When the Cold Wind Blows

I reached out to my youngest son and cradled his shoulders while grasping the metal railing with my free hand. Higher and higher the ferris wheel climbed, stopping every so often for more riders to climb aboard. Soon we were at the top. A cold gust blew in from the ocean and the round, white bucket we sat in swayed in the wind.

"Mommy, I want to get off. Make it go down."

"Honey, the ride is moving. We have to wait until it's over to get off."

My little boy scrunched his eyes closed. "I don't like this."

Quite frankly, I didn't either, but I wasn't about to scare him further and gently squeezed his shoulder in reassurance. Now you wouldn't think this adventure girl would be afraid of a big, old ferris wheel. I love roller coasters - they go so fast and the ride is so exhilarating that the only time there is to fear is on the ride up.

However, there is something unnerving in my mind about a mountainous ferris wheel - how the metal structure slowly turns, creaking and groaning under the burden of weight and the abuse of the salty sea. Often I sit in the swaying bucket and tip my head up to inspect the bolts, trying to see if there is something loose or worn out. When I ride, I feel like I'm dangling over the ocean boardwalk like a heavy Christmas ornament on a tiny Christmas tree branch.

So often in life we face times when we are afraid. We may wonder, "Lord, when is this ride going to let up?" We may feel tense, fearful and uncertain of what may happen. But God tells us not to worry. I love the reassurance the Lord gives us in His Word.

Romans 8:15 & 16 says this: "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba Father.' The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God." (NKJV)

When we are afraid, we need to call out to God our Father. The Bible says the Holy Spirit will speak to our hearts and remind us that we are God's children. God the Father always protects His own. Does it mean we will never get hurt or go through troubled times? No. But God promises to put His loving arms around us. His hand holds us and never lets us go, no matter what.

I'm so glad to be His child. How about you? If you would like to know more about what the Bible says about becoming a child of God, please email me at susanskitt@verizon.net and I'd be happy to share with you about the security that God offers both now and for all eternity through Jesus Christ.

Live the adventure,

Susan

Just So Thankful

Okay, so where have I been? The answer to that in part has to do with this blog post title. (The title of which I borrowed from a Little Critter children's book I just bought for my seven-year-old son. BTW - The picture above is my husband and youngest son walking together at a local park.)

But really my friends, I am just so thankful.

You see, not only is it our Thanksgiving holiday here in America, but I shuffled down the steps this morning and was greeted by the amazing aroma of Spiced Apple Cider that's been simmering in a crock pot all night. (Click here for the yummy recipe.)

Let me tell you another reason I am so thankful. Eight days ago, I decided to take the plunge and buy myself a domain name here at Google. My reason in part is that http://www.susanskitt.com/ is a whole lot easier to type than http://www.livingtheadventurouslife.blogspot.com/ - lol! Besides, when I hand out business cards for writing and speaking, a URL with my name will look a whole lot more professional, don't you think?

Anyhow, the directions said that it would take three days to transition and that the server would forward all my readers to the new domain name. That was last Wednesday. Needless to say it wasn't until last night with my dear husband's help that we were able to finally make that happen. (For any of you thinking of buying your domain name on Blogger, there is a technical glitch that happens sometimes that I can tell you about if you're interested.)

So after returning from our Thanksgiving Eve service at church and after tucking in our very tired seven-year-old son and saying prayers, my husband sat down at the computer with me and we tried the suggestions given by a technical support person.

And the result? Adventurous Living is back and running!

Now along with being thankful that my site is back (thank you too to all you out there who were concerned and praying), I am so thankful for my dear husband, Jim, who really doesn't like me talking about him here on my blog. But today, I just have to.

(Below is a picture of us along with our friend Dave playing music at a Christian Coffee House. My husband Jim is on the far left and that's me on the right. I was zoning out a bit when Dave's wife snapped a picture of us practicing before our set. Really my friends, I enjoy playing music even if it doesn't look that way in this picture - lol!)

So, I just have to tell you all how much I love and appreciate my techy husband. He works hard, both day and night fixing hardware for a computer company and I couldn't be more proud of him. Today, we'll enjoy a wonderful roast turkey Thanksgiving meal at my parents' house (with my siblings and myself bringing the side dishes - one of which is my hot apple cider), and sometime today my husband hopes to change the oil on our car. He taught our teenager how to change the oil on his car, and yesterday our teen did that by himself for the first time.

Right now, my husband and youngest son are watching the Thanksgiving Day parades on T.V. As a family, we love to hike together and play music together too! By God's grace we have weathered many a storm together. I am so thankful that we can love, laugh and enjoy God's wonderful blessings.

I am thankful to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for so much - for family, for friends, and for you all here in the blogging world. God is so good. And God willing, Adventurous Living is here to stay and for that I am just so thankful!

