Camp missionaries. Share with us how this ministry-focus came about and how it influenced the writing of your book.

My husband and I have been missionary supported at Camp Peniel since 1992. The word Peniel comes from the Bible in Genesis 32:30 where Jacob wrestled with an angel. He named that place Peniel because he said that he had seen God face to face and his life had been preserved.The man who started Camp Peniel had a desire that anyone who came would experience God face to face, either by coming to know Him as their Savior or growing in their walk with Him.Many spiritual turning points in my life happened at Camp Peniel. Decisions that impacted my spiritual life the most were made at that place. Those decisions and disciplines that I learned there are what has influenced my book the most. It is for that reason that a portion of the proceeds will go to Camp Peniel’s scholarship program.

I understand Essentials of the Heart is blessing both men and women. Did you consider the impact it would have on men when you wrote it? What are they saying about it?

I was blindsided by this one. I speak to women’s ministries; so, my audience is women. One day my friend came to me to apologize for not reading my book that she got a month earlier. I told her that she didn’t need to apologize for that, but she insisted to tell me why.Her husband had picked up the book and started reading it. She did not want to take it from him until he was finished, but it was taking a long time. (It is a small book so it shouldn’t take him that long.) He finally came to her and told her to go buy two more books because he wanted to give them to his adult sons for Christmas.I was floored that he would enjoy it so much that he would want his adult sons to read it, too.

Essentials of the Heart is divided into two parts, Decisions and Disciplines. What is the significance of this?

“He has made everything beautiful in its time; He also has planted eternity in men’s heart and mind [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun, but only God, can satisfy]…” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, AMP) What that means to you and me is this: God created us with a sense of eternity in our hearts and mind. We know that there is more to this life than the here and now. We sense it deep within us. The only thing that can bring lasting fulfillment to you and me is our relationship with God and growing in that relationship. That is what has brought me the greatest fulfillment in my life, and it starts with heart “Decisions”, which is the first section of the book. The next section is “Disciplines”. These are daily practices, which are necessary to grow in the Lord.

So the first Essential of the Heart is the decision we make personally for eternity … accepting Christ as our Savior. You list several more Decisions we need to make such as: Who do we want our life to count for, a Decision to Trust, a Decision to Build Intimacy, etc. I’d like for us to look at the issue of Trust. You explain though we often use the words trust and faith interchangeably, we first need to understand what they mean. Could you shed some light on this?

The word trust, according to Webster’s Dictionary, is an assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. Faith according to the Bible is this: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1, KJV). The Greek word for faith in the New Testament is pistis, which is a firm persuasion or conviction based on hearing according to Strong’s Dictionary. If you look at all the definitions, that will give you a better picture of faith. It is important what you base your hope on in this life. Here is my definition of faith. Faith is a firm conviction of hope based on God’s character, God’s ability, God’s strength, and God’s truth when I can’t see what lies ahead. When I base my hope on God’s character and God’s Word, it is then that my faith will grow.

If someone would like to have you speak at their event, how can they contact you?

They can go to my website, SusanWeagant.com, for information on my speaking ministry.

I know your book is blessing individuals. Can Essentials of the Heart be used for a group study?

There is a pdf file of study questions for each chapter on my website and it is free to download.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author's interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speaker Services.

Amazing Revelation

I don't know about anyone else, but when I read something I don't understand (or if there seems to be no explanation or direct response), I enter a life-long quest for an answer! I want to know what "it" means. I wouldn't say I can't sleep or "it" keeps me up at night - but it remains in the back of my mind until the mystery is solved.

In the Bible, it is written that God spoke with Moses "face to face". Yet, it also states that no one can live if they see the face of God. For me, that created confusion. So yesterday morning, while entering my quiet time (with no definate plan of study), HE showed me the answer! How cool is that! I can't help but think it was because I was faithful; I was tired and didn't feel like being disciplined and reading His Word, so He provided this amazing answer!

In the Book of Numbers, Chapter 12, Miriam and Aaron oppose Moses; due to his marriage to a Cushite. The LORD heard them and summoned all three to the Tent of Meeting, where He came down in a pillar of cloud. He summoned Miriam and Aaron forward and this was His response:

6“When there is a prophet among you,
I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions,
I speak to them in dreams.
7 But this is not true of my servant Moses;
he is faithful in all my house.
8 With him I speak face to face,
clearly and not in riddles;
he sees the form of the LORD.

