Episode Transcript
[00:00:01] Speaker A: Hey, friend. Welcome to Perspectives into Practice, a place where life's stories meet practical wisdom. Together, we'll explore how faith filled perspectives can transform the way we live, love, and grow.
So grab a seat, settle in, and join us on this journey to turn inspiration into action.
Let's dive in foreign.
Hey, friend, welcome back to Perspectives into Practice. Today's conversation is such a gift. I'm sitting down with my new friend, Susan. She's someone who is still leaning in, still listening, and still growing in her relationship with Jesus. And I love that. Susan has walked with the Lord for many decades, but what stands out most is that her faith isn't something that just happened years ago.
It's alive, it's active, and it's still unfolding. Right now, she's in a season where she's seeing God confirm his presence, his help, and his love in even the smallest detail of her life. And I think that's something that all of us need to be reminded of. Welcome, Susan. I'm so glad that you're here.
[00:01:13] Speaker B: Jessica, thank you for having me on your podcast. It's my honor.
[00:01:19] Speaker A: We're going to have a great time. We, we've been chatting before, we push record and it's just been, it's been great. So I can't wait for you listeners to hear what we've been chitty chatting about. But before we dive in, you guys know I love a good fun fact. And Susan gets to teach her granddaughters how to sew. And I just love that. So, Susan, I have to ask, what has it been like for you to get to pass that down to your grandchildren?
[00:01:47] Speaker B: Oh, it's been fun. It really has. Yeah. My one granddaughter, and my oldest granddaughter is very talented artistically. She likes to work with her hands, so she even got to have a sewing machine. And she said that many of her friends are learning to sew from their grandmothers because we used to have to have sewing in school. And so we all learned how to do that. So, so that it's been fun.
But usually most of what I've done is, well, I'd introduce them, they would bring me their clothes to fix. You know, can you fix this, Granny?
Yes. So that.
[00:02:24] Speaker A: No. Yeah, I can fix it, but also I can teach you how, which is just a great legacy that you're, that you're giving them and leaving for them. Is there something, anything that you guys have worked on collaboratively?
Maybe it's piece of clothing or a blanket or anything?
[00:02:42] Speaker B: Well, when I was visiting my granddaughter in Oregon, her, her second youngest Child was about four, and she had a special little doll that was torn apart because she carried it everywhere.
So while we were visiting, I got to sew it together. And I've noticed in the pictures, two years later, I sewed it so well that. That, that thing is not falling apart again.
So it was fun.
[00:03:11] Speaker A: I love that.
I love that. My mom does that for my second son. His. He has a. A giraffe that is his that his brother gave to him. So it is now over 16 years old. And so every time that it has an issue, we take Rory to Nana's hospital and.
And Rari has some. Some major surgery and always comes back better. Better for it.
[00:03:38] Speaker B: I love that. I'm so glad to hear.
[00:03:40] Speaker A: Yes, yes. So I. I love that, that you do that with your. With your grandkids. And, you know, honestly, it's such. Just a beautiful picture of what we're talking about today, which is continuing to grow, continuing to pour out and walk closely with Jesus in every season of life. So, Susan, you shared something with me that stood out to me, and that's how God is constantly confirming his presence in your life and even the smallest details. So what does this current season of life look like for you right now?
[00:04:12] Speaker B: Well, two way in two ways, he.
I felt that he wanted. I mean, I've walked with him so long, it. It goes in levels every from. And I walked with him for over 50 years.
And so to hear his voice, it's hearing his voice, it's following who he is. It's wanting to do what he wants me to do. Because Jesus said, apart from the Father, he could do no good. And then he said to us that when we were. If we're apart from him, we can do nothing also.
And so I've been leaning in and listening, and I felt like he was saying to me within the last six months, I want to take care of you.
I want to show you how I take care of you. And it's just when he speaks, of course, it's just a thought, and you have to listen to it. And so he did. He. He. And I read. There was a. There's a prophetess that I listened. I read her what she puts out, and she was. She's wonderful.
And she has prophesied from the Holy Spirit that. That the Lord is going to be touching his children so that they know individually all the time, and he's taking care of them. So this is. He's turned up the volume and everything.
[00:05:44] Speaker A: It's.