Live the adventure,
Susan

P.S. Be looking for some colorful changes here in the weeks ahead. Shhh, it's a surprise!!!

Looking for Peace?

Looking for peace in a troubled world?

Look no further! Jesus is the answer.

"Therefore, having been justified by faith,

we have peace with God through our

Lord Jesus Christ."

Romans 5:1

My Published Work

I love to read a good story, don’t you? As a contributing author to A Cup of Comfort Devotional for Women, God Allows U-Turns for Women, A Cup of Comfort Devotional for Mothers, The One Year Life Verse Devotional, A Cup of Comfort Women of the Bible, God Encounters, A Cup of Comfort for Christian Women and the new release from New York Times #1 Best-Selling Author Gary Chapman entitled Love is a Verb Devotional, God has opened the door for me to share personal stories of His guiding hand in my life and in the lives of others.

When I write, my goal is to encourage people to trust God on life’s journey. As an active member of The Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Fellowship, I love to learn more about the craft of writing to help further the Gospel of Christ.  I tell stories about what God is teaching me to help people live faithfully to God and His Word, the Bible.

Along with directing and acting in performing arts, I’ve always had a passion for children’s literature, even before my two sons were born. And if God allows, I look forward to one day having a children’s book on the shelves of your local bookstore.

Through the years, I’ve had fun representing the books in which I’ve been published for book events at Barnes & Noble, Borders, and other bookstores. It is a thrill for me to share my testimony about God’s love and His saving grace. With Jesus leading the way, I’m ready for the adventure of a lifetime exploring the wonderful world of words!

Learn more about my published work as a contributing author below:

A Cup of Comfort Devotional for Women is the first book where my published work appeared. My story, God's Protective Hand, tells about a particular struggle I had after my first husband's tragic death and the hope and strength that God gives to those who trust in the Lord. This book is now in its second printing and I've included a picture of the new hardback book cover below. You can read my true story on page 193 of this Adams Media Publication. Take a sneak peak of my story by clicking here.

This next book is published by Bethany House and my story, A Test of Faith, is on page 58. God Allows U-Turns for Women is a book of approximately 50 true stories from women around the world that tells how "the choices we make change the story of our life". In this book I write about what happened the day my first husband died. I go on to share how God gave me his love and help to continue walking life's journey by faith. Click here to read what women are saying about this book.

What mother isn't thrilled to talk about her children? Yes, even when there's tough times, God is working in our families lives to draw us closer to Him. In A Cup of Comfort Devotional for Mothers, I have two stories published. On page 270, my story The Teacher talks about my youngest son's first day of preschool and how the Holy Spirit is our teacher. On page 284, my story is called Wrestling an Octopus. In this story I write about the first day I brought my infant son home from the hospital and how God helps us learn to persevere. This Adams Media book is also in its second printing so check out the new hardback cover below.

The One Year Life Verse Devotional book features different authors and speakers - some names you might recognize like Kurt Warner, Jerry Jenkins, James and Shirley Dobson, Elizabeth Elliot, Josh McDowell, Francine Rivers, Lee Strobel, Randy Alcorn, Joni Eareckson Tada, Corrie Ten Boom and more. My contribution is entitled, A Family Verse, where I tell the true tale of how God used (and is still using) Deuteronomy 31:8 to transform my life. My story appears on page 341, December 7th, of this daily devotional book in Tyndale's One Year book series. My "Life Verse" is the inspiration for my blog, Adventurous Living!

In A Cup of Comfort Women of the Bible, I have contributed three daily devotionals. One about Eve and how she once walked with God in the garden, another about Naaman's wife's servant girl who trusted God and pointed her master in the right direction for help, and Ruth, who found love again when she followed the one true God. This book is filled with exciting stories about Bible women who were faithful to the Lord. You will find the encouragement you need to handle life's ups and downs with grace and courage! My devotionals appear on pages 55, 231, and 234 in this Adams Media publication.

I still get goose bumps when I think about it. It was just a normal day - just a few moments in time, but God stepped in and the ordinary flow of events became extraordinary. My true life story on page 57, By Divine Appointment, is included in this Howard Publication, a division of Simon and Schuster. Each faith-building story in this book highlights a particular life-giving characteristic of God, revealing a better understanding of who He is and how much He loves you. Page by page, you'll find yourself growing into a more secure, intimate relationship with Him. Read my story in God Encounters and discover how "God is Good."  This book is also available as an audio-book.

A Cup of Comfort for Christian Women features stories that celebrate your faith and trust in God from more than forty women.  My true story, Jesus Took the Wheel, is featured on page 177 in this National Bestselling Series from Adams Media.  This hardbound collection of stories will inspire strength and deepen your faith.  You'll find the encouragement you need to persevere through life's obstacles from women who have been there and understand exactly what you're going through.

