Bad news… my hair felt outdated and lacked a style.

Good news… I have a great hair stylist.

Bad news… She’s on maternity leave.

Good news… She suggested another stylist who works in the same salon. 

From the moment I sat in Amanda’s chair, I felt like she “got” me. We chatted for a few minutes about my hair woes of hair and then she got to work. 

I watched—a bit anxiously—as long strands of hair dropped to the floor. I began to second guess myself, “Did she really get me?”

Clip clip clip. Hair kept falling to the floor. 

Next, the blow dry. A few more clips and then the final reveal. 

Confidently, she handed me the mirror so I could see the new me. The result? A truly lovely style, created by someone I had only known a few minutes. 

The great haircut wasn’t the only benefit of my hair salon visit. In 45 minutes, Amanda had become my hair hero and new friend. 

While I was sitting in the chair, our conversation went deep. We discussed some hard things going on in our lives. We chatted about the value of relationships, overcoming fears, and the importance of reinventing our stories. It was so encouraging! In these few minutes, I made a new connection with someone I may never see again. Yet, our discussion will remain in my heart and on my mind for a long time. 

I think this is part of what Jesus has in mind when he promises an abundant life for us. Everyday experiences, no matter how brief, can become extraordinary moments.

What started out as a “just hair” appointment became a sweet reminder that people do not always have to be in my life for years to be an encouragement to me. 

The good news… something as simple as a few encouraging words can make someone’s day. 

“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing” 1 Thessalonians 5:11. 

Have you ever had a bad experience you would just rather forget—yet you learned so much you can’t help but remember? 

Those are my feelings about what happened to me in the days leading up to January 14th, launch day of my latest book, Immeasurably More. For an author, launch day is an important part of the book distribution process; it establishes momentum. Hosting a launch event is key to announcing the book’s release to the world, and my team had planned a large gathering at a local coffee shop.

A week before the event—when joy and enthusiasm should prevail— something happened that robbed my excitement. The printing company notified me of a printing issue and suggested the books might not arrive in time for the event. 

How does one host a book launch without books? 

For several days, I wrung my hands and fretted, “What if no books arrive?” 

A few days before the event, I awoke in the middle of the night. I have learned when this happens, it is often an opportunity to have a quiet moment with Jesus. I sensed him asking me, “Do you remember why you wrote the book in the first place?” In the stillness of that moment, my mind recalled the hope and dream of Immeasurably More. My genuine desire for this book was to share a simple message: 

Jesus cares about every detail of your life. 

As I lay in my bed that night, Jesus reminded me this message was not only for readers, it also applied to me. He truly does care about every detail of my life including books and launch day. 

Somewhere around 2:30am, I realized this message could be shared on launch day  regardless if I had books or not because Jesus is able to do immeasurably more. 

I wondered, “What if the Lord is planning something at the coffee shop I never dreamt of?” By 3:00am the logistics of the book launch had taken a back seat. Books or no books, I was excited to share my heart for Jesus so others would know his heart too.

Launch day arrived. At 3:00pm—two hours before the event—a Federal Express truck arrived with books. The driver introduced himself as Mark, the manager of the local Federal Express office. As he unloaded 18 boxes of books, he told us the regular delivery driver was home sick, but he knew for some reason these boxes needed to be delivered on this day. 

A week of worrying turned into a small sweet memory where Jesus reminded me he doesn’t need a book to be glorified. He only needs a willing heart.

Friend, I don’t think the book delivery on launch day was a miracle. But I do believe, Jesus showed me, through a midnight interaction, that he cares about every detail of my life.

And yours.

 

“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me” (Psalms 62:5-7 NLT).

 

Two months.

Four Countries.

Countless miles of driving on the other side of the road.

No computer.

Ten books read.

And now, we’ve returned home. Life must resume.

Being away was good, challenging, restful, and fun. I’m even using new words like lovely, right proper, cheers, and chap.

The lifestyle we experienced while we were away looked different.

• No Walmarts, Home Depots, or Amazon deliveries.
• Minimal grocery runs, texting, and trash.
• Big breakfasts and little dinners.
• More walking, less driving.

It was a tad simpler, yet still adventurous.

So now that I’m home, the big question is: What now? What do I do with the experiences of two months away from my so called ordinary life? I certainly didn’t come home with a gung-ho attitude to conquer the world. And to be perfectly honest with you, at the moment, I’m a little more tired than enthusiastic.

While gone, I didn’t want to establish any lofty goals that needed to be accomplished upon my return. Yet, I still wanted this time away to help shape my life in the weeks and months ahead.

So based on my experiences during this two month adventure, here’s my short answer to the question, “What now?”

• I’d like to learn more about Alabama; the wonderful state I reside in.
• I want to go on more breakfast and lunch dates with my husband.
• I desire more “no dot” days on my calendar. (My online calendar puts dots on days when I have something scheduled.)
• I want to walk in the woods more.

Perhaps in a few months you could check with me to see how it’s going. Ask me if I have been able to capture a lifestyle of adventure while experiencing more simple moments. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to answer you with a resounding “yes.”

Being away is good. Learning what’s good about it is great.

You wake up. 

Get out of bed. 

Make your first cup of coffee. 

Just an ordinary day. Or so it seems. 

And then… suddenly. Something happens. 

It might be something as simple as moment in your day you didn’t plan or a nudge you didn’t expect. But something happens and invades your day. 

