Note from Susanna:
Dearest Friends & Saints…
Isn't it glorious to see the start of spring after a long, dark and snowy winter. The kids didn't have to go to school. I wasn't snowed in much but my parents were. They were nice and cozy in their sweet little house with a beautiful mountain view. The way it looks after a fresh snow... everything is white and pristine and beautiful. Then the snow gets old and melts a little and freezes. Then you're just slip sliding around. There's two feet of snow in the driveway, so forget going out or getting in. It was almost like being in Canada a long, long time ago.
When we had gotten to the point where we just couldn't take it any longer, the weather began to turn. If there's nothing going the right way. Everything is not ok. At least we can thank the Lord for Spring...the renewal of life...new beginnings. Starting a garden. We started some seeds for tomatoes, squash and green beans the other day. The next miracle will be if I get a garden space ready for them. Out here where life is a little more rugged, the earth is filled with rocks, cutting the grass on a hilly acre is no sweet chore, and it gives meaning to the saying, "God willing and the creek don't rise." Maybe that's just a Southern thing, and I don't mean Southern California.
But, it's beautiful here. The air is clean, the water is clean, life is simpler and more innocent, till you become a teenager and become aware of the underlife of prescription drug addiction. I know this is not the only place that has that problem. One of the deepest desires of my heart is to address this situation, both here in this county and across this great country. Don't most of you know at least one person laid to rest as a result, and don't you know several that are battling this condition in their lives. The Church needs to step and address this situation because the undercurrent is stealing lives...even some that are intent on serving the Lord. This is just one more tool of the enemy, to render useless, those called of God.
If you haven’t heard from us in a while, it is not because we have stopped doing what we do, or that we have dropped you from our mailing list or that we just don’t care. The past year was a difficult one for us. I know it was for many of you as well. As we’re already into the third month of 2010, last year seems so long ago and not all that bad. This year has started out snowy and dark. My parents live a couple thousand feet higher in elevation than I do so they have spent a lot of time snowed in. With two feet of snow in their driveway we were at the mercy of whoever we could find and pay to clear out the driveway. Then it would snow another two feet. Even though it snowed a dusting yesterday, the snow has melted and we are beginning to move around again.
Except for one very important detail, money, we would be free to do what we need to do. To begin with, we are having printer problems. I won’t go into details, but it's been disheartening because we're unable to print anything. Mmy hands are tied behind my back and I don't really know what the solution is. Our printer has done a wonderful job but it is getting old. You know, when you have a great car and it begins to age and repairs are needed. Well, you just get it fixed and keep on going. In the past when we have come upon situations like this and we didn't have the money, we used credit. When there was not enough money to put out an issue or cover our bills, we used credit. Now, there is no more credit. So, what now? I had to ask myself if we were being punished, for the uncountable mistakes that we’ve made. I, along with my father and everyone in our family, have begged His forgiveness and prayed for His mercy and His favor to shine upon us. Oh...how we've prayed. And, He has seemed to be silent on this issue.
Our suffering is not really worth complaining about since we have our health, our homes and vehicles, for now. Noone is in the hospital or in jail. But, the enemy has been beating a path around us, taunting us. I hate to admit that the peace and joy I felt just months ago is no where to be found. I feel the darkness, I see the darkness, it threatens to consume me, but still I pray, and most of the time I weep as well. But, deep in the winter, in a world of white and in the midst of darkness I had to make a conscious decision, like David did, to give thanks at the remembrance of His Holiness.(Psalm 30:4b)
Even as David cried in Psalm 22…
1 My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?
why art Thou so far from helping me,
and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the day time, but Thou hearest not;
and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But Thou art Holy…
He went on to praise God in Psalm 30 …
4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of His,
and give thanks at the remembrance of His Holiness.
5 For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life:
weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
I’m pretty sure we’re not the only ones going through these types of troubles. I know many are being terribly affected by this present economy, as we are. We can’t know where it will all lead or what we will lose of our earthly possessions in the process. Sometimes we just have to cling to the knowledge that our Lord has it under His control, and on top of that, He told us these things would happen. So, there’s really no need to be surprised or discouraged. It’s all just a foretaste of things to come or maybe even the beginnings of the birth pangs that will end in the victory of our Mighty King over the evil of this present world.
