great book

We got back from a church retreat yesterday afternoon. I was too tired to even unpack our suitcases. (I still haven't.)

I took a bath, crawled in the flannel sheets, and decided to read the cover of Suzie's new book, The Woman I Am Becoming. I got to the 3/4 mark last night and knew I'd blog about it today. I want to help her spread the word.

I'm telling you what. It's that good.

It's real.

It's relevant.

It's powerful.

It's honest.

I have two daughters in their twenties. They're gonna love this.

Thank you, Suzie. From one writer to another--you blessed me and will bless so many others through your words (and work). Well done. :-) Very well done. :-)

P.S. I'll finish it tonight during the Super Bowl.

Love,
Julie
www.juliegarmon.com

Be Still

Last Sunday night our youth pastor preached on "Why We Don't Hear From God". One reason he shared that we might not hear God was that we don't listen. Too much stuff gets in the way. We're plugged in to a lot of things, or we talk at God and then walk away.

Afterward I got alone at the altar and sat in the stillness. I pray often, but it had been a long time since I had completely tuned out everything and just listened. And I heard from him. Not out loud, but in my thoughts, over my heart, and in that very quiet, wonderful stillness.

Maybe we all need that much more than we realize. I know I do.

Suz - http://realteenfaith.com

My new book: The Woman I Am Becoming: Embrace the Chase for Identity, Faith, and Destiny

quotes

I'm a fan of quotes. What about you? I think there are bits of wisdom floating around that have the ability to make me think, maybe even change the way I see something. This is my quote for today:

When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost. Billy Graham, preacher, evangelist, a man in the public eye who has won many to Christ, and whose character has never been questioned.

What is your favorite quote?

Show me the way. . .

Shirin Taber, a 20-something author of Wanting All The Right Things, says, “We need each other more than ever. Many of us grew up as latchkey kids, come from broken homes, or weren’t taught to plan or prioritize for the difficult crossroads we find ourselves facing today. Our baby-boomer mothers and fathers, influenced by the sexual revolution, have in many respects only added to our confusion. They’ve taught us to mistrust men, become economically self-reliant, indulge our anger, and pursue independence—at any cost.”

As I read this, what I heard as a spiritual mom and as someone who works with young women and teens is, "I need someone to show me the way".

Have you ever felt that way? Maybe you have a parent who has shown you how to live, how to run after God. But perhaps you want direction in another area: how to pursue God's will or how to begin a healthy relationship with a guy that will honor God, or how to know where you fit and why.

Or maybe you are trying (and always have) had to fly solo in your faith life.

Who is your mentor? Who do you allow (or ask) to pray for you or to show you how to move past the roadblocks or speedbumps that trip you up?

Just this past week I connected with a woman I respect. She is an author. She has sold a gazillion books. She stopped for a morning and poured into my life, and I realized that I also needed that--someone who has already experienced things I have not, and who will show me what she has learned.

It's scriptural, women of all ages talking with each other about life, love, faith, direction, and more. So I'll ask again:

Who is your mentor? And if you don't have one, are you willing to ask God to show you someone who can encourage you as you run after him?

Let's talk. If you have questions about mentoring or faith, or anything else, I'd love to hear it.

Suzie Eller

Podcasts, Radio, and Stuff Like That

Today my interview with Stacy Harp, Active Christian Media, hit the cyberwaves.

It was informal and fun and I sound like I have a lisp due to the connection, but it was a great interview. We talked about stuff like dealing with tough issues from the past, finding wholeness and healing in God, and lots more.

I also just finished a radio interview with a very cool lady named Erin Campbell with Water Through the Word. It will be on satellite radio in August. And another with Focus on the Family will air later this year (I'll let you know when I find out.)

Now, the same thing happened after each of these interviews.

I hung up the phone or climbed out of the interview chair and thought: I WANT TO DO THIS!

It's the same thing I've been saying for the past four years. But there's obstacles. Really big ones, like where I live.

If I moved and left behind my family, my cats, my horses and home, then I could work for a radio station in a larger city, creating my own daretobelieve program.

But this is the scoop. I really love my husband, and my children. And I haven't felt God speaking to me to move and take all the human beings in my family--and livestock--with me, like he did Abraham.

So, if there are challenges, should I give up this dream? Is God dangling it in my heart like a carrot in front of a donkey cart?