There is a beautiful “suddenly” that occurs right after the resurrection of Jesus. Two women visit Jesus’ tomb. When they arrive the massive stone is rolled away and an angel of the Lord is sitting on the stone. He says to them, “Jesus is not here. He has risen, just as he said he would.”

The angel invites the women to come and see the place where Jesus was. Then, he instructs them to go quickly and tell the disciples. 

Even though the day was not exactly ordinary, I suspect the women never dreamt they would encounter Jesus. However, they hurriedly ran with joy to tell the disciples. On their way, something suddenly happens. 

“Suddenly, Jesus met them.”

Please don’t miss this… Jesus interrupted the women while they were on their way to tell the disciples about Jesus!

Sometimes Jesus doesn’t announce holy moments. He just suddenly shows up—right in the middle of whatever you are doing.

What if today Jesus met you in the middle of the things you are rushing to? What if his interruption in your ordinary day is an invitation to simply experience him?

Your suddenly might come as a shift in perspective. A positive thought that replaces your worry. A quiet assurance reminding you that Jesus sees you, knows you, and loves you.

My prayer is we respond like the women who suddenly encountered Jesus. They dropped to their feet and worshipped him. 

When Jesus  suddenly meets us, regardless if it’s in the shower, while drinking a cup of coffee, or performing one of the many other ordinary things we do in a day, it gives us the opportunity—like the women—to draw near to him. This is truly worthy of our worship.

Thank you, Jesus, for your “suddenly” moments in my everyday life. Help me to see you and recognize you, especially in the ordinary. And Jesus, please keep showing up in the most unexpected places in my life so I will have special times of simply experiencing you. Amen. 

Susan recently launched a new devotional book, Immeasurably More (ponderings from a not-so-perfect Jesus follower). Check it out here.

I am not a write-or-die kind of writer. Even though I consider myself disciplined in some areas of my life, the act of writing is not one of them. For me, writing is difficult and quite a challenge. I struggle to just sit down and put pen to paper. So, imagine me trying to write an entire book!

When writing my first book, A Wild & Wonderful Life, only one person knew about it: my grown son, Jack. I started the book, but then life got in the way and I put it in the back of my filing cabinet to complete at a later date. However, Jack strongly encouraged me to finish it. So, when I finally showed him the very rough draft of the first manuscript he asked why I was stalling on finishing and publishing the book.

I shared with him, “Jack, Satan is sitting on my shoulder and telling me two things. The first is that I am not a good writer. The second is that no one will read my book.”

He responded, “Mom, what if you finished this book and had it published? And then, after publishing it, only one person read it. BUT… as a result… that one person began a new life with Jesus as their Savior. Would you still finish this book?”

Knowing the answer to his question, I gulped. Yes, of course, if the words I wrote would  make a difference to someone—for now and eternity—I would absolutely complete it.

It’s been several years since my first book was published. Happily, more than one person actually did read it! And along the way, the Lord placed other writers and editors in my life to help me become a better writer.

Recently, I launched my third book, a devotional called Immeasurably More. What I have learned on my book-writing journey is this: God uses not-so-perfect folks like me to accomplish his immeasurably more purposes.

Friend, our not-so-perfect lives matter a great deal to God. He delights in using all the details of our lives, including our insecurities, to accomplish the extraordinary. So whether it is a writing a book or more likely something else, would you be willing to trust God with the details of your life so he may also do the immeasurably more? What would that look like for you today?

About my newest book: Immeasurably More: Ponderings from a (not-so-perfect) Jesus Follower

In forty personal and heartfelt ponderings, Susan gently reminds you Jesus cares about every detail of your life. She shares that seeking Jesus—even in the most ordinary things—can open the way to an immeasurably more kind of life.

To help you discover your own immeasurably more, each reading offers a pondering, prayer, and praise activity with guided reflection.

To purchase the book go to: Immeasurably More Book

 

 

Every. Single. Day.

That is how often the sun sets. Yet, because it happens every day, we become numb to the wonder of it. Are we in danger of calling sunsets normal or ordinary? Because they are not. They are extraordinary.

In a similar way, I might be tempted to say my life is ordinary. I often lose the thrill of everyday living because I don’t see my actions mattering all that much. However, simple things like a trip to the grocery store or coffee with a friend can actually become some of God’s grandest gestures, if only I will notice.

The more I get to know God’s heart, the more I realize he doesn’t call me or my life ordinary at all. In fact, he thinks I’m extraordinary.

He doesn’t think you are ordinary either. He thinks you are extraordinary.

Here’s what God says about you:

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

You are precious in God’s eyes.

You are engraved in the palm of God’s hands.

So even when we feel like our lives are ordinary, God—who thinks we are pretty great—is always working towards the extraordinary, if only we will notice.

Jesus did such a good job of noticing what some might think is ordinary:

• Instead of witnessing a widow give only a few pennies, Jesus saw a woman giving all she had.

• Instead of looking up to a short man sitting in a tree, Jesus saw someone to have dinner with.

• Instead of walking past an invalid man who others had cast aside, Jesus saw a person ready to be healed.

Jesus noticed something extraordinary in the ordinary.

Friend, the ordinary things you do, the simplest words you say, and the everyday life you model are often the most impactful way Jesus accomplishes his best in you. This is extraordinary!

In my recent devotional book; Immeasurably More (Ponderings from a not-so-perfect Jesus follower), I write a lot about ordinary things. I also give you the opportunity to ponder and write your own thoughts. If you do this, I believe you will see how your everyday life is truly extraordinary when Jesus joins you, if only you will notice.

You can purchase an autographed copy Immeasurably More here.