[00:05:45] Speaker B: Everything I'm doing, I'm like, how did you do that, God? How do you do that for all your children everywhere? You. How do you like me being with you today? How did that happen? How did I get blessed like that? And so it's just that it says, the blessings will come upon you and overtake you. So they're overtaking me. And in the weather, things like that, I would pray and do what Jesus said. I speak peace to the storm in the name of Jesus. Yeah. And then I look on radar and that the storm is stilled. And he's doing these things because he doesn't want tornadoes to happen. He doesn't want things like that to happen. So it's like I'm getting one with him.
But mainly the call was, I didn't want to be centered on who I am.
I wanted to do good in the kingdom. I wanted to help people, really help them.
And so I realized that he was saying, you have to get really humble and listen.
And so then I said, so then I started praying. Tell me what this person needs.
What can I say to them? Because some people. Some people just get it. They don't even define it. They just do it, and they know it. But I. He's dealing with me as an individual, like he does with everybody.
And so he has to kind of spell it out. I need pictures. And so. So I need incidences. And. And he knows that. It's like you with your children, Jessica, Each one. I mean, if it says, if you. You know, how much more will he love us than we love them?
And so it's been a wonderful, wonderful walk.
I'm. I'm just at peace. I've got a lot more peace and joy.
[00:07:43] Speaker A: Oh, and, yeah, that. It's such a great reminder that God doesn't stop working just because the seasons change, just because we, you know, go into a new year, just because we think that, oh, well, he's wrapped that part up. Like, he continues to work in us and show us new things to learn for him and ask us to do more things. I love what you said, because if we are intentional, if we are asking him, what do you want me to do for this person? We are positioning ourselves for him to tell us. Then we get to do it instead of, you know, focusing. Well, it's all about me. Because it's not right.
[00:08:20] Speaker B: It.
[00:08:20] Speaker A: We're here to. To help others and to. To lead them to Christ, and we can't lead others to Christ if we're focused on ourselves.
[00:08:27] Speaker B: Well, and I think it's. It's.
You get the salvation and then you hit the ground running. And he's shown me through the years, you're not going to ruin my reputation. You might cause a.
He might cause a reproach to Christ and I can forgive you. I mean, this is, it didn't come like that. It just comes to you, these little thoughts that he has. You think about, okay, I did this.
I could have improved it here. It doesn't matter. He's. He. They are finding out. He's in our DNA. And, oh yeah. So it's wonderful because that is the kingdom of God within.
It's within.
It's like turning on electricity.
It's like we need that switch to be turned on in our spirits so we can walk in the spirit. And when he does that, when you know he's doing that for you, then you follow after him more eagerly. Daddy. Daddy.
[00:09:33] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:09:33] Speaker B: Jesus. Jesus. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for being there. Wow. We, I mean, the prophets of old long to have these days. Yeah. And we have them. So it, it, I mean it, it's exciting in the world. There's so much entertainment. Exciting. And God isn't against that.
But God's exciting.
[00:09:58] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:09:58] Speaker B: I mean, yeah.
[00:10:00] Speaker A: So what, what is he wanting his people to understand about his power in their everyday lives?
[00:10:05] Speaker B: Oh, that's a big question. Maybe you can answer that better than I can.
[00:10:11] Speaker A: Well, I think that, I think his power is something that can seem very big and distant, but it's also so present.
And you know, we were just talking before we got on here about that, spending that time with him and, and being in the Word and learning more about him. And then you even were mentioning, you know, asking him, what can I do for other people? And I think that that is the power that he's given us. And so I just, I guess that came from, just wondering, from all of your years of walking with the Lord, what is, you know, is there anything specific that you've learned about his power in that that we can take away today?
[00:10:49] Speaker B: Oh, yes. If you're not in the power, it doesn't work. Work.
It, it, it does fall flat. I mean, he comes in and like you wipes up the messes of the. Your children and, and you were there. And so then when I see perhaps I, I mean, I've missed it really badly in the past.
And I mean so badly.
Some people have died like with, in, in months. And I was like, oh.
And I would grieve about it. And the Lord showed me, look, I knew you wouldn't obey. I'm teaching you to obey. And so then you press in further and further and further because he saves us individually. We have that free will, and that's our job on the earth, just to walk with Him. That's what Jesus did. He said, I can do no good thing apart from the Father, apart from you. Yeah, right. Yeah.
[00:11:57] Speaker A: And that is where our power comes from. And one thing I love about your heart is that you notice these small things from the Lord, which is just, it's just so, so intentional.