OH MY GOSH! It mean's He doesn't speak in riddles to Moses - He tells him exactly as it is! I LOVE THAT!!!! I am finally at rest....

Thanks for the Memories

Today marks a huge change in my life. After three and a half years, my office location is changing. As expected, I have mixed emotions; some good, some bad. I will miss the wonderful ladies I have worked with, but also look forward to getting to know the new ones!

The neat part of being a Christian and having faith is that you KNOW God is in control and must be finished with me here. That said, I will embrace the change and be grateful for my many, many blessings.

As my co-worker always says - Ciao Bella! If you don't know what that means, I am including a definition from Yahoo Answers...."Ciao bella!" can mean either "Hi beautiful!" or "Bye beautiful!" It's like the Hawaiian word "aloha," it can mean either "hello" or "goodbye." The word "bella" is reserved for feminine things, so "Ciao bella!" can only be said to a girl. Note also that "ciao" is very informal, so it's either translated as "hi" or "bye," not as "hello" or "goodbye" (those are "buongiorno" and "arrivederci," respectively).

Have a fabulous weekend!

4-H Day at the State Capitol

I had the honor to take my children to Richmond, Virginia (the capitol of our fabulous state) on Tuesday, February 8th. It was 4-H day at the capitol and to say we learned a lot about the history of our great state would be a gross understatement! Not only did we learn a lot, it would not have been possible without 4-H.

Reservations were made in advance for us to tour the governor's mansion, the state capitol building and visit the state legislators in their offices! It was incredible! We even had the opportunity to sit in on the sessions! It is a day I will never forget!

Virginia State Seal

George Washington

The exact spot Robert E. Lee accepted the responsibility to Command the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the Civil War (on the Senate Floor).

The Battle of Yorktown

Capitol Complex

Govenor's Mansion

Govenor's Mansion

Stars Collide - Book Review

The first book-Stars Collide-in the new series from Janice Thompson, “Backstage Pass.” (I can't wait to read the next one! I'll have to see when it's scheduled to release-watch my blog for details!)

There were numerous reasons I wanted to read/write a review on Stars Collide; I will list some of them here:

*Hollywood (been there, love it!)
*Movie Stars (although I have no desire to be one, it IS fun to think about being rich and people thinking I’m ALL THAT!)
*LOVE (I love a great love story!)
*Television sitcom (I think it would be fun to be an actress on a television show! I can be a fabulous drama queen-ask my family!)
*Comedy (I love to laugh!)

What I thought would be a “fun book”, turned into an amazing personal adventure! I LOVED this book! I loved the entertainment it provided-and that I couldn’t put it down! When my long workday ended, I loved that I had a fabulous adventure to run home to read! Not to mention, as a parent, I loved that I had a great book to get excited about and read while encouraging my children to do the same!

I’m not sure if I ever posted the fact that I want to write a book and have for many years. My problem is that I can’t decide WHAT to write about. Initially, I wanted to write my life story, but then it dawned on me that no one would read it - they don’t know who I am!

When I finished Stars Collide, I went straight to the author’s web-site (http://janiceathompson.com/blog/) to see what other books she has written (and she’s written a LOT)! I have one of her books on order and can’t wait to read every one! I love the way she writes, her writing style, and how her book flows. I truly admire her as an author and want to grow up to be just like her! I was extremely excited to notice, while on her web-site, you can sign up for her freelance writing courses – and I have a feeling I will be signing up very soon! (http://www.freelancewritingcourses.com/) I would HIGHLY recommend this book if you’re anything like me! You will NOT be sorry, I promise!

Available January 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Amazing Weekend

I had the honor to attend my soon-to-be daughter's wedding shower this past Sunday. Her name is Chelsea and she and Peter will be wed on Friday evening, March 11th.

The shower was absolutely amazing! Her friends did an absolutely amazing job and I was completely impressed with every detail.

I am so happy for both Chelsea and Peter and know God played an active role in blessing this union. I will be posting photos very soon, but had to take a minute to write a post!