Category: My Life

Sign My Name Sign My Name

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My name is Susan Young. I write a blog for women. I write about real-life things that interest me and may be helpful to other women. I don’t shy away from issues, I tell the truth and as I grow and process through my own life, I let all of you know because it may be helpful. My picture is posted on the page. I talk about my kids, my marriage, and my life, my struggles and my victories.

I love God with my whole heart. I believe in a heaven and a hell and I believe in the word of God, also known as the bible to lead me there. I don’t think there are many paths and you won’t really find me listening to a whole lot of voices.

I don’t get into the doomsday prophesy stuff. I believe the bible is pretty clear on when the end will come and I believe that if you live ready it doesn’t even matter when it is. If you have to live scared to stay saved shame on you.

I believe that my primary responsibility is to talk to people about Christ. To try and reach as many as possible. I believe this blog helps me and I believe that people see a real person, imperfect and flawed, just trying to do the best she knows how.

I copyright my blog so when you copy it, you are plagiarizing my work. I have let it go since maybe you have nothing original of your own to say. You live in the dark and write things in secret so I know you aren’t of God. If you were, you would have done so in the light of the God you profess to know. You are filled with hatred and secret loathing of women and their issues. You blame them for your issues although all of us are accountable for our actions.

Funny, since you keep track of my blog, you would know that I don’t give anonymous responses the time of day. I didn’t read past the first two lines of your anonymous letter where I saw my work plagiarized. I looked at the last page and saw there was no signature nor email address nor phone number and knew it was garbage sent to me directly from hell.

Get thee behind me Satan, I really don’t have the time for your games. You see, I sign my name on my work.

Everyday I fight for all my future somethings
A thousand little wars I have to choose between
I could spend a lifetime earning things I don’t need
That’s like chasing rainbows and coming home empty

And if you strip me, strip it all away
If you strip me, what would you find
If you strip me, strip it all away
Ill be alright

Take what you want steal my pride
Build me up or cut me down to size
Shut me out but I’ll just scream
I’m only one voice in a million
But you aint taking that from me
Oh oh no you aint taking that from me

I dont need a microphone to say what I been thinking
My heart is like a loudspeaker thats always on eleven

Cause when it all boils down at the end of the day
Its what you do and say that makes you who you are
Makes you think about, think about it
Doesn’t it
Sometimes all it takes is one voice

When Sin Becomes Normal

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My husband was dropping off some paperwork at a believer’s house. The woman invited him in and this being her new home she proceeded to show him around the new place. She even showed him the bedroom she sleeps in with the man she is not married to. I guess when sin becomes normal there is no need for pretending even with the man you call Pastor.  

What is it that shuts down our reactions to right and wrong? When a person who doesn’t have a personal relationship with Christ does the same thing we excuse it as ignorance but is this the same answer for a believer? 

Could it be that a believer may have walked away from their relationship with Christ so that the still small voice has gotten quiet and since we no longer hear it we take it as approval? Could it be that the world’s call to do what everyone else is doing has just become too enticing to not take advantage? These are the questions stirring around in my heart as I write. I want to learn from this. For you see, I was many things in my youth, many worldly things, but now that I have come before the throne of grace and love and surrendered my life, my desire is to learn. My desire is to want what is best for me and to never stop hearing the prompting of the Holy Spirit. 

Recently, my friend came over my house. I heard myself spilling out about two dreams I’ve had about someone and how I was worried about them. Only afterward, did I think it was gossip. This conversation was not about my friend nor about me. At first, I excused it for the reality it was. I wanted to talk about my feelings with someone that I knew I could trust. Then, I had to come clean and repent. It doesn’t matter what I want, it doesn’t matter that the Lord has put this person on my heart, it doesn’t matter that I don’t have someone in the physical realm to talk to about it, it matters that I do the right thing. I never want to become so dulled that I don’t recognize when I blow it. 