And, you know, you've shared how he helps you find things, how he helps you bring things to mind and guides your decision and even answers your prayers. And some, some people do overlook that. I was going to say might overlook it, but they really do.
So what does it look like for you to acknowledge God in all your ways?
[00:12:32] Speaker B: Well, let me, since I'm 84 and there, I'll give you a concrete way that, that there's, you know, there's certain things for whatever age you are and whatever the culture is telling you.
And so I realized that in when people are older, that the devil tries to attack them in their minds and make them believe they're going to forget things and that I knew that was the devil because that's stealing, stealing, killing, trying to destroy me. So I sought the Lord about that and said, so what do I do? So I went into the scriptures, read the Scriptures, and I mean, Moses didn't have problems with his mind.
So if something doesn't come to me, I just asked Jesus, what was it I was going to say?
Tell me I have total recall in the name of Jesus.
Nothing, nothing can harm me.
So, and I, in the process of that, I've been able to share that with older people who are Christians that maybe don't even know that's available to them. They don't have the power and share the promises and just say you have total recall. And I've had opportunity to stop people my age and older and young, a little bit younger, and say, wait, okay, when I, when I minister to them or share with them, I just say, let's just ask the Lord to help you remember this. And I said, he will and he does. Yeah, so that's a good concrete example. And you can do that for anybody at any age.
It says nothing is impossible for him, and that's who we are. I, I do have total recall. And I have the mind of Christ.
And so I start saying Scriptures.
And then I. Then if it, if it seems to be attacking me worse, which it can't, because I have authority over the Devil in the name of Jesus.
[00:14:42] Speaker A: That's right.
[00:14:44] Speaker B: Then I just start praying for other people's minds and their memories because that's how you resist the devil. He will be sorry he attacked me.
So.
[00:14:55] Speaker A: That's right.
[00:14:55] Speaker B: I don't know if that's what you wanted here, but that.
[00:14:58] Speaker A: So no, I, I don't, I don't even know. You were preaching. You were preaching there. And I love, there's three things that you said so, so wonderfully is that number one, you have the word hidden in your heart so that you're able to put, recall it and pull it out whenever you need it. And that is how you face the enemy when he comes at you. Two is that you are speaking life over yourself. You are saying, this is not who I am.
I am in Jesus and he will give me the answers. And I do have a wonderful mind and a powerful spirit. And that speaking life is literally life changing because God called us to speak life over ourselves. He says out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. And so if we're saying all this negative things to us, why do we think that our brain is going to hear positive things if we aren't speaking that out? And so I love, love, love that you said that. And then thirdly that you said that even it. When you think that you're done praying or preaching for yourself, then you start praying for other people who you know were being attacked by the enemy. So instead of just again, instead of focusing on yourself, you, you take that to the masses. And so I don't even know what I asked you in the beginning, but those three, those three amazing answers that you gave are just exactly what we need to hear. And that's the kind of awareness that we need to have that literally changes everything that we do.
[00:16:32] Speaker B: It's wonderful. You know, you are a pure teacher and you can take, I mean, this is the thing. We are also different.
And we're not supposed to, we're not supposed to envy someone else or covet who they are and he'll put us together and through, through this whole process of connecting with you, you have as a teacher in the body of Christ. When I get a high level teacher like you, are you just, I, I mean, I. Teaching is my tertiary gift. Exhortation is my, my dominant gift. And, and prophecy is in between here. But, but teaching, when I get a teacher like you, you can define everything. You can condense everything you can. And you did that with, you led me through everything because I'm, I'm a digital Baby, here. And I was hoping I could get online.
I'm just starting out, and here you are, even with the questions. And you defined it beautifully. So the Lord knows I'll, like, go down this tributary and take you with me. That's probably why you forgot it. But you'll pull me back and, and, and thank you, Jessica. You're so gifted.
[00:17:52] Speaker A: I appreciate that. Thank you. And I have to. I mean, I attribute it all to the Holy Spirit because I, I have had problems with memory, and so I do bring it back to the Holy Spirit and go, I can't do this. And I need your help. And, and even with this podcast, there's so many times where he will just take over.
And I don't even know where I thought I wanted to go, but it's not where he wants to go. And I'm just like, take me for the ride. Let's go.
[00:18:20] Speaker B: And that's it. I think that's.