Absolutely not. You see, I know the desires are from God, but the timing has to be his as well.

While I wait, I'm praying. I'm asking for direction, and I am learning.

I bought a new microphone that I can use with a cool computer program called Audacity. I'm playing with it, when I have time.

As I travel, I talk with people who are in the broadcasting business. They have a lot of sage advice to offer (wisdom!).

I'm also interviewing people who I really like, and who I think has a lot to say, and sharing it on my teen ministry site, Real Teen Faith, like this interview with Shannon Kubiak Primicerio.

I'm not going to give up my dream just because it's not happening right now, right here.

What about you? Do you have a dream? Is there something you really long to do, but it seems like it will NEVER happen.

If so, I invite you to join me on a trust journey, believing that God has a plan and a season, but also using that waiting time to grow in your relationship with God, and in learning new and fun things. Things that will be valuable as all the pieces fall in place.

See, waiting is painted as a bad investment in our culture.

But the Bible has this to say about it:

That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what
is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy. (Romans 8:24-25 The Message)

Will I ever achieve my radio broadcasting dream? I think I will. But while I wait, I'll look forward to experiencing where God has me today as he opens the doors to my tomorrow.

PS: If you want to hear the podcast with Active Christian Media, click here!

Suzie

Teen Spirituality Takes Flight Online

I read an article that says teen spirituality is growing online. Teens are writing on blogs, on facebook, on MySpace, Xanga, and others about Jesus Christ.


A group called The Rebelution (rebelling against the cultural image of teens who party, have no moral direction) has gained a lot of attention across the world. This is a move started and fueled by teens who say that knowing and serving God is the foundation of their belief systems.


I hear from teens on my ministry blog, Real Teen Faith, who are making bad life decisions, or who are hurting, or choosing relationships that offer nothing in return, but I also hear from teens who are solidly running after relevant faith and sharing that with friends at school and in their community, but with the world with their poetry, or lyrics, or their stories. I also love it when teens speak up to encourage others seeking answers, like they did today on Real Teen Faith:

One girl wanted to know if she should choose a guy who played, but who she really liked, or wait. Lydia and Jade, two amazing writers and teens, jumped in to give her a biblical perspective and encouragement.


That's the body of Christ in action!


Why online? Because that's where many of you find community. It's very biblical, taking the message of hope, of healing, and the fact that knowing God is life-changing, as far as you can.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8"

Lite of the World?

I read an intriguing article today in Christianity Today called "Lite of the World". This an excerpt of that article:

Unfortunately, the predominant energy within American Christianity is in what I call "pop Christianity" or "Christianity-Lite." This brand of faith tastes great but is less filling, and wherever it prevails, it is a source of impoverishment of faith and culture. Christianity, when it takes on these characteristics, is an imposter. People are seeking the way home to God, but pop Christianity cannot provide it. Yet for many today, Christianity-Lite is all they know, and the consequences are serious for both the religious and the irreligious.

That's some pretty heavy dialogue, but it's what God has also been saying to me in my quiet time. I'm speaking at The Edge's Youth Encounter in July. It's a pretty amazing national conference where teens will come to worship, to have fun, and to connect with Christ. The message that God is placing on my heart for this conference is that He's more than a best- friend-God. Yes, he's there. Yes, he's our friend. But He's also God, creator of the Universe, shaper of lives, worthy of praise. He's worthy of obedience.

You see, the American definition of a best-friend God is often different than the friend-God described in the Bible.

He becomes a convenience. He's there when you need him, but okay with it when you don't. He's there when you are in distress, but out of sight when you want to make decisions that are far from his instructions for your life. He's like a warm, comfy sweatshirt that you can pull out, but cram under the bed and forget about it until you are cold again.

Is that what following Christ means? I know that God is a friend to us, but are we true friends to him?

In the Bible we find disciples willing to follow Christ through good times, hard times, and to learn from him, spend time with him, and allow every facet of their lives to be altered by their relationship with him. Lite of the world or Light of the world? Such a great question, and maybe this is a discussion we need to start, not just for you guys, but for my life too, and with all those who love him.

Just my two cents, but I'd love to hear what you think. . .