In order to keep that up though it must become routine and habit that I go to the Lord for sustenance and examination. In the same way that I go to the kitchen to get something to eat when I am hungry, and then choose what is good for food, I must go to the Lord to feed my soul. I’ve got to exercise my faith that when I am feeling alone with too many responsibilities and no one to share them with that God will be my confidant and He will direct my path. I’ve got to remind myself of the scripture that comes to mind and not give in to what people say is normal. I must choose a different path. 

Therein lies the answer of when sin becomes normal. It becomes normal when I reject the teaching I’ve had, and the teacher Himself, and I succumb to what I want rather than what is best for me.

RETREAT!

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It’s time to go to retreat. It sounds funny that we drive off to go to a retreat that we hope will advance our relationship with Christ, but I’m praying for a few days of some serious revelation and relaxation! See you in a few days. I have no idea whether I’ll have Internet or not, and it doesn’t even matter!

Be A Good Girl

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I came home from the weekly TLC meeting and jumped on the treadmill to expend some energy and unwind. Listening to this song that defined who I was so desperate to become in my 20’s. I wonder how many other women feel this way?

This is why I’ve loved my spiritual journey. I no longer worry so much about being good. I now just work at what has been given to me, all the while, I try each day to find some peace, some love, some meaning, some contentment and above all abundant life. The rest seems to take care of itself.

That I Would Be Good
By Alanis Morissette

that I would be good even if I did nothing
that I would be good even if I got the thumbs down
that I would be good if I got and stayed sick
that I would be good even if I gained ten pounds

that I would be fine even if I went bankrupt
that I would be good if I lost my hair and my youth
that I would be great if I was no longer queen
that I would be grand if I was not all knowing

that I would be loved even when I numb myself
that I would be good even when I am overwhelmed
that I would be loved even when I was fuming
that I would be good even if I was clingy

that I would be good even if I lost sanity
that I would be good
whether with or without you

Thank God

I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed; I am thanking you right now.

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I received this in an email, thanks Cynthia, and thought it was worth repeating:

DEAR GOD:

I want to thank You for what you have already done.

I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me; I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears; I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet; I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job; I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed; I am thanking you right now.

I am thanking you because I am alive. I am thanking you because I made it through the day’s difficulties. I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better. I’m thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven’t given up on me.

God is just so good, and he’s good all the time.

The Man Who Is My Son

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Today I celebrate one of the best days of my life. Today is the birthday of my son. How could I have known love so profound as the day I met Anthony?

I was a young, stupid, crazy teenager when he was conceived but he changed my life more than any other event so far. He was precious from the day I laid eyes on him. How could I have known that one day he would be this grown man who is taller than I am and so much wiser?

“Hola Momma” is how he starts out his conversations to me each week. That’s about the extent of his Taco Bell Spanish but when I hear his voice on the phone, I smile no matter what is going on in the moment. How could I have known how much I miss hugging that puppy-smelling little boy?

He’s in love now and she’s a great girl. I watch how he watches her, how he treats her, and I see that my son is good to her. How could I have known as I stood outside his car when he was 16 and insisted that he get out and come and open the door for me, that I was teaching him to be a man and not just a male?

So many memories flood my mind on this day but one thing is for sure in my life. I am blessed to know Anthony. If that were all I’d be happy. How could I have known that God would love me enough to allow me the privilege of being his mother?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SON-SHINE!

Postponing Joy

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I was listening to a sermon by Pastor Jim Reeve and he said he had always postponed joy. He was happy but always waiting for the next best thing. It so ministered to me because I am the same way.

I’m happy in the moment but can’t always say that I am content. I am content in aspects of my life and in others, I’m waiting for the next best thing. It’s been that way in this building project. I was happy when the sheetrock went in but I couldn’t wait until the platform went in, I was happy when the platform went in but I couldn’t wait for the paint, I was happy with the paint but couldn’t wait for the bathrooms, and so the list goes on. Someone even told me to enjoy the process but I couldn’t, or rather, I wouldn’t.