We need to pray more for the body, that it's not that difficult, especially in this day and age where you teach your children to be totally in control. Yeah. And to abandon yourself. Actually, that's pure faith. To abandon yourself. And you don't see God face to face. And if you did, you would die.
So that's why we don't see his face. We just. We would want to stay.
Hey, there's your face. Bye. I'm leaving the planet. Yep.
[00:18:54] Speaker A: Leaving the planet. Absolutely. See you later.
Not coming back. See you in heaven when you get to come to us.
[00:19:01] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:19:02] Speaker A: Oh, I love that. So in, in speaking of, of Holy Spirit and what he's bringing to you, how do you learn to recognize when he is speaking to you, even in those moments that you weren't expecting, expecting him to.
[00:19:15] Speaker B: Well, that's an individual process based. I think he knows our personalities.
But because I'm majorly extroverted and I have to say the scripture that I'm slow to speak, slow to rather than quick to listen. And I say that a lot. And I have for 50 years.
Took him a long time to get real me in so I would hear his voice, but now I am. I spend a lot of time just me with God because I. I want to be close to him and take as much of our kingdom to other people.
So it's. It's a thought.
But I can hear how wise he is, how much it fits the circumstances.
It probably with me, he just. It's a kind of random with me because he's. It's. I'm thinking, thinking, thinking in this vein. And bam, you hear this other thought. And I'm like. And you can tell if it's the devil because he'll. He'll be tempting you and taunting you and accusing you and.
But then it's just like, oh, well, why don't you do this or go do this?
And that's. It's a thought.
But there are times sometimes when he wakes me up and gives me particular messages, or I'll have dreams and visions and sometimes visions about things that were going to happen. Like, I just recently, I didn't know what it was. I get. I get dreams. And I dreamt some horrible thing. There was rain, things coming down, people running. And I realized what I saw was the rain in Kona. And I've had other dreams like that, and I didn't even know what to do with them. I couldn't even find Christians years ago. What do I tell them about my dream now? You can at least talk about them and ask your friends, hey, would you pray? So you just.
He's all around. He's. He'll speak to you. I mean, all of us have certain waves. Some people get that they hear from God. Some people get rainbows. I get.
I get feathers.
[00:21:31] Speaker A: Me too.
[00:21:32] Speaker B: You do feather girls? Yes, because of Psalm 91, a feather girl. I get feathers. Big ones, small ones.
[00:21:42] Speaker A: All over.
[00:21:42] Speaker B: Yes, all over.
[00:21:43] Speaker A: But you have to pay attention for them. And that's in. In everything. I mean, it. It definitely. It takes practice. So for someone listening that maybe doesn't have that spirit of discernment that they've been practicing in their life, what is something that they can do to help tune their heart to hear him more clearly?
[00:22:03] Speaker B: Well, it. It's so tied up with the Word. I mean, I can remember clearly 50 years ago when I read the scripture. My. My sheep hear my voice. They don't follow the voice of a stranger. And I was in such darkness and had learned so many lies in the world from the devil and doubt and unbelief that I just. You start out. I don't hear your voice. God, how do I hear your voice, which is a cry?
And he hears it so through the years. Ask him. Talk to God about everything.
Everything.
You don't understand, because the Holy Spirit himself will teach you according to how you can learn. He gave us the. Our own fingerprints, our own look.
And he.
He loves you. And the love.
The love is so great, I cannot describe it for you. So talk to him. Pray.
[00:23:08] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:23:08] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:23:09] Speaker A: And we were even talking about this earlier that it. It's Such a simplistic thing to say is just talk to him. Just pray, pray, just read the Bible. But he didn't make it difficult for us. He made it very simple for us. It is us that has confused it and made it seem like it's so much bigger than it is. And it, we need to simplify things again. And then so I'm, so, I'm so thankful that you said that.
[00:23:34] Speaker B: Didn't Paul say, you know what to the Corinthians? I'm not sure there's a scripture that says not to get away from this Simplicity, Simplicity that is in Christ. I mean, it's man made complications. You can listen to a sermon, but don't receive condemnation. Okay. If maybe you sin in that area and you talk too much, well then go to God and say, help me not to talk so much.
It's you and your father, your Savior, making your life better all the time.
[00:24:06] Speaker A: All the time.
Yes. Well, and it's, and if you think of it like a parent and some people haven't, didn't grow up with good parents. And so it's not, it's a harder thing to understand.