Suzie Eller (T. Suzanne)

http://realteenfaith.blogspot.com

What One Teen Can Do

One of the things that I love to do at Real Teen Faith is to talk about teens who are making a difference in the world. I ran across this quote the other day:

"I'm just a normal 12-year-old who's trying to live his life, shining for Jesus and do what I've been called to do by the Bible. Any other kid [can do this], all they've got to have is a passion and let Jesus ‘do his thing'." Austin Gutwein

What did he do? What is he saying that anyone can do?


He raised nearly a hundred thousand dollars through his foundation called Hoops of Hope, which will be used to build a school for AIDS orphans in Africa. This is an article excerpt written about Austin and Hoops of Hope at Pastors.com.


Pastors.com/Ministry Toolbox
12-year-old makes dream of providing school for AIDS orphans a realityby Allison Cox

After raising more than $35,000 in December 2006 to help HIV/AIDS orphans in Africa, 12-year-old Austin Gutwein heard his dad, Dan, promise that if he raised more than $100,000 through his Hoops of Hope organization, Dan would take him to Africa.

Austin better pack his bags.


The 2006 event raised nearly $60,000 that will go toward building a school in Zambia.
The school will be built in memory of Jonathan Sim, a World Vision employee whose dream of building a school for his sponsored children was not realized before his death in 2006. His wife, Kelly, was able to raise part of the money needed to fund the building. Hoops of Hope raised the additional funds needed to start construction this year.

"I think that it's going to be an awesome opportunity for us not only to share Jesus with some of the kids over in Zambia," Austin said. "But it'll be an awesome opportunity for kids to finally get the education that they've been wanting for so long."
Read the rest of the article. . .


From Suzie: Pretty awesome, isn't it? One person will impact so many. Just let someone tell me that tweens and teens aren't amazing! I love what God can do through youth (you!) to make a difference in the world.


I hope you'll check out Hoops of Hope. I hope you'll be challenged to make a difference in your world.

Dreamin'

Dreams. It's a word we hear tossed about a lot. Dare to dream. Dream big!

But what if stuff gets in the way of your dreams? I'm a writer. I know that I'm exactly where God has called me to be, but I'm positive that every one of the authors on this blog will tell you what I have discovered to be true: dreams don't always happen the way we think they should.

I write. I work 40 or more hours a week. I connect with readers. I pray. I study. And yet in spite of all those "I do's", sometimes my dreams seem far, far away. I look at results and I wonder if I need to work harder, market better, or if somehow I've failed.

And yet God made me a promise. He said he'd be with me--every day, every step of the way. He said he had a plan for me, and for you, and for my friend Sarah Sumpolec and every other writer on this blog.

This is the deal. Sometimes the unveiling of dreams are made up of many pieces, like a portrait, and the ups and downs of achieving those dreams are part of the fulfillment. God is with me when I hit the brick walls of the publishing world. God is with me when people are saying my name and "successful author or speaker" in the same breath. God is with me when I'm alone in my home office and I'm praying for fresh content. He's with me when I don't know if the mail will bring enough income to make it through the month. He's with me when I'm sitting in an altar with my arms wrapped around a teen and praying.

He's with me. That's the key. And he's with you too as you pursue your dreams.

PS: I wrote a curriculum lesson for teens for Cook Ministries about "I Have a Dream". I hope you'll check it out.

Tag, You're It!

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

I've Been Tagged by Donita.

So I am posting out of turn, too!

The topic is “8 Random Facts About Myself.”

The first rule of the game, however, is to post the rules of the game.

Here they are:

• Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.


• People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.


• At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.


• Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

1. The T in T. Suzanne Eller doesn't stand for Terrific, like I tell people when they ask. It's Tonya, and the reason I don't like it is that my 1st grade teacher made everyone call me Tonya (because she said it was my REAL name) instead of Suzie, which is what my family and everyone I knew called me, and it took until 7th grade to get back to "Suzie" instead of "Tonya".

2. I can jump rope and pogo stick at the same time.

3. I love skiing, tubing, swimming -- I love being in the water.

4. My favorite color is grass green.

5. My favorite desert is cheesecake.

6. I laugh a lot, even at my own jokes, even when no one else is laughing

7. I have a cat named Darcy, and three horses: Annie, Grace, and Apache Moon

8. If I had to give up every food group but one, I would choose fruits/veggies as my one food group.

Now I get to tag others. Hmm! I'm going to try all the remaining authors on this blog and BJ Hamrick, a 20-something who wrote her story in my first book, and who just got picked up by a great agent as a potential author!