What is the key to love that endures?  Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages, says it's communicating your love, not only in words, but also in deeds.  Love is a Verb Devotional will show you how with a year's worth of daily examples of love in action.  Be inspired by true stories from everyday people displaying love in concrete ways.  Be encouraged that little acts of kindness can make all the difference.  I have contributed two devotionals to this lovely, hardcover book from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.  My story, Lawn-Care Blessing is on June 16th and Happily Ever After is on July 5th of this October, 2011 new release. 

Cup of Comfort Devotional for Women & Mothers

2nd print cover

Bio

Hi, my name is Susan Skitt and welcome to my weblog.  I love to write.  I also like to talk about what God has been teaching me in order to help others.  To me, life is an adventure.  You never know what might come your way, but God does.  He promises to guide those who trust him on life’s journey.

I grew up in a family with an amazing mom who could have been anything she wanted to be, but chose to make her husband and children her priority. What a great example my mom has always been to me and my two sisters and brother. We grew up in a family not so different from others. My dad taught his kids how to play sports.  He would toss a football with us and a softball for the girls and a baseball for his boy. Softball became my all time favorite sport. My parents also gave me the opportunity to take piano lessons. I still love to play the piano today and play at church every Sunday.

One of the things I remember the most growing up is how my dad made sure he spent time with his family. As a pastor of a church, he was often busy, but he made time for us. My parents always said, “Our children are our first ministry.” And let me tell you, they meant it. After dinner each night, Dad would lead in a time of family devotions where he’d tell us a Bible story, we’d learn Scripture together, and we’d always pray.

One of Scriptures we memorized became our “family theme verse”. It is Deuteronomy 31:8 and that special Bible verse has become the theme for my life. It says this: “And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” I believe that God promises to be with those who trust in him. I’ve experienced this in my life time and time again.

I grew up in farm country near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. At the age of eleven, my family moved to the city – the city of Philadelphia. Soon this country girl was dropping tokens into a Septa bus to ride to public school. By high school, my parents sacrificed to send us to a Christian School.  My mom worked part-time from home gluing leather covers onto wooden boxes for optical instruments and my dad taught part-time at a Bible college. I met some great friends at that school that I still stay in contact with until this day. I enjoyed playing softball and soon joined the field hockey team. One year we had a drama director and I loved acting in our school play. I even joined the yearbook staff.

During my junior year in high school, I began dating a really great guy whose family starting attending our church. We fell in love and half way through my college years, we were married. I was young, but my husband was two years older than me.  God had also given him a good job as a sales manager for a technology company. After I finished college we worked, traveled, and volunteered at our church as youth leaders.  I worked in the field of Medical Technology in a laboratory.  Then a miracle happened. Our son was born.

Not long after that, I experienced one of the greatest tests of faith I had ever known. Two police officers stood on my doorstep and told me my husband died in a car accident. I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I knew that I would need my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now more than ever. I had accepted Jesus into my life as my personal Savior at the age of seven. He had been my help and my strength all my life.  Now at twenty-five facing life as a widow and a single mom of my nine-month-old son, I knew he would continue to lead me – and he has.

My oldest son is now in college. When he was a toddler, I remarried a wonderful man. Who knew God would bring an old childhood friend back into my life – a friend who was thirty years old and still a bachelor? God in his providence blessed us with another son. There is ten year age difference between my boys. People often ask about the age difference which in turn often allows me to talk to them about God's love and faithfulness.  Our family is thankful to God for the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors.  We love to hike, bike, and kayak.

God has been my help and my strength and he wants to do the same for you. He loves you so much he sent his son Jesus Christ to come into this world to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus conquered death forever by rising from the dead, just as he promised. Jesus offers eternal life and a home in heaven for all who put their faith in him. Now that is the best adventure of all!

I’m walking this faith journey with God leading the way.  One of the books I wrote for has a tagline that says this: “The choices we make change the story of our life.” God’s calling your name. Won’t you choose to open your heart and life to him today? Come on… let's live the adventure!

The Next Generation

I just can't get off my mind lately the importance of teaching our children in the ways of the Lord our God.

Moses said this to the people of Israel before God took him home to Heaven (see Deuteronomy 32): "Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe--all the words of this law. For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess." (Deut. 32:46,47)

Do you see what Moses said? It is not futile. Oh sometimes as a mom I've thought, "Lord, this is too hard. I'm not getting through! I feel like giving up." Oh how wrong - how very, very wrong. God is at work - always! As we teach our children what God says in the Bible and learn to live it out in our daily lives, it makes a difference. It really does. Remember what Romans 10:17 says? "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."