But for those that did grow up with them or have seen a good influence in their life, that's what the, the Lord wants to be for us, is that good influence to teach us those things to help to, to, to guide us in the right ways. And it, and it's, it is simple and it is easy when we are, are there for it, when we prepare our hearts and our, our minds for what he wants to do for us. So you're right. When you hear a, a scripture or a sermon or even a podcast and you go, oh, that kind of stung a little bit. Then we walk to it and go, lord, that stung. Apparently you're trying to teach me or tell me something, what can I do differently? And then sit quietly, which is difficult, it seems to be because there's so much going on in our minds. And listen for him to answer. Right.
[00:25:08] Speaker B: Well, again, he will deal with us individually.
Yes, sit quiet. But some of these young mothers can't ever sit quiet. And so just go on about whatever you're doing.
And because I, with your spirit, you can hear, you can hear him even when you're doing dishes. I mean, I've read so many testimonies of people, it doesn't matter.
You could be brushing your teeth and it comes to you and so you'll, you'll get these thoughts, these lights that go off in your spirit.
That's how we communicate. With them, we are spirit beings. We have a soul and live in a body so that your spirit is growing and getting bigger. And these lights are helping you grow.
So just no matter what you're doing, he's the center.
[00:26:02] Speaker A: Yes, he is.
And you said something that, when we were talking earlier, that really, really stayed with me. And you said that we're called to be warriors for Christ, planted to bloom. And I just love. I love that picture.
So for someone who feels overlooked or unsure of their purpose, how would you encourage them to bloom where they're planted?
[00:26:25] Speaker B: Well, the scriptures really are playing about that. But this society that we live in now, people want to be famous. They want to be recognized, and that's a big temptation.
And I mean, get even getting online, it's. It doesn't matter who you are or where you are.
The God's word says if you're a servant, just serve them there. And we're all servants.
But so. So it says if. If you're supposed to be at the head of the table, we'll sit at the back. And if God wants you to come up, fine. But I mean, there are people that seemingly never get recognized.
I have a neighbor that lived that, that served. I mean, a brilliant man, a lawyer in a church. And he would do janitorial work and teach and teach the classes, Sunday school classes. And when he. And it got to where he couldn't do anything, he was praying.
And so it doesn't. If you don't even have time and many children and you're maybe a single mother, you are valuable being a mother, even without children. Children, you do not understand what your worth is.
Just let him love you.
Let feel loved, feel accepted. Know you're going to heaven. Know you have eternal life to do so many things in the kingdom, forever to fly and do great things in the kingdom.
So don't. Don't judge yourself and don't listen to condemnation.
Just grow. And in that love, you can't bloom where you're planted if you don't feel loved by God.
[00:28:24] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:28:25] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:28:25] Speaker A: And that comes all the way back to relationship.
Having a relationship with him, which is what. What he wants for us. It's a, It's a give and take. It's a, you know, we, we. We should give everything to him and take what he gives us back. And it's, It's a beautiful exchange that, that we have.
Susan, this. This has been such a sweet and encouraging conversation. I'm so thankful that you've come and you've shared your wisdom and your heart with us. So before we wrap up, I want to ask you a question that I ask every guest on the podcast, and that is, what is one perspective that you would encourage listeners to apply today?
[00:29:04] Speaker B: Well, you have to know God first. If you don't have that perspective in your life, you have to know he loves you. You have to know he's there. He wants to be one with you. He bur He. He is ready to birth you to Himself if you know you're born again. He's ready to help you grow. You might grow slowly in this area or leaps and bounds in another area, but his love is perfect for you and he knows you better than you'll ever know yourself. So don't ever let that thought leave your mind. Feel loved and go forward in Him.
[00:29:44] Speaker A: Beautiful. That's exactly what we needed to hear today. Thank you friend. I hope that you hear this. That faith is not something that we outgrow. It deepens, it softens. It becomes more aware of God in the everyday moments.
Maybe your shift today is something simple. God is still speaking, he is still guiding, and he is still present in your life, even in the smallest details.
And if you've ever felt that little nudge to share your story, this is your invitation. I would truly love to have you as a guest and walk through your perspective together. Head on over to perspectivesintopractice.com and reach out to me. I I'd love to connect with you. And remember, even small shifts in perspective can lead to big changes. Now go put those perspectives into practice. Talk to you next time.