In my mind I was always moving forward to the next big joyous moment, but in the process I may have missed some of the joyous moments I was in. I want to do things differently in the next half of my life. I want to enjoy the process and I don’t want to be in so much of a hurry that I dismiss the joy of the moment and keep thinking it’s just on the horizon of my life.

The Hour Of Power

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Jack Canfield is a success coach. I read his facebook postings and they are inspiring to me. Last month he offered a challenge to take an hour of power. I’ve decided to do this for myself and I’d like to encourage you to do so as well. So here’s the challenge:

Spend one hour on yourself. Nurture your body, mind and spirit.
20 minutes reading
20 minutes in prayer/meditation
20 minutes exercising

I’d like to see how the stress level changes in my life. How the time spent with God changes my life, and how fit I become. What about you?

A TV

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As Americans we are pretty spoiled. Things we see as simple pleasures are great luxuries to many in the world. But what really constitutes a necessity and what is just a thing that for now, we can do without and how do we tell the difference?

Every now and then we have misunderstandings in our benevolence ministry on what is a necessity and what is simply a luxury. One woman asked that we pay her cable bill. When we explain that a cable bill is not a necessity, she begins to get angry. Frustrated she asks us what her kids are supposed to do all day without cable? I’m not faulting her, it’s her perspective for where she is at right now. I wonder what she would tell a Haitian mother whose country has only been able to remove 2% of the rubble from a earthquake long since past?

Still another woman who is getting back on her feet and explains to us that she has nothing but a few items of clothing and list her number one need as a television.

We wade through the requests and almost everyone who fills out a form is helped but it is sometimes sad when I see that these people need much more than a TV. I am praying about how to best help our community. The single mom who needs school clothes for her kids is easy to help. The man who needs a suit to go to a job interview is a simple fix. Only what do we do with those who can’t pinpoint their need or who are misdirected in their need?

I had to laugh when a homeless man came in to get some clothes and water and then asked for a microwave. His reasoning? “Well, one day I’ll get on my feet and I’ll need it.”

Today I am sitting here wondering if the reason we are struggling with our economy is that we didn’t understand necessities? I wonder if we will get back to basics and will that be a good thing for America?

Phone Etiquette

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the HELP Puppet team

I made the mistake once of saying in a group that I get up early to write because it’s the only part of the day that I have all to myself. Sometimes, I have no filter and I say things that should remain private for my sake. Anyway, I said I normally get up around 5:30 to get an hour or so in of writing before I have to start my day.

I don’t know why, but this seemed to give people the nod to call or text my cell at that hour. They forgot the part about how it’s my only time to myself. They also forgot that I am married and that my husband is sleeping at that time and the phone wakes him up in a very grumpy way. Anyway, I’ve straightened it out. Either by politely answering after 8 or saying something directly. The only time my phone should ring at that time is because an employee is calling in sick or someone is in the hospital.

For social calls the phone should ring between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. For business calls the phone can begin to ring at 8 a.m. unless you know a place of business is open before that.

To my youth kids who read the blog, it’s not okay to call each other, even on your cell phones, at 10 p.m. or 2 a.m. I know, I know, that’s ol’ skool but my kids get their phones taken away for infringements of etiquette because I’m trying to teach manners. If you ask any parent, they don’t want you to call late either. Since most parents pay for cell phones then their rules go. If you pay your own cell phone bill then the rule still applies because the only reason you have money for a cell phone is because your parents pay for rent, food and health insurance.

Also, don’t call hang up and call again. If the person was busy two seconds ago, they are probably still busy now. Just leave a message and wait. Right now as I write this, someone has called four times, not left a single message and I’ve been typing for 3 minutes and 28 seconds. There are times when I am typing, working, sleeping, cooking, having dinner and I don’t answer my phone during that time. It’s okay, there was time in the world where we weren’t so accessible and………………….. we lived.