At least our foundation is sure. God still sits on the throne. He’s still in charge, but He never said we wouldn’t suffer. Just the exact day that we had to have money for things like utilities and house payments, the money came, not a day early nor an extra dollar. Not enough money to get the printer fixed, or to buy postage, but just enough. But, you know what? God is never late.We might be afraid and impatient, even distraught, but God is never late!
Oh, what an honor to be alive during these days of trouble!
So, even though 2009 is behind us and a New Year begun, I went back to the final scripture and prayer of our “discipline” which speaks of Joy. Joy was the furthest thing from my heart but I decided in spite of the troubles around me, to reach for it and let it touch my heart. It is a hard lesson to learn and even harder to live in, but while I was working on this little booklet, it kept my hope alive.
There are several other booklets I worked on during this long dark winter. Another is on The Lord’s Prayer.” I believe you will be blessed by it. Then in the midst of the battleground raging in my mind I began studying the series my dad wrote a few years back on A New Mind in Christ. I knew that if I could bring my mind under the control of the Holy Spirit, the enemy would have less access to my peace. Oh, doesn’t that sound glorious? So, in the process, I combined the articles into a booklet that I feel will help many a person who is battling in their minds with the things happening around us. It certainly helped me as I was putting it together.
My dad’s book on The Last Estate keeps growing and I expect it to be ready any time now. Also, if you have ordered The Covenant Promise and not received it, it is because of our printer problems. Our stock is dwindling on all of our books and there are many orders that we are unable to fill at this time, for the same reasons. The solution to that problem still evade us so, please pray for that situation.
I do feel that the writings and teachings of my dad over the past fifty years, as well as this current one which could be the most important of all, have had an aim towards this hour. Since I have been here working with my dad I feel that God has put a burden in my heart to get his writings out further and wider than ever before. A new generation is catching the fire and searching for truth. Not a new truth, but The Truth. But, we are only reaching a relatively small group compared with those who are searching, seeking and hungry. It is such a monumental task and seems to get bigger by the day as our resources have been getting smaller and smaller. We know well that the Lord often allows us to come to the end of our own capabilities and resources before His kick in and turn the impossible into possibilities.
Even as we are overcome with the reality of it all, we are compelled to step out in sheer and utter faith and just believe. If we can’t believe now then what will we do when times really get tough? It has always been our calling to help prepare a people to stand in the final days of this age. God never said it would be easy, in fact quite to the contrary He said... My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Well, we’re ready for the perfecting of His strength in us because our weaknesses seem to be full. We are ready to step into the impossible with a full expectation of His faithfulness. We are not yet perfected. We lack in many ways, but we have been called to bring forth this message of instruction and hope for the days coming upon us. We also know that God provides for His calling. He also told us the enemy would come against us and the enemy is indeed circling our camp. At least he doesn’t have access to come in and destroy us, but he’s making life and ministry a lot more difficult.
Although God did call us, He didn’t call us to stand alone in the wilderness. We are a part of you and you are a part of us. We have much material ready to be printed and sent to as many as possible. We do not at this point have the funds, and the longer we wait, the weaker the funds become. I’m just saying…we need you.
I would love to say that none of this present economy is affecting us, but it is. Contributions are half what they have been from year to year. We are learning to live on less as I’m sure many of you are. However… we need help… now. I hate to be so blunt, but… we really need help. We want to continue. We need to continue. We need to find a release in our circumstances so we can continue to send literature and Bibles into prisons, so we can continue to support the ministry in Uganda. Those people are really suffering. So, we can continue sending literature to you, so we can continue to reach out and touch hurting people. There has never been a more important time for all of us to stand together, united, as one body.
It is hard to admit weakness so it has been very difficult to write this letter, but we need you. We are a part of you and you are a part of us. We love you and look forward to hearing from you. And, in spite of our troubles… We...Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in (our) prayers...that the eyes of your heart (dianoía, understanding, mind) may be enlightened in order that you may know (in a way that no one can take from you) •the hope to which He has called you, •the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and •His incomparably great power for us who believe. (Ephesians 1:16,18,19)
According to Your Scriptures, Dear Lord, we bind any source of hindrance
that is coming against us, and we loose the resources to continue this
ministry according to Your calling and according to the workings of
Your Mighty Power…
Matthew 18
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
If you feel lead to help you can donate through PayPal or you can send it in through the mail at Berean Publications, P O BOX 38, Elk Park, NC 28622. As soon as our funds are freed up we will make sure that you receive any booklets that you might be interested in.
Your love and encouragement warm us, your support helps us, but your prayers sustain us. We need all of it. With all our love ….