The Bible says that God had Joshua take Moses place of leadership. Judges 2 says that the people"served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen the great works of the LORD which he had done for Israel." (Judges 2:7)

Now here's the really sad part. It breaks my heart. Judges 2:10 says, "When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who DID NOT KNOW THE LORD NOR THE WORK WHICH HE HAD DONE FOR ISRAEL."

Parents, our duty is serious. Our kids need to know about the Lord Jesus Christ and who better to show them than the very people that God has given to love and care for them? There is nobody who can do your job better. Trust God. He knows what He is doing. He knows our weaknesses and He is our strength. He is our Father and He is ready lead us all the way.

Live the adventure,
Susan

"But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded to you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul." Joshua 22:5

Kids Say the Cutest Things

Aw, I was gonna wait, but I couldn't. No, I could not.

It's raining here in PA and what's a girl to do? Blog. (Or read a book, that's what I plan on next-oh yeah, and get those dishes done too!) Don't you just love the lazy down-time that Saturday sometimes afford? This is one of them and I plan on taking full advantage.

Upon paging through a little writing journal the other day, (I am not married to writing in it daily, I only write on occasion when something snappy catches my attention), I found some cute little sayings from my youngest son when he was four-years-old. I have selected a few of my favorites. I hope they bring a smile to your face like they have mine.

In response to me at the dinner table:

My son: "No, I a big boy."

Me: "Let Mommy cut your meat into little pieces."

My son: "NO! Big pieces."

After pointing to Hawaii on a map, I explained to my son how even though Hawaii is a part of the United States, it is an island. With eyes full of wonder he pointed to the map with his little finger and said,

"Do pirates live there?"

My son talking to someone (not a family member) said matter-of-factly:

"I'm four. My Daddy's forty-four."

My son talking about a rock shaped like an arrow-head we found in our yard:

"That is an ancient rock. Indians used to live here and they dropped it."

My youngest son talking about a path my teenage son was clearing in the woods behind our house:

"Did you find any swords back there?"

My son and his two girl cousins watching the movie Phantom of the Opera at his cousins' house:

5-year-old girl cousin: "I'm Christine."

4-year-old-girl cousin: "I'm Rauel & the Phantom. I can be both because I have a big voice and a little voice."

My son: I'm ALL the boys." (speaking about the men in armor carrying swords)

My son: "Ma, Ma, there's something more than 1000."

Me: "What?"

My son: "21."

On a Saturday morning my son runs into my bedroom at 7:30am and jumps on the bed. My husband and I are still waking up.

My son: "Dad, you have to wake up."

My husband: "Grunt..."

My son shakes his dad. "You have to get up! That's what I do."

My son: "This day is a disastor."

Me: "Why?"

My son: "I didn't get to play with my friends."

I lay down on the bed next to my son to read him a story and I said refering to my sore muscles after a gym work-out,

"Oh, I'm getting old."
My son: Are you gonna die? Are you rusted inside?"

Sure, there are tough times raising our children. But I am reminded during these precious moments, just how much of a heritage they are from the Lord. Oh, how we need to teach them through love and patience the ways of the Lord. Am I perfect? No way, but my LORD is and He promises to help us on life's journey. I'm so glad!

Live the adventure,

Susan

"Lo, children are an heritage from the LORD; and the fruit of the womb is his reward." Psalm 127:3

Election Days

The results of the presidential election here in the United States of America have been weighing heavy on my heart. I voted for life. Two-thirds of our country did not. I do not want to sound like an alarmist, but if our country keeps following the direction of the left-wing liberal leaders, we as a nation are in for big trouble.

I know I keep talking about the example of Daniel and his buddies here and in my comments on other blogs (check out the book of Daniel in the Bible and see what happened to the nation of Israel when they rejected God and his ways) but I really believe that we as a nation will face judgment and that doesn't exempt those who love God and follow His ways. I am praying and at the same time preparing my children to understand what the Bible says will happen to a nation that rejects God as their leader and what they need to do to follow God in troubled times.

But as my friend Sue at Praise and Coffee so beautifully expressed in her post, The Day After, those of us who believe and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ don't need to worry or despair. God is still in control and He will bring about His perfect purposes for this needy world. People need to know that God loves them and that He has a very special plan for their life - a plan for good and not for evil.

Take a look at Sue's recent post by clicking "here". I know you will be encouraged. The words of the Bible verse I had posted below ring ever true. God and His Word will never fail! Wait on Him!

Live the adventure,

Susan

*****I am adding another great link today, (November 7th), about pro-life issues from Randy Alcorn. Take a few minutes to read about how you can make a difference! Click "here" to find out more.

Turn thou to thy God;

keep mercy and justice,

and wait on thy God continually.

Hosea 12:6 KJV